Here we are, another week of the Nature Writing Challenge and the topic is a memorable insect moment on public lands. If you are like me and have spent a fair amount of time on public lands, you have your fair share of insect stories. And I bet is safe to say that most of them center around the mosquito and the biting black fly. Maybe a bee or two? Am I right?
For my story today, however, there is one insect tale (horror story) that stands out above the rest and I thank my lucky stars there is only one like it. I still live in fear of a reoccurence!
Back in the late summer of 2106, I was on a Pacific Crest Trail work party south of Rainy Pass changing out the old and weathered trail markers for bright new ones. A noble job, for sure.
We were camped at South Fork, a large campsite that also has an equestrian site. We had been packed supported, so we had a large set up with a camp kitchen, coolers and such. It was a little bit of glamping but trail work is hard work. Okay, this was not the toughest work party I have been on but a little luxury in the wilderness is appreciated.
After a long day of hiking and replacing trail signs, we were gathered around camp eating dinner and enjoying each others company. And maybe laughing a bit at some engineers’ attempts at a bear hang for the coolers.
While sitting there, I glanced down at my feet which were in sandals and noticed a few tiny bugs crawling on them between the sandal straps. I didn’t recognize them, they weren’t mosquitos or flies which are so common on the trail. They were so small, I couldn’t feel them but every once and awhile I felt a little bite. I guessed they were some kind of gnat. I just brushed them off and sprayed some bug spray on for good measure. I didn’t think much of it.
But later that night, good gravy. The itching on my feet (and only my feet) was HORRIFIC. The most intense itching I had ever remember having. The how-hard-can-I-dig-my-nails-in kind of itching. I can see how people can go mad with incessant itching and have thoughts of wanting to cut ones feet off. Tears flowed.
I watched as the welts grew in lines that matched my sandal straps as I did everything I could to dull the itching (rubbing, slapping, etc.). Needless to say, I got no sleep that night.
And although the exact memory has faded, I am pretty sure those bites itched for two weeks and made wearing shoes miserable for that time. Especially the next few days as I had to continue with tail work in hot boots. I did learn my lesson, though, and wore socks with my sandals and kept a liberal dose of bug juice on for the rest of the trip!
Editor’s note: I want to blame noseeums or biting midges but I can not 100% verify. I can 100% verify they suck, however.
Do you have an insect story that beats this one? Do tell!
This post was written in one hour for the #naturewritingchallenge. Check out Twitter to learn more or see my other posts from the challenge here. And if you are in need of another insect horror story, there is always the time I peed in a cup in my tent because of the mosquitos in Oregon.
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