How I Prevented Tick and Mosquito Bites on the Appalachian Trail

[@catblue6393]

Carrying a few antihistamine pills is a good idea in case of bee/wasp/yellow jacket stings. My Dad saved a woman's life with his antihistamine tablets when a mess of yellow jackets stung a group of people in the woods. She was stung multiple times & was taken to the hospital. We never know when something like that will happen. You are wise to be prepared.

[@BMR_Kismet]

We have May flies in Virginia and their a pain to deal with also.

[@brumleytown1882]

Ticks aren't always on the ground. They are often found waiting on the very tips of foliage facing the trail, arms extended, at about the level of a passing deer, ready to grab on. A bite does not necessarily result in sickness. Over many years, I have been bitten dozens of times without any consequence. If you get bit, don't worry unless you have symptoms.

[@MP-TheNewGuy]

Thanks Jay, I was interested in what you used to keep away the ticks. Tina had responded to a comment of mine on Instagram that she didn't see a single tick. I was amazed by that. I hiked the trail in 93 and was on a similar timeframe and pace as she was. I didn't treat anything back then, and I don't know if that was thing. The first report of someone seeing ticks was around Pearisburg. The earlier reports were all hikers with dogs. I don't remember seeing any ticks until the drop in elevation after the Shenandoah's and they were absolutely horrendous there. I don't think you really need to worry about ticks till maybe Damascus especially in the colder Spring months. I used to live in the South and hike that area in the Summer all the time, never saw ticks in the higher elevations. However, in the lower elevations, where we lived, was another story.

[@denismoreau3646]

What about your tent ⛺️ 😊

[@ceciliahikes]

A little heads up, Jay, Permethrine and permethrine treated clothes is not allowed in Sweden. The alpine eco system on the Kings Trail and its surroundings is fragile, and people drink water unfiltered from the jokks, so it would be a good idea to not bring permethrine treated clothes there.

[@Ottawa9one9]

Looks like it's not legally available in Canada either.

[@CanadianSledDog]

@@Ottawa9one9 permethrin clothing is now legal in Canada, but you still can't get it to treat your own clothes, hypocritically. If you don't want to wear the pre treated stuff they make there are a few workarounds including a product intended as an indoor outdoor insecticide which uses permethrin.

[@fournierluc2205]

You have to add horse flies (they are bigger than deer flies), noseums and probably bed bugs at hostels.

[@db.mc2]

Thanks Jay 🙏appreciate you my friend, stay safe and take care 👍

[@StamfordBridge]

Great vid. Subbed.

[@CanadianSledDog]

In Nova Scotia we have ticks as bad as south of the border, but we can't buy permethrin to treat our clothes. We can ironically buy pre treated clothes, but who wants to change their whole outfit? Fortunately if you research similar products there are some permethrin workarounds that are not sold "for treating clothes". I'm going bikepacking for a few months and I'm definitely going to follow your layered defense approach, Jay! Permethrin and icaridin/picaridin. Lemon eucalyptus is proven to help but not in the same way as permethrin, deet, and icaridin. I will not wade in the water with my clothing because permethrin kills fish.

[@JayWandersOut]

On the PCT I tried lemon eucalyptus but found I needed to retreat after 3-4 hours so I went through a bottle pretty quickly. Bummer about not being able to buy permethrin. You'd think treatment for chronic Lyme disease is a high cost so reducing incidences would be better.

[@MikesHikeCanada]

@@JayWandersOut It's all about pollination and agricultural and the protection of the bees. Even our army (Canadian) can only use it during the time of war. Don't talk about this stuff around bee keepers, they get pissed.

[@CanadianSledDog]

@@MikesHikeCanada do you have any links on this subject? I'd like to minimize any damage. Also it's funny/sad that they sell it here in 1 gallon jugs as insecticide if the 24oz bottles are so dangerous...

[@ronaldrose7593]

Hello 👋 Jay, greetings from Northern California. Thank you for sharing the helpful hints to avoid ticks 🐜 and mosquitoes. Always the best of good things for you. Stay safe out there. 🤗 👋

[@KennyPowersHikes]

Thank you for the advice!! Start date is getting close. I’ll need this.

[@Mortalcoil100]

Additional tip: Wear compression shirt and short. Its a tight enough fit, they should be able to crawl underneath it... plus you can treat it w/permethrin.

[@ciscokid1999]

Great vlog Jay, good to get some ideas. Didn’t know about deet and the potential for ruining your equipment.

[@kristyhammett1833]

Be careful with Permethrin if you have cats. I have read that if they touch anything treated with it that it can kill them.

[@JayWandersOut]

Yes, true, but only of it's still wet. If it's dry it is safe for them.

[@andrea4633]

I also treat the outside of my sleeping bag with permethrine if I plan on cowboy camping or sleeping in shelters, never had creepy crawlies near me 🙂

[@susietopspin]

Just my opinion as a great video but I’d rather take precautions with long sleeves, pants, even in the summer heat. I’m not a fan of bug spray, especially on my skin so for that reason I am careful with clothing and bug net. Happy trails.🤟🏻🥾🏔

[@thomasconnors7511]

Great informative video. I live in the north so Poisonous snakes are uncommon. It seems from hiker blogs there common.

[@dancesonlogs4208]

Thanks Jay, your the best.

[@scoutplatoon8410]

Tu for the great information. Drive on

[@horsedog713]

I was also thinking of using Insta Shield but after speaking with them, it eliminated most of my clothes. They can’t do clothes already treated with DWR coating, or with SPF treatment, which eliminates much of current hiking clothes. Also they don’t recommend underwear. ( not FDA approved for underwear and next to skin layers. The final thing is that for them to apply and get the 6 month longevity, they have to essentially bake it in at high heat. Again, much of my clothing is all low heat tumble dry. So I didn’t want to risk wreaking my gear before I even started! Likely will apply spray as you did.

[@JayWandersOut]

Wow, no SPF clothing is a bummer as well. Back to good old normal permethrin it is then. I wish they included that on their exclusion list on their web site.

[@janmariolle]

Thanks for the great advice!

[@roberttrough6439]

Jay, one of the sports magazines tested bug sprays. They came up with putting about an inch spot on hat. An inch on back and front of coat or shirt. And inch on front of top of pants and back of pants. An inch on back of knees. Then same on boots. They claimed it built a barrier around you to prevent insects. They said to not put it on skin. If I were to guess I think it was Field and Stream maybe Outdoor Life? Maybe someone has some back issues? I read it in dentist office.

[@Ericidryfly]

Jay thanks for sharing what worked for you. Did you treat the netting on your Tent?

[@JayWandersOut]

No, it takes a lot more room on ground to treat the mesh and I found just smack the netting around before opening the door and the mosquitoes fly away for a few seconds.

[@Asdzaan]

Do Permethrin and Picaridin repel chiggers? A few AT hikers have mentioned being affected by chigger bites.

[@JayWandersOut]

Yes, permethrin repels chiggers. Not 100% sure a out picaridin but I'm leaning towards that it does. I was tramping around a high chigger woods once off trail with treated pants, sock, and shoes and didn't get any of them.

[@sirramblinrose]

Good strategy! I've followed a similar routine and after over 40 yrs of hiking have never had Lyme disease. Approximately, how long did a 4 oz bottle of Picaridin Insect Repellent lotion last you?

[@rickreynolds9957]

Are ticks as prevalent on the PCT as the AT ?

[@JayWandersOut]

It's mostly pretty dry on the PCT so it's not as common although I did get one on my leg while walking through a wet area while I was accidentally off trail. Fortunately Lyme disease isn't common though so it's a little safer.