Oregon Hikers

On the way back from Rogue River, I found one on my back

Out of focus sorry: Used a tick twister to remove: At home I found another. Waiting to see if rash expands forming "bullseye"...

I pulled off side of freeway and took my shirt off to get to it.

I should have treated my boots, gaiters, and pants with permethrin

Thanks for the reminder Jerry: just ordered a new big bottle of permethrin off Amazon

same here, except I got 12 ounce bottle of Sawyer which should be good for years

retired jerry wrote:On the way back from Rogue River, I found one on my back


At home I found another. Waiting to see if rash expands forming "bullseye"...

I'm sure you know this already but the bullseye might not show up. It didn't for me. Keep an eye on how you feel in a month because that's when everything starts to hit. I came home covered in deer ticks (This was in Maryland, not here) and kept an eye on myself but I never got the rash. But I did start to have aching joints, general fatigue, and most tellingly, a rather surprising aversion to light. I was going into dark corners of rooms because light made me uncomfortable. Mostly I just felt vaguely ill.

Got a blood test and sure enough I had lyme. Went on antibiotics for a month and now I'm fine.

Ticks are the worst.

Thanks, I'll watch for that

Deer ticks in Northeast are more likely to have Lyme

Oh great, a thread in which an old man gripes about stuff he hates, complete with body pics I picked up my first tick of 2018 last weekend. Fortunately was in an accessible spot. I cringe at the thought of a back tick, or anyplace that requires a mirror.

I hike fully clothed at all times, even when hot, due to mosquitos, ticks, thorns, uv rays, poison oak, etc. But yeah, ticks find a way in. I don't want full-body permethin coverage if i can avoid it, but i guess i should at least get the entry points, like the bottom of shirt and waistband of pants.

Chip Down wrote:I don't want full-body permethin coverage if i can avoid it, but i guess i should at least get the entry points, like the bottom of shirt and waistband of pants.

If ever there was an easy risk assessment, it's Permethrin vs. Lyme's disease and its friends. Any danger of Permethrin-treated clothing sure doesn't show up in the studies. Lyme's on the other hand...

I hike fully naked at all times, and then gripe about it

Actually, I used to wear short sleeves and shorts, but now I always wear pants and long sleeves - sun, mosquitoes, biting flies

I think the problem is that you brush against brush that has ticks on it, and then they climb aboard

Boots and legs are the most critical, treat them with permethrin and the ticks will not stay on you

If you're in tall brush that your arms and torso contact then you better treat your shirt and jacket too

And inspect yourself after hiking, that was my mistake. I should take a small mirror.

retired jerry wrote:I should take a small mirror.

Got a smartphone?