[pct-l] Mosquito madness/TICKS

[Edward Anderson]

I think he had described what he did as "teasing" the tick.  Maybe he said "tickle". Anyway, I was impressed that it worked. He did tickle it, patiently, from the rear - of course, from the back end. Then it backed out.


I am sending this correspondence to both Ginny and Rockstar - they have sometimes posted on this list. Perhaps they will respond with their own description of what he did. 

MendoRider-Hiker

PS: Hi Ginny. Hi Rockstar





________________________________
 From: JPL <jplynch at crosslink.net>
To: Edward Anderson <mendoridered at yahoo.com>; Kristy Margulieux <kmmarg at gmail.com>; pct-l at backcountry.net 
Sent: Monday, May 6, 2013 2:26 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Mosquito madness/TICKS
 

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