Best time to avoid all insect pests
The last time we drove to Alaska, we left the US in mid-June and returned in mid-July. The mosquitoes feasted on us all the way. Another thread asked about black flies. We didn't have a problem with t...
Forum Discussion
For most summer visitors to the north country, location is going to be more important than the month. I have seem mosquitos out in the spring when there is still snow on the ground. Just takes a few warm day and a few puddles of water and they will hatch out.
Many people go to the north and seldom see a bug that bites. The last time we stayed at the River Side Campground in Fairbanks for a week, I remember we saw one mosquito in that time frame. If a person stays more to the urban areas of the north to camp, bugs are normally not too bad. Get into the type terrain they enjoy, muskeg, trees, shade, standing water or swampy conditions such as the permafrost areas, etc and you will find the critters.
But some of my favorite places to camp, are bug havens, such as the BLM campground at Tangle Lakes, Dawson's Peak on the Alaska Hwy, some of the government type campgrounds built back in the trees, etc. One of the reasons so many of the commercial campgrounds are built as large gravel parking lots, is not only is it cheaper to run utilities, but you have much less of a bug problem.
I have to keep telling myself, the bugs serve a purpose in the north, and this is a major food source for all the migrating birds that spent their summers in the north, raising their young, etc. It takes a lot of bugs to feed a growing gosling or duckling. LOL So watch where you camp and you can reduce the times you become a major donor of blood, etc. for the insects. To me the major bugs to watch out for are the mosquitos, gnats, (these guys will ley their eggs under your skin), no see ums and for me, the white socks as I have a bad reaction to them. They are of the deer fly/ black fly family from what I understand. The biting horse flies at Liard River Hot Springs can be a real challenge at times, as well. They will take chunks of meat off your body as you get in and out of the water at times. Other times there won't be a single fly in the area, not sure what are the determining factors.
Much depends on whether you are talking about a wet cool summer or a hot dry one, also how much snow was received the previous winter, smoke from forest fires clears them out as well. I don't care for the idea of wearing the treated bugs suits, but favor long pants, long sleeve shirts, cotton gloves and a head net, with all the seams taped with duct tape. On many fall hunting and fishing trips on the rivers of Alaska, this was what I wore 24 hours a day, including while sleeping. This wardrobe and lotsie (a good northern word) bug dope with high DEET levels.
The bugs also help new travels have some good stories to tell the folks back home, when they get back. All part of the adventure/survival, of taking a trip to the north country.
Many people go to the north and seldom see a bug that bites. The last time we stayed at the River Side Campground in Fairbanks for a week, I remember we saw one mosquito in that time frame. If a person stays more to the urban areas of the north to camp, bugs are normally not too bad. Get into the type terrain they enjoy, muskeg, trees, shade, standing water or swampy conditions such as the permafrost areas, etc and you will find the critters.
But some of my favorite places to camp, are bug havens, such as the BLM campground at Tangle Lakes, Dawson's Peak on the Alaska Hwy, some of the government type campgrounds built back in the trees, etc. One of the reasons so many of the commercial campgrounds are built as large gravel parking lots, is not only is it cheaper to run utilities, but you have much less of a bug problem.
I have to keep telling myself, the bugs serve a purpose in the north, and this is a major food source for all the migrating birds that spent their summers in the north, raising their young, etc. It takes a lot of bugs to feed a growing gosling or duckling. LOL So watch where you camp and you can reduce the times you become a major donor of blood, etc. for the insects. To me the major bugs to watch out for are the mosquitos, gnats, (these guys will ley their eggs under your skin), no see ums and for me, the white socks as I have a bad reaction to them. They are of the deer fly/ black fly family from what I understand. The biting horse flies at Liard River Hot Springs can be a real challenge at times, as well. They will take chunks of meat off your body as you get in and out of the water at times. Other times there won't be a single fly in the area, not sure what are the determining factors.
Much depends on whether you are talking about a wet cool summer or a hot dry one, also how much snow was received the previous winter, smoke from forest fires clears them out as well. I don't care for the idea of wearing the treated bugs suits, but favor long pants, long sleeve shirts, cotton gloves and a head net, with all the seams taped with duct tape. On many fall hunting and fishing trips on the rivers of Alaska, this was what I wore 24 hours a day, including while sleeping. This wardrobe and lotsie (a good northern word) bug dope with high DEET levels.
The bugs also help new travels have some good stories to tell the folks back home, when they get back. All part of the adventure/survival, of taking a trip to the north country.
