Safe and sound in Iquitos, Peru

averageiowaguy

averageiowaguy

Joined
Mar 22, 2011
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I´ve only got a couple seconds but I can report that the ESEE course in the Amazon jungle was a success. No major injuries, just a few cuts, bruises and lots of bites. I´ll be back in the states in a few days and I´ll start editing 2 hours of video, 4 hours of sound and hundreds of photos into little episodes for a trip report.
 
Everyone got out basically unscathed except for the stuff that you would expect. Bites, cuts, scratches etc. The isulu raised havoc on us. 3 bites for sure and possibly a 4th. I may have been bitten in the butt but I am not sure. It was painful but it only lasted a few hours. Everyone who had a confirmed bite said it burned for 6 or 7 hours. I crushed whatever was in my pants and pulled it out piece by piece so there is no way to tell for sure. I am doubting it though, because of the time frame involved.

I've got some tremendous footage/photos and sound to work with to put out some little trip report episodes.

If you haven't done this trip, you need to do it. Seriously, it is an amazing experience. Save your pennies for next year.
 
Some day I'm gonna have to pick your brain for some good woods to tromp through here in Iowa. The local parks are getting a bit boring. :)
 
Before I forget - one observation - I didn't have a single itch until after I came out of the jungle. I started having a few itches that first night out. I think the bug bites start to itch in batches at different times according to the bug. This morning I woke up itching literally thousands of mosquito bites in the different areas that may have been pressed up against the mosquito net at night.

By the way, I didn't use DEET on the trip. Mike and Jeff asked us not to so as to experience a more realistic survival situation. I don't think it would have made any difference anyway. Also, the "natural" bug repellent that the manufacturers impregnate into cloth like mosquito netting doesn't do anything. It might even attract jungle bugs from what I saw.
 
permerthin- you can treat your clothing, bug nets, hammocks, etc- it's not "natural", but works pretty well (you'd still want DEET on any exposed skin))
 
bladerique said:
Isn't permerthin made from a flower?
Click to expand...

Permethrin ("per-meth-rin") is one of a group of man-made insecticides, whose chemical structure is based on natural pyrethrum. These so-called pyrethroid insecticides were developed to match or exceed the effectiveness of natural pyrethrum but be more stable in sunlight. Whereas natural pyrethrum breaks down in as little as 12 hours, pyrethroids are long-lasting, sometimes remaining effective for more than 30 days. Pyrethroid insecticides are used in agriculture because of their stability in sunlight.
 
damn, survival doesn't just suck, it itches !!! (hmmm, why did venereal disease just pop into my head?)
 
My itching got so bad today I had to go on a medrol dose pack (steroids). First time in my life I've ever needed that and I've been camping for 32 years. The bad bites are all in the areas where my skin contacted the mosquito net. At the end of the days I was so tired I could barely get a shelter set up, let alone one that tented my net all the way out. I was depending on the permethrin coating for at least a little protection. Epic fail on my part.
 
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