Mosquitoes, how to deal with them the lightweight way?

[jeffkerkove]

6/19-20 I attempted my first overnight CTR test run.  Everything went perfect....bike, weather, trails, etc, etc.  

The issue...which I didn't think would be as issue, as it hasn't been the last few years was the mosquitoes!  The little bastards were bad...super bad!  First attempted bivy was at 10,500 ft.  Made it about 1 hour with no sleep before packing up and moving down to 9,000 ft to try again.  Yep, still bad.  In one final attempt I moved to 7,000 ft were it was overall drier and about 10F warmer.  Still the same issue.  For reference, I was bivy'n up on the northern side of Rocky Mountain National Park out east of the Cameron Pass area.

So my question is: What are the lightweight options to dealing with this potential issue at CTR that folks are using or suggest.  I don't want to carry a tent...or anything with poles.  Not a fan of bug spray....haven't found anything that works for me.  Mesh sleeping net? Brand or model?

[12wheels]

I've been using a homemade version of the SMD Meteor this year and am happy with its performance.
http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/community/myo_MeteorBivy.html
It's easy to make and weighs 8.5oz packed.  I combine it with a lightweight 5x9ft tarp for protection from the wind and rain.

[Outsider]

A simple mesh headnet weighs only a few grams and keeps the bugs out when sleeping. I've used one with success, but for anything more than that I think something like 12wheels showed in this post, http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,605.msg8028.html#msg8028, would be better. I'm making one myself currently.

[ScottM]

Yeah, bugs are no good.  Pretty sure I carried a mesh head net on the CTR last year, but I don't recall using it.

Best solution is to just keep riding. 

[riverfever]

I've not had issues with them on the CT unless I'm filtering water and then it's minor. Definitely no issues when sleeping. Stop eating all those bananas Jeff. 

[DaveC]

I'd think bugs would be much less of an issue come race time, when things have dried out a bit.  Also, usually moving higher (and colder) will get you away from the bugs.

A hednet is the lightest and simplest, and if you can be in your bag all the way will keep you from getting bitten, but not from hearing them at close range.  Earplugs are useful in that regard.  A bivy with bug netting is the other solution, but has similar problems with noise.

[jeffkerkove]

Yeah, the mosquitoes were equally bad at all elevations.  Lots of water in the high country right now.  Lots of little stream and the ground generally just 'seeps' in spots.   Agree, most likely won't be an issue come race time.  Thanks for the feedback everyone!

[the_mc5]

When I thru-hiked the CT back in the day, we had a very bad mosquito section between Copper Mtn and Twin Lakes. For a few days we fled uphill in the evenings to make camp in the center of large snowfields. That was a blessed relief.

[Done]

Consumer Reports just did a review of insect repellents. (Imagine a bunch of guys in lab coats sticking their arms into cages full of mosquitoes and ticks for hours--yummy!) They rated Repel, which uses oil of lemon eucalyptus, as one of the better ones out there. Last summer, I successfully used Natrapel and other Picaridin-based stuff, which is WAY better than horrible DEET, but I'm going to try Repel this summer.

[paxton coyote]

 Anyone had any experience with those thermocell things that all the deer hunters in treestands are using these days? Might be an option.

[naked indian]

Anyone had any experience with those thermocell things that all the deer hunters in treestands are using these days? Might be an option.

I live in FLorida. Land of the MOsquitoes.

I have used the OFF fan with success.

works,

In the summer, a drop cloth a blanket and my OFF fan composes my sleep  kit. I have also used Repel if nasty situations, Not a fan of bug spray, but not a fan of horse flies and mosquitos either...

[Eric]

 a head net and earplugs.

[DiDaDunlop]

what about an integral designs bugnet?

http://www.integraldesigns.com/product_detail.cfm?id=771&CFID=1318665&CFTOKEN=84256465

just find something to attach it to. Tree/roadsign/bike

[HOser]

Jeff, you just need to lay off all the yummy New Belgium and Odells beverages you have access to there in the Fort.  People who drinking beer attract more mosquitoes (seriously).  Apparently it's a myth that bananas have an effect.  Perfume attracts them too, you wearing any?
http://www.mosquito.org/mosquito-information/faq.aspx#13

[Done]

I read somewhere that Jeff doesn't like beer. Living in Fort Collins and not enjoying beer is like living in Hawaii and not liking the ocean! 

[jeffkerkove]

I read somewhere that Jeff doesn't like beer. Living in Fort Collins and not enjoying beer is like living in Hawaii and not liking the ocean! 

  You are correct sir!

[riverfever]

That's odd because I like beer and generally don't have problems with the skeeters. Maybe I drink too much of it?

[VABikePacker]

Through the summer months here I'll periodically put some white vinegar in water.  it doesn't taste real good, but, you end up sweating the vinegar and the skeeters apparently REALLY don't like that...friends nearby while in sweating mode never have said anything about a different odor....

[boddunn]

If you're hardcore you just scratch

[VABikePacker]

I guess my hardcore A*& can still read about your hardcore A*& in a hospital bed with west nile??