Goat Rocks: A Mosquito-Covered Catastrophe


Hiking into the Goat Rocks Wilderness on a Sunday meant that we were able to grab the picturesque campsite we'd spotted last year. But the snow was melting and the mosquitoes were so thick that we ended up breaking down camp about an hour after we'd pitched the tent and hiking out of there as quickly as our legs would carry us. What was intended to be two leisurely days ended up being a frantic thirteen-mile day with full packs on, traversing dozens of snow fields, and trying not to scratch too much (I would later count more than seventy raised welts on my body).

I am glad to be out of there, and I'll be investing in some new insect-repellent clothing very soon!