Backpacking Discussions

I would like to hear from anyone that has any interesting stories about mosquitos. Also if you have any interesting ways of keeping mozzies at bay.

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Smedburg Lake in Northern Yosemite, end of August. I re-named it Mosquito Heaven lake. I had never seen so many in one place in my life, nor since. I swear that every one that I killed was instantly reincarnated as TWINS!

Every time we opened our mouths, 'skitters would fly in. They'd fly into the steam as I boiled water for dinner/brkfast and drop into the water. I gave up bailing them out cuz I was losing too much water, (we just pretended those little legs and wings were part of the meal). It was very hot the next morning, but we had to wear 3 layers of clothing so as not to get bit. (This was near the end of a 3-week trip and we were out of repellent.) My outer coat was orange, but the back was black with the little Satanic vampires.

Does mosquito spray not always work?

Well... funny story. I was SURE that I packed my repellent in the front pocket of my backpack for easy access right? Well I got to Smedburg Lake and I took off my backpack to get my spray and it wasn't there! I looked through my whole bag and couldn't find it. I couldn't believe it! When I got home I realized I left it on the kitchen table. haha I'm an idiot. But I was using new spray I got where the active ingredient was Citronella, a natural oil from some type of grass. I used it on a trip a few months after my trip to Yosemite, and it worked fine, but I don't know if it would have worked well enough at "Mosquito Heaven Lake" haha.

Just don't put on any lotion or sweet smelling stuff on you. It attracts a lot of insects and not only mosqs. My girlfriend had to learn that the hard way. LOL

haha ya I had a friend put on lotion, which I thought smelt amazing, but I guess so did the mosquitoes. I read an article that says how just recently, scientists think that some people's bodies give off smells that make their odors, so that bugs aren't as attracted to them, pretty interesting. I don't get bit all to often, but I do on occasion.