I was thrilled to have the opportunity to spend 10 days at camp. The thought of sleeping in my new DD Travel Hammock (watch for a full review in my next blog), fresh picked berries for breakfast, food and laughter shared around the campfire...it sounded like pure bliss. And it was...but for one thing. Only one thing could make me actually consider trading those things for a stuffy house. Not the dirt, nor the heat and humidity. No, those things I could live with. But the hum of the mosquitoes? It's enough to drive even the most seasoned of wilderness venturer to the brink.
The camp is surrounded by marsh. As the sun sinks below the western horizon, you can hear the hum of thousands of tiny little wings as they rise from the water and prepare to fly into the night. It's a terrifying sound, really. Advance warning that in moments, you will be invaded by a massive army, whose soul purpose seems to be driving you insane. The bite is only a small part of the aggravation. The buzzing, the feel of tiny wings near your hands, face and ears (and when it's latrine time, even more uncomfortable places)...that's what really gets to you.
So what's an otherwise happy wilderness dweller to do? There is no way to completely avoid the pesky little creatures. But there are ways to protect yourself enough to save your sanity. Here are 10 tricks I find make a difference.
1) Get dirty: The less appealing you smell to yourself, the less appealing you are to the bugs as well. Camp hygiene is essential to health, but wash with water only, or use unscented soaps and deodorants if needed. Remember to apply this policy before you leave on your trip as well, and use unscented laundry detergent for camp clothes.
2) Watch what you eat: There is some debate on the validity of claims that diet affects mosquito attraction, but it doesn't hurt to err on the side of caution. Avoid foods high in potassium (like bananas) or salt that raise the lactic acid in your system, and load up on the garlic; it's been said to repel them. They are just tiny blood-sucking vampires, after all.
3) Wear neutral colours: Mosquitoes zero in on targets that stand out from their surroundings. Light colours blend in with the background, and make you harder to spot. By extension, one might presume that camo would work well. Not so much, as I learned this week. They just find the dark spots.
4) Keep calm: When you get agitated and wave your arms, you produce more carbon dioxide...which attracts more mosquitoes....which makes you more agitated...which...well, you get the picture. I'm pretty sure it's part of their battle plan. And they say bugs are not intelligent.
5) Plan a place to get away: Even a short break can make a huge difference. Your hammock or tent are great for sleeping, but can sometimes feel too claustrophobic during the day. Netting is definitely worth the weight to carry. For a base camp, nothing beats a small dining tent to create a bug free space to wash up, sit for a while in peace, or sleep in. On a hike, a roll of lightweight mesh can be set up in a similar fashion by hanging it between trees, or using standing dead wood for poles. For those purists out there who may think of this as "cheating"...remember, traditional camps made a century ago included netting to keep the bugs at bay.
6) Wear less breathable fabrics. While you will have to deal with the heat a little more, wool and nylon create a much stronger barrier against mosquito bites than cotton based fabrics. A light nylon shirt will cover your arms without adding too much warmth, and light wool socks work well to protect your ankles in the evening.
7) Use repellent: There are many commercial brands of repellant on the market containing DEET in various strengths. There are also several natural blends available, or you can make your own from essential oils such as lemongrass, citronella, lavender, pennyroyal and eucalyptus. Neither are very effective when you are sweating a lot. And keep in mind that all forms of bug repellent contain natural oils that deteriorate nylon materials used in modern camping equipment such as sleeping bags, tents, and hammocks. And that shirt I just mentioned.
8) Stay in the smoke: I have asthma, so this one is difficult for me, but it is effective. Mosquitoes find smoke in their face just as irritating as we do. Use it to your advantage. Only a few will brave the smoke of a smudge fire. Add some punk wood or greenery to your campfire, or make a small smudge pot to place in your sleeping area. Be sure to use caution, however, and ensure that no flammable materials are nearby, and that you are not so closed in as to become overwhelmed by the smoke.
9) Remove standing water: Mosquitoes are attracted to water for the purpose of breeding. Check camp thoroughly after it rains and clear any areas of pooling. Empty wash water as soon as you are finished with it, well away from camp in your grey water area. And try to do your dishes during daylight hours. Providing standing water and human blood creates a one-stop breeding centre.
10) Do a perimeter check before turning in: Your sleeping area should be bug free. Before going to sleep, shine your light around the interior of your tent/hammock/netting to ensure that no mosquitoes entered with you. Hundreds of them can fly around outside and the sound is not pleasurable. But it's the one inside your sleeping area that will keep you awake all night!
Insects are a part of life in the wilderness, and there is no perfect solution to avoid them. But with a little pre-planning, and a positive attitude, we can limit the aggravation and focus on the aspects of camp that we do enjoy. And remember...there is one good thing about all the mosquitoes at camp. The ones at home just don't seem so bad by comparison!
"I can't think of anything that I could do without easier than the mosquito. He seems to me a creature wholly devoid of virtues. He is a glutton, a poisoner, a spreader of disease, a dispenser of disturbing music. That last is the hardest to forgive. If he would only be still I could overlook the other things. I wonder if he will take his voice with him into the next world. I should like to know, too, which place he is bound for. I should like to know, so I could take the other road." - From The Tent Dwellers by Albert Bigelow Paine
BG
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