Bloodsuckers

Never mind bears, cougars or other large animals that can kill humans with one swipe of a paw or sweep of an antler. Mosquitoes are one of the biggest pains and threats of the great outdoors, despite being one of the smallest creatures out there. Not only do their “bites” (which are actually needle injections) itch like crazy, they can be potentially harmful to your health if you become infected with the West Nile virus. The most frustrating thing about mosquitoes is that there are literally billions and trillions of them, and that’s only accounting for the Mirror Lake area.
Although mosquitoes are disliked, even loathed, by every human (and most dogs), mosquitoes can’t get enough of us. Without human blood, they can’t breed, thus creating the love-hate relationship that currently exists between the two species. It seems, though, that there are some humans that the mosquitoes prefer over others. I have a friend who never fails to get bitten, whether she is in the mountains or city. On the other hand, I can enter a swarm of the nasty bugs and escape relatively unscathed.
What makes some of us more attractive and tasty than others? Scientists aren’t 100% sure, but they have some good ideas. Mosquitoes can identify their unlucky targets from about 150 feet away. Carbon dioxide, lactic acid (typically produced during intense exercise), movement and heat all attract mosquitoes, so you are more susceptible to attacks after a jog or game of basketball. Unfortunately, that doesn’t take much of us out of the attraction pool, since we all emit carbon dioxide and heat, as well as needing to move from time to time. To avoid attracting mosquitoes the only thing we can do is try not to breathe heavy, keep still as much as possible, and keep cool. Or learn to live underwater.
There are other chemical factors that contribute to a person’s mosquito-tastiness-level, but scientists are hesitant to advise against or condone certain foods. Many of us may have heard that onions, garlic and other foods help keep the pesky bugs away, but these foods still don’t really work for all of us. Apparently genetics are 85% responsible for our natural mosquito attractiveness. Some of us are just born to entice mosquitoes.
For those natural-born mosquito feasts, repellents may be your sole option to turn that love-hate relationship into a pure hate relationship and keep mosquitoes at bay. Repellents come in many forms: sprays, lotions, clothing, candles, torches, etc. Many of us have become accustomed to the pungent odor associated with bug spray, but the scent is a painless trade-off in order to avoid unnecessary scratching and misery. Though a mosquito’s proboscis (needle-sucker-thingy) can sometimes pierce through clothing, long sleeves and long pants can often save you from slathering chamomile lotion all over your limbs. Candles and torches that use citronella as a repellent come in handy when you plan on staying in one place. Citronella is a natural insect repellent and the candles and torches can create a sort of force field around you as long as they remain lit.
Removing the comfort and health risks that mosquitoes pose can change a miserable weekend into a much more memorable one. Plan ahead by wearing clothing that deters mosquito bites and using repellents and you can enjoy the outdoors with almost no disturbance from the horrid little creatures.

The Source

There is nothing more enjoyable than a good, solid hike. No matter how long or how difficult the hike is, it promises to offer beauty in its natural form. My parents invited me to join them at their Snowbird timeshare this past weekend, which presented me with an opportunity to explore nature in an area that I’m comfortably familiar with. Though I’ve hiked the Snowbird area countless times, each new hike offers new discoveries.
My brother, his friend, my brother-in-law, and I set out from the Cliff Lodge and headed up. Straight up. We were full of energy and enthusiasm, and we had a waterfall in our sights that needed some attention and love. Halfway to the waterfall we realized that the vegetation was not going to let us just waltz up to the waterfall’s base. So we started to zig and zag. By the time we reached the waterfall, we were a little tired. And we hadn’t quite traversed an eighth of the distance that we had planned.
After resting at the waterfall and taking pictures, we had regained some energy, which was necessary if we didn’t want to return to the Cliff Lodge right away. The area around the waterfall presented us with a dilemma, because if we wanted to continue up the mountain, the shortest distance was directly up a steep, rocky incline. It wasn’t quite a cliff, but close. Rather than walk back down and around the obstacle, we tackled it. We were feeling pretty good about ourselves…until our water ran out.
Besides the physical strength and energy required while hiking, a person also needs water. Lots of it. Well, more than just twelve ounces per person anyway. We had set out to dominate Hidden Peak, and a waterfall and its cliff friend had shown us how foolish we were to try such a thing with the little water we had.
There are times when nature throws man’s weakness right in his face. There are other times when a man’s indomitable spirit slaps down nature’s lame attempt at foiling his plans. This was one of those times. We followed the stream at the top of the waterfall until we overcame our fear of giardia. It didn’t take long because the thirst and desire to reach our goal seemed more important than a little parasite that could do some serious damage to our social lives.
The cool, crisp mountain water quickly rejuvenated our bodies and we were on our way again. We joked as we walked about coming around a bend and finding a dead moose smack dab in the middle of the stream we had just drank out of. We also talked about where all the water was even coming from. My brother’s friend knew that it was coming from somewhere higher up than where we were, but he didn’t realize that it was actually coming from the melting snow in the higher elevations. As we approached a field of snow with water gushing from the bottom of it, we were face to face with the source of the water that had reenergized us an hour before.
It was then that I realized just how impure mountain water could be. The snow was covered in dirt, branches, rocks, animal tracks, human tracks, etc. Despite the clearness of the water downstream where we originally drank from, we really didn’t know what was in it. I’m pretty sure we’re stupidly lucky that none of us has been glued to a toilet seat for the last few days. I will be purchasing some water purifying tablets before my next big hike, that’s for sure. And taking plenty of water that I know is safe for consumption. And following a well-worn path. We may have beat nature this time around, but I know there will be confrontations in the future, and if I’m not prepared, nature won’t hesitate to exploit any of my weaknesses and try to kill me.

