You should all be checking the pull-down menus for important info about What to Bring, Rules, Menu, etc. But first, you should read this & take it seriously. Thanks!
This is direct from Dr. Jen, who has the utmost hope & care for the health of our attendees.
There are signs that this might be the worse year for Lyme disease EVER in New England. So as you pack for our favorite annual weekend in the woods a la mode, please consider what you can do to avoid getting bitten by ticks.
One trick is to wear long pants, and tuck the pants into your socks. The ticks can’t find their way to your skin. Plus, this is a great way to show off the purple-and-pink argyle socks you’ve been saving for a special occasion.
Another trick is to use tick repellents. Products with DEET are good insect repellents — they do a pretty good job at keeping mosquitoes away — but ticks aren’t insects. For them, look for products containing permethrin. Spray your socks and the bottom part of your pants (inside and out for the pants!) with the repellent. Permethrin goes on the clothes, DEET goes on the skin. Now, some folks may be sensitive to permethrin. If you’ve ever had a bad reaction to Elimite or Nix (creams and shampoos used for scabies and lice), you might not want to use permethrin on your clothes. Also, cats are REALLY REALLY sensitive to this stuff. If you have a cat, don’t put this stuff on your clothes when you’re at home; wait until you get to the mountain.
If you do get bitten, the chances of getting Lyme are greatly reduced if you get the tick off within 24 hours. But ticks are small, and you might not be able to see them yourself. We’ll bring the magnifying glass; you decide who you’d like to ask for a tick check.
Thanks!