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Camping Backpacking help
with insects |
Mosquitoes may be as dangerous than all
the bears, cougars and moose out there. They certainly are more irritating.
There are far more human deaths from insects than all other deaths caused by
mammals. Insects and other bugs are clearly a danger to be reckoned with.
Bees and Wasps
These two actually kill many more people than all the mammal
deaths put together. If you are allergic to bees or wasps, be
sure to bring whatever the doctor recommends when you are
backpacking. Be careful around hollow rotted logs and other
potential nesting places too.
Mosquitoes
These used to be just an annoyance here in North America. Now
they carry diseases like West Nile Fever. Use any good repellent
with
DEET in it to keep them away. Camp where there is a strong breeze if
they are particularly bad. Light colored clothing seems to
attract fewer mosquitoes than darker clothing.
The smell of dirty socks and feet is known to attract
mosquitoes. Interestingly the smell of limburger cheese is also
a mosquito magnet. A few years ago, a scientist discovered that
the same bacteria that is used to culture limburger causes foot
odor. Now you might not want to bring limburger cheese
backpacking - or eat it at all.
Mosquito head nets are a good idea if you know you'll be in an
area with many mosquitoes. At about an ounce, they don't add
much weight to your backpack.
Spiders
The black widow is usually black with a red (often hourglass-shaped) mark
on it's abdomen. A bite can cause cramping pains that eventually
affect the whole body. Restlessness, vomiting, nausea, weakness,
and painful breathing are also possible. Though extremely
painful, healthy adults usually survive. There is an antivenom
if you can get to a hospital.
The brown recluse spider is brown, with a black violin-shaped
mark on its back. The bite isn't painful at first, but after an
hour or two the area turns red. Then a bump forms that
eventually bursts, and the flesh starts "rotting" around the
bite. In the first 36 hours, there may also be a fever, pain in
the joints, and a skin rash. There is an antivenom if you can
get to a hospital.
Black Flies
These are some of the most irritating of insect bites, because they
blackflies not only swarm over you, but crawl and wiggle to get
under clothing and at your skin. A head net helps. Unfortunately
DEET doesn't work as well to repel blackflies as it does for
mosquitoes. You should also seal your cuffs and pant legs
tightly.
Scorpions
Fortunately, most scorpion stings are not all that dangerous for
healthy adults. There will usually be localized pain and
swelling, some numbness around the bite, and not much more. The
more dangerous species (like the yellow Centuroides sculptuatus)
are found in Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona and Southern
California. these usually cause immediate severe pain. Get to a
hospital!
Fire Ants
These inflict dangerous insect bites only if you are sensitive
or get stung by many (at least dozens) at once. The bite is very
painful. Watch where you step or sit down if you are in fire ant
territory.
Ticks
Ticks in the east and mid west can carry Lyme Disease. In the west they
carry Colorado Fever and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. They
usually are a threat early in the summer, or later at higher
elevations. Tick bites become rare by the end of August. Check
yourself a couple times daily for ticks (with a friend's help,
if possible). Slowly pull them loose if they have already bitten
you.
Insect Bite Remedies
To relieve the itch from insect bites, including mosquito bites, you can
apply the juice of jewelweed plants . This plant grows in wet
areas, and water dripped on the leaves beads up, looking like
jewels, hence the name. The stems are translucent, and the plant
has dangling yellow or orange flowers.
Ice (or snow) also helps if applied to painful or irritating
insect bites. Ice isn't usually available when backpacking, of
course, unless you are hiking in winter or high in the
mountains. Cold water may provide some relief.
If you have Benadryl or another antihistamine, these can control
the swelling caused by some insect bites. Aspirin or
acetaminophen can also relieve some pain related to insect
bites. Seek medical help for bites from particularly venomous
bugs, those that cause shock or from insects you are allergic
too.
Key Points
1. Use repellent with
DEET
to avoid contact
with insects.
2. Use head nets and tight cuffs.
3. Application of ice or snow may help relieve pain and swelling
caused by insect bites.
4. Seek medical help when necessary.
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Backpacking Quick Tips
Old raincoat sleeves can be made into lightweight water-resistant
stuff-sacks with a little sewing. Old nylon jacket sleeves will
work too, and make lighter stuff sacks, though not water
resistant.
Club moss spores were once used as 'flash powder' by
magicians. Drop a pinch over a flame and it create an instant
and large flash for signaling rescuers. It is also just fun. The
flower heads often give off little puffs of the yellow spores as
you walk through them. Collected green, they will open and
release their spores in a day or two if kept in a warm dry
place. I have collected more than a pound this way, for just a
few hours work.
Don't fold tarps and tents. Stuff them into their stuff sacks.
Folding repeatedly in the same way creates weak spots in the
fabric. |
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