On my past two backpacking trips, I’ve brought along a Gossamer Gear bug canopy to keep the bugs of my face when I sleep in open shelters. Weighing only 2.3 oz., this bug net can be hung underneath a tarp or in a shelter. Setting it up requires a little practice however and it’s best […]

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I just got back from an epic 40 mile hike section of the Long Trail in Vermont, hiking northbound from Rt. 9 to Rt. 11/30. The weather was great. We had a little rain the first night before our first day of hiking, and after that, blue sky with wispy clouds. The nights were in […]

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Permethrin is a contact pesticide that kills black flies, ticks, and mosquitoes on contact but has no harmful side effects on humans if used properly. It is the active ingredient used in Buzz Off and Insect Shield clothing sold by Ex Officio and kills bugs when they land on your clothing by overloading their nervous […]

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Black flies are prevalent on the Long Trail in Vermont from spring through mid-summer. I’m going to be backpacking then and I’ve been devising some strategies to reduce the annoyance and health risk they pose.
My first line of defense is gong to be clothing. Although I hate hiking in long pants, I’m going to wear […]

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Black fly season occurs from mid-March to mid-July in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, north through New York and New England, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and into Southern Canada. Some backpackers, campers and fishermen avoid outdoor activities during black fly season, but the rest of us soldier on despite the bugs, glad to escape the […]

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