San Bernardino (aka GNAT) Peak

[Ellen]

Howdy All

Haven't been on this trail since Sally and I did our San Gorgonio 9 peak challenge. I started shortly after 6 AM and was immediately assaulted by gnats. They swarmed around my eyes, nose and ears -- ick Why didn't I bring my headnet? Fortuantely, they disappeared around Manzanita flats.

I went XC shortly after the wooden bench and headed up a gully. Turned out, this was dry bottom section of Limber Pine spring. Crossed the trail and kept heading up. This brought me out on the trail near San Bernardino peak. Perfect!

After brunch, I headed down XC the route I normally use snowshoeing. I had to do some bushwhacking to rejoin the trail and am sporting a few new scratches. Decided the XC route down is best done with snow. When the gnats reappeared to torture me on the descent, I pulled a "St. Florian" and donned hat, sunglasses and bandana. I finished with a sweat covered face but was completely protected from the gnats.

I think I'll wait until it gets colder to do San Bernardino peak again.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[HH8]

assaulted by gnats

What no vampiric mosquitoes?
No chunk-munching horse flies?

[zippetydude]

I don't know if the extra monsoon rains this year made the gnats worse, but they've been awful. I did San G on Saturday starting at noon and didn't encounter any gnats at all over on South Fork. Momyer is so horrid I just turned around the weekend before after just a few minutes. Hate those nasty suicidal gnats. They don't bite or anything, they just fly down your throat, up your nose and in your eyes and ears! Glad they disappeared at the flats.

z

[arocknoid]

Achh, I commiserate re: gnasty gnats.

Glad you persevered despite the pestilent phlebotomites.

The skeeters are likewise extra vexing this year. And extra large.

"How large *are* the skeeters on San Gorgo this year?"

"Why, they're so large, on a recent overnight trip I awakened to a frightful buzzing, followed by sotto voce 'Should we eat 'em in the tent, or take 'em outside?' "


.


.


.


.

Replied the second Mosquito From Teh Steroid Swamp, "Eat 'em in here. If we take 'em outside, the big ones will take 'em away from us."

Large, I say.
Large.

howls and growls,
arocknoid

[Hikin_Jim]

If we take 'em outside, the big ones will take 'em away from us

OK, so it's not just me. I've thought the skeeters were unusually bad this year.

HJ

[Ellen]

Howdy Arocknoid

Another hilarious post, thanks I loved your Little Shop of Horrors reference as well. Looks like I may need to start a separate thread of "Arocknoid Hiking Humor" as I did with Hikin' Jim.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

Achh, I commiserate re: gnasty gnats.

Glad you persevered despite the pestilent phlebotomites.

The skeeters are likewise extra vexing this year. And extra large.

"How large *are* the skeeters on San Gorgo this year?"

"Why, they're so large, on a recent overnight trip I awakened to a frightful buzzing, followed by sotto voce 'Should we eat 'em in the tent, or take 'em outside?' "

Replied the second Mosquito From The Steroid Swamp, "Eat 'em in here. If we take 'em outside, the big ones will take 'em away from us."

Large, I say.
Large.

howls and growls,
arocknoid