[pct-l] Yellow jackets and EpiPens on the PCT

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

I don't have any real wisdom except to say that here in So Cal I  
mostly see them in late August to September.

I have had enough really bad experiences with them that I'm scared to  
death by them. Once I stepped into a nest and was stung multiple  
times in about 20 places. They burrowed under my hat and stung my  
hairline. They stung me on the arms, I would scrape them off and  
they'd come immediately back and sting me some more. They burrowed  
under my day pack and stung me down my back. They are like ticks the  
way they burrow into tight spaces. I have been irrationally afraid  
ever since.

This weekend while hiking on a local trail, we saw a hole next to the  
trail and some gray, old comb next to it. I was too afraid. So I  
backtracked about a quarter of a mile and hiked down a creek instead  
until I was able to rejoin the trail beyond the bees.


On Sep 10, 2012, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> Subject: [pct-l] Yellow jackets and EpiPens on the PCT
>
> About two years ago I was stung 6 times by yellow jackets who had
> established a nest in my front yard. The stings were painful but  
> that was
> about it. Two months later I was stung 3 more times. That second  
> incident
> resulted in a severe allergic reaction and I now carry an Epipen  
> with me as
> a result. The yellow jacket nest was also removed shortly after  
> that (so
> much for "live and let live" ).
>
>
>
> I'm currently doing the planning for a possible PCT hike in 2013. I've
> continued to do hiking, backpacking, trail work, etc. during the  
> last two
> years but always carry the EpiPen and back off if I think that I've  
> gotten
> close to a nest. This approach has been successful so far.
>
>
>
> I'd be interested in any wisdom that people on the list can provide on
> yellow jackets on the PCT; e.g. which sections are more likely for
> encounters,  strategies for replacing Epipens, etc.
>
>
>
> Thanks.