[pct-l] My first hiking journey.

[David Money Harris]

I hate DEET and find the natural alternatives ineffective.  I didn’t use it in the Sierra.  Instead, I wore long pants and long sleeves and a hat with bandana soaked in permethrin, which the bugs hate.  Coupled with plenty of facial hair by that point, the only exposed skin were my hands.  I brought thin rubber gloves for rain and bugs, and only had to wear them in Bear Creek and in a bit of northern Yosemite.  There were several days when I couldn’t take many stops because the bugs were so bad, but I’ve had the same experience even with DEET.

David

> On Feb 22, 2015, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2015 21:38:06 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Jim & Jane Moody <moodyjj at comcast.net <mailto:moodyjj at comcast.net>>
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net <mailto:pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] My first hiking journey.
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> 
> EMichael, 
> Let me be the first of many to say "Don't omit the deet". You won't need it much at first (I assume you are starting at Campo), but by the time you hit the Sierra, and especially Oregon, you'll not only need it, you'll kill for it. 
> 
> Otherwise, your gear choices look reasonable. If you haven't yet read the various threads on shoes and sizing them, it would be helpful to look in the archives and study the suggestions before you buy them. 
> 
> Have a great trip. 
> 
> Mango