How To Comfortably Hike Through Mosquito Season

[@urbanbanjogurl]

Thank you! After growing up in AK and hiking there, these skeeters are tame here compared to Alaska blood suckers! I've been doing all your tips and I hike pretty OK most time,every now and then tho I get into a aggressive hatch,but the hike must go on!

[@slowlife2158]

I like your suggestions, they are very similar to what I do. I love my head net! There is some research that suggests mosquitos are attracted to bright colors like red and magenta, basically flower colors. So I keep my gear in muted tones like white, beige, green. And of course some of us are just more attractive to mosquitoes, genetically, we all know who we are, lol. Last thing, I found a great remedy to get the itch of a bite to subside: heat. I heat up my spoon with my lighter and then carefully test it on my skin until it is quite hot but not so hot it will actually burn, just sting a little. Makes the bite stop itching for the rest of the day.

[@HikeOregon]

I had no idea about the bright colors! Maybe that’s why I am experiencing less mosquitoes this year because I am wearing that muted blue shirt instead of my bright pink Columbia shirt?!

[@lanceyokota5031]

I rely mainly on clothing like you do. However, when the mosquitoes are ferocious I spray the inside brim of my hat and long-sleeve shirt with Premium Maxi Deet from Sawyer (98% Deet). It’s in a 1/2 oz. pump spray container. I had to do that last week when I backpacked through a wet river canyon.

[@Puddlejumpfun]

That looks like Duffy Lake area. If it is, I took myself and 3 kids BP there 7/9. Worst Mosquitos ever experienced, bit through every layer. Had sprayed the gear, wore long sleeve everything, head net, 100% Bens deet spray and Off backwoods, plus those bracelets and thermacel mosquito repellent with a fuel canister. Sprayed every 15 min with bug spray morning and evening. Cut trip to just an overnight. Ended up with 80 mosquito bites and a lot of bruises from the mosquito bites. Friend told me it was probably because of the snow thaw/larva to mosquito timeline and we hit the worst part. Now I'm afraid to go out again until September, but I really want to get the kids at least one more trip out to one of the Mt. Hood lakes..

[@HikeOregon]

Oh gosh! This was rosary lakes. I actually only saw 3 mosquitoes…I let that one bite me intentionally for the video. lol

[@rickalexander2801]

When at your campsite do you use a Thermacell and if so, what are your thoughts on it? Great video as always.

[@HikeOregon]

I don’t use a thermacell.

[@Puddlejumpfun]

I used Thermacell with fuel canister for the first time 2 weeks ago. Works really well IF it isn't windy. It takes 15 min to get it warmed up and clear a 15 FT area (give or take), one pad insert lasts 4 hours the small fuel canister will provide 90 hours. My friend uses 2, one on each end of her camp area (that's kind of spendy and weight heavy, but she uses the backpack hanging version). Anyway, It saved us during our evening dinner and hangout on our last trip. Some mosquitos will get through, but a couple V.S swarm clouds was way better, and we were able to take the head nets off.