This morning I ran across an old article from Iowa State University concerning bug repellent research. The study concluded that catnip is 10 times more effective than DEET for repelling mosquitoes.
As an avid canoeist and explorer of backwoods waterways, I enjoyed this bit of woodsy info. The subject matter confirmed, however, just one more reason why I love hiking in the Alps. Bugs simply aren’t an issue over there. While it’s true that we might encounter them once in a while around humid areas or at lower elevations, in general, we just don’t have to deal with them.
We’ve had a number of guests ask about bugs on our hiking tours and our response is always the same. Leave the bug dope at home. You just won’t need it.
If you’re one of the consistently over-prepared, tuck a few sprigs of catnip in your hat and watch the alpine cats go crazy.
Cheers!
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