Bugs in the Eyes

“Do bugs going for the moisture in your eyes drive you nuts? Insane!? I've found that the most effective way of dealing with this annoyance is to wear a cap, and place DEET on the underside of the bill. Problem solved. Enjoy.”

“Should we start calling you Hiking Heloise now? (just kidding!)

BTW, I hope you're putting that DEET on before you put on the cap so you don't get it in your eyes!”

“Hike in fall and winter.

Summer sux!”

“Yes, and use a pump spray bottle to keep it off your hands. If you rub your eyes, or put your hands where maybe they shouldn't go, that could bring a different kind of annoyance.”

“I always transfer the REI jungle juice to another bottle for this reason.”

“I use a headnet and spray OFF on the outside. I don't like DEET on my skin.”

“hmmm... I never realized the flies were after my eyeball moisture. I would think easier moisture would be about.”

“I've heard skeeters are attracted to the gases (carbon dioxide?) coming from your breathing. If true, that would put 'em in your face too.”

“Ja, I've heard the CO2 attractant also. I totally believe that.”

“Well, anyway, the bugs are in your face for some reason. A cap alone is actually pretty effective even without DEET. I've been told that bugs are reluctant to fly below the level of the cap's bill. DEET just adds that extra incentive for them to buzz off.

For me, wearing a cap has a double incentive. First, it keeps the bugs outta my face. And second, when I'm on a particularly long and steep climb, with little or no aesthetic value, I like to keep my eyes trained on the ground. The cap's bill acts like a horse's blinders...I climb harder and with more energy when I don't look at what's ahead of me.”

“I sometimes like to eat bugs while I am backpacking.

If they get too close to my face they can become a small anack!

8)”

“What's an anack?

:-P”

“A new way to snack!

Hheheheheeh!!!!!

8)”