[pct-l] Mosquito madness/TICKS

[JPL]

Fascinating.  Can you describe the tick "teasing" in a little more detail? 
Can't quite visualize what was going on there....

-----Original Message----- 
From: Edward Anderson
Sent: Monday, May 06, 2013 5:22 PM
To: Kristy Margulieux ; pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Mosquito madness/TICKS

Permethrin is very effective as a defense against mosquitoes and ticks. I 
wore the ExOfficio clothes during my ride of the PCT between Mexico and 
Canada. I wore their socks, pants, shirt and the cap with cape to protect 
your neck. I did see several hikers who were miserable as they were being 
attacked by mosquitoes - while the mosquitoes hovered around me but didn't 
want to even land on my clothes much less than bite through.

Don't overlook the potential danger of TICKS. I have two old friends who 
were bitten by ticks about 20 years ago. They both ended up with Lymes 
disease - they have never fully recovered from it. That's a lot worse than 
having mosquitoes bite you on the PCT. Near Fobes Saddle, a hiker who I knew 
(Ginny) discovered that she had a tick well dug in. I offered to pull it out 
with my tweezers - then another hiker, fortunately, said not to try that, I 
might break off the head and leave it in. He said that he would show us how 
to get it to back out voluntarily.  It took him about five minutes or so, 
gradually "teasing" it  - then I, and she, and another hiker (Rockstar) were 
amazed to watch it back out, leaving no parts behind.


I have no experience treating clothes myself.  It's effectiveness must 
depend on the cloth's ability to absorb the permethrin. I trusted in the 
factory treating procedure.

MendoRider-Hiker