Messin' With Moose

When you’re blazing your own trail in Utah’s backwoods, or following a well-worn path in the foothills, wildlife is always a concern. You could come face to face with any number of dangerous creatures: snakes, badgers, bears, cougars, etc. There are also a few animals that are a pleasant surprise: deer, turkeys, lizards, hoot owls, etc. The moose seems to be caught in the middle of the two categories. Its large antlers and horse-like face lend the moose a comical aura, one might even say cartoonish (maybe I only think that because I watched too much “Rocky and Bullwinkle” growing up). Its pure weight and size, though, demand respect. And so the moose continues to be one of those animals that people delight in seeing, but from a safe distance.
Moose tend to mind their own business, but can turn into a veritable wrecking crew when threatened. Female moose (cows) can weigh in around 700 lbs., which is considerable, but male moose (bulls) can easily weigh twice that amount. Add a four-and-a-half foot antler span to that weight and you’ve got an all-natural bulldozer. If you’ve ever seen a pack of wolves take on one bull, you know that all the bull has to do is sweep its antlers from side to side and the wolves are sent flying like a flock of geese. And don’t count a cow out, just because she’s antlerless. What she lacks in weaponry, she more than makes up for in sheer motherly protective instincts.
During a fishing trip in the Uintahs, my friends and I spotted a large, brown mound about a quarter-mile from where we were fishing. After a few minutes of trying to figure out what it was, the brown mound lifted its head and we immediately knew that we were in the presence of a well-endowed bull moose. Though fascinating to behold, we realized that a little more distance between us and the bull would be prudent. We moved far enough away that we could still see him, yet not worry about the bull charging unexpectedly. At one point, I needed to return to our vehicle and retrieve a lure, and on my way I heard a loud crashing noise coming through the trees toward me. I panicked, thinking the bull moose had somehow gotten near without any of us noticing. Before I could even turn back to begin running from the oncoming juggernaut, a large snout appeared twenty yards in front and slightly to the right of me. One second later, a second, smaller snout appeared. I quickly realized that neither snout had antlers attached to the top of its head. It was a cow moose with her calf. Luckily the mama and her baby hadn’t seen me as they calmly rumbled past me. Things could have gotten ugly had she wanted to view me as a threat to her baby.
Moose are not very aggressive, despite their intimidating size and features. There are a few triggers, though, that will cause a moose to feel threatened and take violent measures. Like most animals, moose enjoy their privacy and any breach of their personal space can result in the moose charging. Given enough starting distance, a person can usually run away from an angry moose without the moose pursuing him or her. Moose don’t want to kill humans, mostly because they can’t digest us, but they will defend themselves if humans, or any other animals, harass them. Stay away from moose during mating season (September to October), and never come between a mama and her baby. If you really want to see a moose up close and personal, and the zoo just won’t cut it, buy some binoculars. A moose in its natural habitat truly is a majestic sight.