[pct-l] ants, not yellow jackets

[Jim & Jane Moody]

During my section hike this year (about 550 miles in No Cal and So Ore), the critter that caused me most problem was ants.  Not the big black ones that are common from Campo on, but smaller brown ones.  I unwittingly pitched the Lunar Solo on or near a nest of the little devils between Burney and Mt Shasta, and the next morning I had dozens of small holes in the silnylon.  Fortunately, I had to end the hike before the Was hington rains, but I water-tested it after I got home, and it leaks, just as I expected. 



Another hiker I met in Portland had this same trouble, and Falling Water (Ron Mauk) recommended that he patch each one with a small bit of silnylon, using diluted seam sealer as the glue.  I have too many holes for that, which would take forever.  Anyone else had this problem? 



Is there another remedy?  What about "painting" it with diluted seam sealer? 



Is there a way to repel ants?  Spray the edges with Deet?  Permethrin? 



Or am I forced to replace the tent?  Any suggestions will be appreciated.  



Mango