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I went up the Whitney trail to Mount Muir yesterday - no mosquitoes in the morning and then very few when I was coming down later in the day. I was surprised.

He was right to make those comments.

I was told by someone who seemingly knows his shit-encyclopedic mind- that 100% Deet can be found in your bloodstream within 7min. of putting it on. Don't know if it's true or not, but, I tend to use 30% or less.

Fletch wrote:Where might some hardworking REI type with an affinity for 100% DEET come across such elixir???

100% DEET is commonly available, there is no military grade vs other grade, and 100% DEET is 333% better than 30% DEET.

No need to ration it. Just type DEET in the REI search window and many options are available.

dskoon wrote:I was told by someone who seemingly knows his shit-encyclopedic mind- that 100% Deet can be found in your bloodstream within 7min. of putting it on. Don't know if it's true or not, but, I tend to use 30% or less.

Alcohol gets into your blood within 7 minutes too. Doesn't mean its bad for ya.

I'll be wearing 100% this weekend in Tuolumne Meadows

Fletch wrote:

mrchad9 wrote:No need to ration it. Just type DEET in the REI search window and many options are available.

I see... hmmm... the stuff I have looks different, but that really makes no sense cause its just packaging... hmmm... thanks for the suggestion... sounds like they fixed that whole skin cancer thing... OR! the State Department might be full of sh!t... probably both...

In all seriousness, im suprised and delighted... awesome... thanks again...

See! I learn something new everyday...

I learned the same thing in 2006 beginning the JMT. Was near Sunrise High Sierra Camp and ran into a girl avoiding the mosquitoes much better than us. She was dousing on the 100% DEET that I didn't even know about beforehand- I was rationing my little tube of 30% because it had to last at least a week. Since then that is all I buy.

They actually delayed opening Sunrise that year because the mosquitoes were so bad- no other reason.

My understanding is that 100% deet is not necessarily 3x better than 33%. As you say deet is absorbed into the bloodstream. A product that "floats" on the skin as opposed to sinking in might be more effective. This is the idea behind 3M's Ultrathon. It uses less deet but claims to be just as effective.
I think individual body chemistry plays a role, cus I've used 100% and Ultrathon and sometimes, when it's really ugly, it works for about six minutes per application.

I did a project down in Congaree Swamp NP in South Carolina a couple of years ago. The mosquitoes down there are professionals. I tested some Cutter's wipes w/ 30% DEET, which worked fine, but for only 15 minutes. Then I applied the Repel 100% DEET. It worked for about 2 or 3 hours. I've also used the Ben's 100% DEET, which works well too. 100% is the only way to go when inhaling mosquitoes.

the hatch is on at full speed at 7000-9000' in the Emigrant Wilderness. Below that, they've started dying off.

Bad in Little Lakes Valley as of this past weekend.

Sunday July 25th they were brutal. I won't forget the DEET again.