Those who are sailors will be acquainted with the Beaufort Scale, which is used to grade the force of winds at sea. A force ten gale is something fierce, and the scale tops out at twelve--a full-blown hurricane. Each step is accompanied by a description of the sea at that force of wind. A good system.

So we were thinking...

What if we had a similar scale for mosquitoes in the wilderness? We could call it the Bugforce Scale. Here's our suggestion:

0--Zero. Really. No mosquitoes.
1--I think I may have seen one. But maybe it was a gnat.
2--OK, I saw one, and heard one, but didn't actually get bitten,
3--Yeah, there were some in a few spots. Only the timid put on organic bug juice.
4--Got a few bites, but I got more of them than they got of me.
5--Time for DEET at dawn and dusk. Hiking, we just slapped and sped up.
6--DEET while hiking. Headnets at dawn and dusk
7--Pick your camp spots carefully, up on the ridge in the wind. Bites between hat and sunglasses--how do they get in there?
8--Long sleeves and long pants, I don't care how hot it is. Pray for wind.
9--Headnets while hiking, or you'll breathe in at least one bug per mile. DEET dissolves sunglasses
10--Clouds of mosquitoes waiting on the trail and on the screen of the tent. Open warfare. DEET dissolves watchband, and it's stainless steel.
11--We made it out alive.
12--They got Larry. RIP, Larry.

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Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

13--Small children carried off by organized clouds of mosquitoes.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/14/2020 11:15AM by eeek.

Quote
eeek
13--Small children carry off my organized clouds of mosquitoes.

I have to assume this is supposed to say "Small children are carried off by organized clouds of mosquitos." but the original version has interesting connotations, too!

We experienced #11 on the Bugforce Scale while hiking Desolation Wilderness as we approached Mosquito Pass @ Lake Aloha. We ran. We ran fast. We ran Usain Bolt fast but with flailing arms.

LOL That is great.

I HATE mosquitoes.

Was bit by one on three spots on the back of my knee. I told my husband they show pictures of hell full of fire. They should show a place full of mosquitoes.