[pct-l] Insect repellent

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Don,

I'm not too concerned about bears, but I do wonder what cougars would think
of the stuff.

Steel-Eye

On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 11:43 AM, Don Billings <dbillings803 at yahoo.com>wrote:

> I've seen various comments about how bears don't discriminate upon odors
> that might indicate food. Would catnip oil create a bear attraction
> problem? (I'd rather have mosquito bites than bear bites).
>
> Don
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: "abiegen at cox.net" <abiegen at cox.net>
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Sent: Thu, April 8, 2010 10:45:14 AM
> Subject: [pct-l]  Insect repellent
>
> I learned a few years ago that catnip is 10X stronger at repelling
> mosquitoes than DEET.
>
> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010828075659.htm
>
> The problem is that here in southern California we have very few mosquitoes
> so it was hard to test out (poor southern California). On one trip when I
> went out to hike with Piper, we camped next to a beautiful lake which we
> later discovered was infested with mosquitoes. I had mixed DEET with catnip
> oil and brought it with me. I rubbed it on my arms and face. Piper had DEET.
> Piper was plagued with mosquitoes. For me, they didn't even land on me. I
> chuckled until it was time for bed. Then I took off my shirt to change into
> my sleeping clothes. I got several dozen bites on my back in the few seconds
> it took to get my sleeping shirt on.
>
> I always bring 100% DEET or close to 100%. Mostly because it's smaller and
> less weight. You can put it on thinner if you want or mix it with sun block.
> Or with catnip oil if you want to experiment. The catnip oil is, well, oily
> and heavy so not so pleasant on the skin.
>
> TrailHacker
>
> >I guess most folks carry DEET.  What concentration do folks find the best?
>  And
> do you carry a spray container (how much)?  Or just a plain bottle?
>  Coleman has
> just come out with several different DEET products of different
> concentrations
> and different sizes.
>
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