Re: bug free cowboy camping

On 4/17/2013 7:07 AM, [email protected] wrote:
>      Posted by: "Rosaleen Sullivan" [email protected] rosaleen43
>      Date: Tue Apr 16, 2013 4:15 am ((PDT))
>
> West Nile, Lyme, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Eastern Equine Encephalitis all have been plaguing the East Coast as well.  I have personal knowledge of an AT hiker who had both West Nile and Lyme, a child in TN who had RMSF, and we have at least a few deaths from EEE in MA every summer.  There are more diseases out there trying to "get us."  Permethrin on clothing with repellent on exposed skin is as close to wearing one's protective bubble as we seem to have for now. The phrase "Pick your poison" comes to mind.  Permethrin seems like the least of the evils. Rosaleen
#####

Don't forget Babesiosis, which is becoming a greater threat, especially 
in coastal environs.  Google it.  Very scary.  Precludes you from ever 
again donating blood, something I used to enjoy.  It nailed me bad 3 
years ago, most likely during a trip to Block Island, RI.  I never saw 
the tick.  It's indistinguishable from Malaria.  Attacks the red blood 
cells, making you anemic.  I was home, in bed, for 6 weeks.  At the same 
time, I lost the hearing in my right ear.

Pick your poison, indeed.

By the way, about 8 years ago, I used Sawyer's spray-on Permethrin while 
on the AT in MA, mid August, on the section from Lee to North Adams.  
(Ran into my AT hiker hero and author "Model T" at the Kaye Wood 
shelter!)  Treated my l/s shirt, long pants, Tilly hat and the bottom of 
my hammock, too.   Didn't do socks, as I heard of sensitivity issues.  
At dusk, all the other hikers ran to their tents to escape the 
mosquitoes.  My son and I were fine.  It was like having a Star Trek 
force field.

Rich