South Boxley to Ponca trip report

I hiked the boxley to ponca section this weekend and put together a trip report with pictures at www.geocities.com/east_stingray/index.html

Last link on the page.

What was the chigger & tick situation like?

I'm contemplating hiking the BRT from Ponca to Pruitt in early October and don't want to get eat up by the critters (chiggers concern me the most).

I saw no sign of chiggers or ticks at all. I used the Permanone spray from Wal-Mart on the cuffs of my pants, my shirt, and my socks the night before I left. I also had a little pump bottle of deet, but never had to use it.

Most of the other summer hikes I've done I've found ticks crawling up my legs, but no problems at all on this one. The only critters to worry about are the spiders... I could have hiked a lot faster if I hadn't spent so much time pulling down the webs they strung across the trail.

The only time I have ever gotten into the chiggers up in the Buffalo Area was in high grasses. Mostly down around Earbie. Other than that I have never had a problem with them. Load up on the Deet or other choice of spray around your legs and waist and you should not have a problem.

FWIW, the mosquitoes also left me alone, although there didn't seem to be many of them around. I'm all about the clothing pre-treatment and do it every trip now.

On a side note, what's this "Hicker" business under my name? That sounds like a high school nickname or something

means you a rookie... post some more. You'll get a promotion soon.

There was a thread some time back about the name. Search it up if ya want.

Here's the hicker thread:

http://www.arkansasbackcountry.com/the-campsite-f1/the-definition-of-a-hicker-t655.htm?highlight=hicker

Ha! And here I thought someone couldn't spell.

A couple from church did areas around Kyles in Mid-August and they got ate up with seed ticks, here soon all the little creepies should be slowing down

then the Big creepies will come out!

YMMV

Meh, I've been out all summer anyway

Thanks for the report. I will be hiking from Ponca to Pruitt in mid October and hopefully the chiggers and ticks will be slowing down by then.

I am a true believer in Permanone. I have been using it for a couple years now on boots and gaiters and I haven't had any problems.