From: Jerry Lewis (jerrylewis@attbi.com)
Date: Thu Feb 14 2002 - 21:48:03 CST
There never seems to be a pattern. In my ten visits since '89, there were 3
incidents bad enough to stay in memory. All were South and West, the primary areas
in the previous post answers. Too much wind and cooler temps up North, I think.
Upper Bench would be a really deadly place if the mosquitoes ever got going because
the lake there is really low and swampy. The 4 times I've either been through there
or stayed overnight, there were none.
In '92, we got hit so hard by mosquitoes climbing up out of the drainage from Red
Hills to Big Red that people were screaming in agony. I was the only one with
repellant because the Ranger had convinced everyone there were no mosquitoes at
Philmont. I passed the bottle up from the back. Otherwise, I really think we were
about to climb back down and get into tents.
In '95, mosquitoes were really, really bad at dusk and early night at Clear Creek.
The beaver ponds surrounding the place had become mosquito factories. The other 3
times I've been to or through Clear Creek, there were none. Same amount of water in
the ponds, just different temp, lower humidity, and who knows what.
In '97, we were hit pretty hard by mosquitoes while eating lunch at Thunder Ridge.
The main reason you don't need much insect repellant at Philmont is you rarely need
it until after 4 pm, the time after when you can't apply it. Sometimes, particularly
in the South Country when we're heading into an area I know there'll be standing
water, I suggest to the crew leader that we stop on the trail or gather back in camp
and apply it early, around 3 pm, even though it may be a wasted use. Just a very
little seems to always do the job.
Regarding flies and big black flies, they frequent any place there is horse or donkey
poop. The big black flies live mostly around Ponil and Clark's Fork although they
can show up anywhere, but rarely. I've never been bothered by them except just
before a hard rain. The sudden lowering in air pressure excites them, somehow, and
they start biting--hard! It's an old folklore weather predictor; and it works.
I carry and suggest 1 other advisor carry a tiny bottle filled with Jungle Juice sold
by REI. Its DEET is strong enough for anything south of Chicago and slight enough so
as not to harm teenaged skin. I put it in the tiniest contact lens wetting solution
bottle sold. The cap screws on versus popping up. (Suggest re-reading the previous
sentence!) We carry a couple (on those treks I've convinced the other advisors not
to sneak any more in); and have never used up either bottle.
Jerry Lewis
ASM & Philmont 2002 Advisor, 625-K-5
Troop 303, McKinney TX
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