A GOOD RINGTONE

Let's face the facts; your flesh is going to be eaten by bugs when you go hiking in the Olympic National Park. This is a picture of my bad mosquito bites collection two days into a five day hike in the park. Here are a few tips to help you cope with the mosquitoes.
1.Consider the hundreds of mosquito bites over your arms, leg, face, and neck the price of admission. You will never win the fight against them completely. A positive attitude goes a long way.
2.Whatever you do, do not ever scratch mosquito bites, not even once! Scratching the bites causes cortisol to be released which increases the itching and inflammation.
3.Forget about "natural repellents" nothing works except for DEET. Nothing. Scientifically they have all been disproved. Yes, DEET melts some plastics (maybe even your sleeping bag) and is toxic but you might as well throw your money away if you think citronella, skin so soft, raw garlic, etc. will make a difference. They wont and even DEET isn't 100% effective.
4.Get a head net that goes over a wide-brimmed hat, long sleeve shirt, pants and gloves. That is the only way you are going to enjoy yourself. Carry a tiny bottle of 100% deet and apply one drop at a time. Careful at night, that stuff can and will melt nylon sleeping bags!
5.If you (or your partner) does give into temptation and start itching the bites then you will wish you brought along some hydrocortisone or equivalent anti-inflamatory topical treatment. Personally, I go to the dermatologist and get the stuff that is so strong you aren't supposed to use it for more than a few days at a time for risk of nasty side effects. It is called Aclovate®. Dabbing a spot of that cream wherever you see red gives relief within a minute or two. Heavenly lovely priceless temporary relief.
6.The bloodsuckers are attracted to movement so all your flailing around will only make matters worse.
7.Try to camp in an area where there might be a breeze.
8.Winter camping rocks, take it up if you don't fancy being a blood donor
9.I just picked up the Buzz Off brand clothing and will report back here on its effectiveness.
10A bandanna is priceless for continuously beating them off you while you stop for a break. Yes, the movement attracts them but if you are in a swarm and want to stop for a break this is the only way to keep from being eaten alive. The bandanna is also indispensable when filtering water- get your hiking buddy to beat yourself and themselves while you sit defenseless for 5 minutes pumping a few liters of water.
11Learn to accept them with humor. If you begin to despise the mosquito you will go mad and your trip will end early.

Mosquito (from the Portuguese meaning "small fly") is a common flying insect in the family Culicidae that is found around the world. There are about 3,500 species of mosquitoes. They have a pair of scaled wings, a pair of halteres, a slender body, and six long legs. The females of most mosquito species suck blood (hematophagy) from other animals, which has made them the deadliest disease vector known, killing millions of people over thousands of years and continuing to kill millions per year by the spread of infectious diseases.

- Noel M. Young
Nikon D90 user