I'm just back from a week on the Allagash. Started June 23, finished June 29. According to several Allagash rangers and our guide (who's been doing this 40 years), this is the worst black fly season in 40 years and also one of the worst mosquito seasons.
A few days before I left for the trip, I soaked all my clothes and hat in 0.5% Permethrin. Note: I didn't spray. I soaked in a five gallon bucket. (To make that economical, I bought a 10% concentrate and diluted.) I also made sure all my clothes were light colored; mostly tan or light grey and including a Columbia PFG shirt that is WHITE. I also applied Picaradin behind my ears and at the hair line. I can count the bug bites I got on two hands with a few fingers to spare The rest of our group of 16 were totally DEVOURED. They used DEET on their skin and in some instances had sprayed (but not soaked) their clothes in Permethrin. But they wore dark clothes, too. The ones who made fun of my white shirt weren't laughing for long. They had clouds of black flies around them. I was barely bugged.
I am totally sold on Permethrin. I am also impressed with the Picaridin, which is SO much more pleasant than DEET. I used the Sawyer brand Picaridin cream and it neither smells, nor leaves a greasy feel (and doesn't melt plastic like DEET). If it worked for me in these horrendous conditions, I think it will work for just about anyone.
A few days before I left for the trip, I soaked all my clothes and hat in 0.5% Permethrin. Note: I didn't spray. I soaked in a five gallon bucket. (To make that economical, I bought a 10% concentrate and diluted.) I also made sure all my clothes were light colored; mostly tan or light grey and including a Columbia PFG shirt that is WHITE. I also applied Picaradin behind my ears and at the hair line. I can count the bug bites I got on two hands with a few fingers to spare The rest of our group of 16 were totally DEVOURED. They used DEET on their skin and in some instances had sprayed (but not soaked) their clothes in Permethrin. But they wore dark clothes, too. The ones who made fun of my white shirt weren't laughing for long. They had clouds of black flies around them. I was barely bugged.
I am totally sold on Permethrin. I am also impressed with the Picaridin, which is SO much more pleasant than DEET. I used the Sawyer brand Picaridin cream and it neither smells, nor leaves a greasy feel (and doesn't melt plastic like DEET). If it worked for me in these horrendous conditions, I think it will work for just about anyone.
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