How bad are the flies/mosquitoes in Manitoba?
Brian Manning Delaney
I'm planning to drive up to Manitoba and do some hiking in Whiteshell,
and then head as far north as the roads take me, and do some camping
by some of the remote northern lakes.
I've heard the bugs are so bad that it's better to go around
September, though it gets cold.
Anyone have info on this?
Thanks much,
--
Brian M. Delaney <b-de...@uchicago.edu>
or <bmde...@midway.uchicago.edu>
"My genius is in my nostrils." -Nietzsche.
Scott Howard
Once you've experienced them in Mid-Summer north of Lake Winnipeg, you'll
spend the rest of your life trying to convince someone, at least one person
how thick they really are.
Glenn Driscoll
In a previous article, bmde...@ellis.uchicago.edu (Brian Manning Delaney) says:
>
>I'm planning to drive up to Manitoba and do some hiking in Whiteshell,
>and then head as far north as the roads take me, and do some camping
>by some of the remote northern lakes.
>
>I've heard the bugs are so bad that it's better to go around
>September, though it gets cold.
>
>Anyone have info on this?
Brian ...
My first word of advice (after living on the Canadian Prairies much of my
life, and born in Winnepeg) is to stay in Chicago, and not even worry
about the bugs in CENTRAL Manitoba (There are NO Roads into Northern
Manitoba); however, assuming that you are determined to go into the wilds
of mosquito (and no-see-um, and black fly, and deer fly ...) country there
are a few things you might want to consider ---
The favourite mosquito repellant used locally goes under the brand name
"MUSKOL" and comes in a small plastic squeeze bottle (about 2-3 oz) for
about 5 bucks (Cdn). It is 95% DEET, so be careful around your eyes,
lips, etc. You should expect to use about 1 bottle/day/person.
Even though the lakes appear to be clean, boil all water because of a
small parasite which causes "beaver fever" (I forget the technical name
for it); and is prevalent during the summer months.
Be prepared (at least during August) to get "pressed" into fighting forest
fires ... should a fire break out in your vicinity (e.g. within 100
miles), you are obligated to help fight the fire to the extent of your
ability (as determined by the forester in charge). The penalty for
non-compliance is to spend the time in jail "awaiting trial" until the
fire is under control.
In early September the chances are quite good that the weather during the
day will be around 20-25 degrees Celsius (60-75 deg. F), but be prepared
for blizzard conditions any time after labour day. On a warm day, the
temperature during the evening & nighttime can easily go well below
freezing, and the mornings can be extremely chilly in a tent or camper.
Have a good time.
Glenn.
--
Glenn Driscoll | 'Tis a Gift to be simple ...
Victoria BC Canada | Shaker Wisdom
John Bishop
: In a previous article, bmde...@ellis.uchicago.edu (Brian Manning Delaney) says:
: >
: >I'm planning to drive up to Manitoba...
: >
: >...I've heard the bugs are so bad ...
: >
: >Anyone have info on this?
: The favourite mosquito repellant used locally goes under the brand name
: "MUSKOL" and comes in a small plastic squeeze bottle (about 2-3 oz) for
: about 5 bucks (Cdn). It is 95% DEET, so be careful around your eyes,
: lips, etc. You should expect to use about 1 bottle/day/person.
1 bottle/day? Yikes!! I used about 20% of a bottle of muskol over a three-
day weekend earlier this summer against the best blackflies that Ontario
could offer (near Georgian Bay), and a few days later my skin began to peel.
I would advise getting yourself a bug hat too :-)
Jonathan Bishop
jbi...@phoebus.sunnybrook.utoronto.ca