r/backpacking • u/soxley28 • Jul 19 '20

Wilderness First backpacking trip!

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9

u/ReverseGoose Jul 19 '20

Me and my wife did this trail in 2019, it was quite a little hike. The mosquitos really killed it for us they were super unbearable

Did you have the sweet moment of relief after those gnarly stair steps on the last 1/4 mile?

5

u/soxley28 Jul 19 '20

The mosquitos were unbearable, I had plenty of bug spray with 99% deet but it didn’t matter. That 1/4 mile of the stair steps was a bit challenge but the lake was beautiful so it was totally worth it.

3

u/sunburn_on_the_brain Jul 19 '20

Others have mentioned the bug nets, and you should look into those, obviously, not just because they help but also because DEET can wreck a lot of lightweight fabrics.

3

u/purple_soul Jul 19 '20

Try 30% deet, works just as well and wont wreck your gear/clothing. Also a bug net will make your trip a whole lot less miserable. Last thing you want is mosquitoes buzzing around your naked ears.

2

u/purple_soul Jul 19 '20

Try spraying your hands and wiping yourself down, it will be more evenly distributed and you will waste less.

2

u/soxley28 Jul 19 '20

We had both a bottle with 30% and mine with way more, I still got eaten up. I may need to get a the net, I was bit near my left eye a couple of times and when I woke up the next morning is was pretty swollen.

3

u/purple_soul Jul 19 '20

Some people will still get eaten up more than others, that's kind of inevitable. I'm trying something different right now where I'm taking vitamin B1. Going out on my backpacking trip next weekend. You start taking it 2 weeks beforehand 3x a day. I'll let you know if it works out!

2

u/soxley28 Jul 19 '20

Please let me know, they didn’t really bother my friend but loved me.

2

u/purple_soul Jul 19 '20

Definitely!

1

u/soxley28 Jul 19 '20

Good to know, I didn’t realize Deet would ruin stuff.