Mosquitno Spotzz & Bandzz: Safe and Easy Bug Protection

I hate mosquitoes. Anyone who thinks that tiny things cannot have a great impact most likely never tried to get a good nights sleep in a tent with a single mosquito! The relentless buzzing and reactive slapping is enough to drive any person insane! There are many different species of mosquitoes buzzing around the United States, the Asian Tiger being the most common among them and known to carry disease such as eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). This past September the Rhode Island DEM reported that two traps set in the Great Swamp management area proved positive. This a place we had hiked through 3 times over the summer and as recent as August! That's why I decided to try out the Mosquitno Spotzz & Bandzz product for a gear review.

While waiting for the wrist bands to arrive in the mail I began to check social media sites to learn more about the company and find out what others are already saying about this Natural Insect Repellent. In addition to their website I was happy to find that not only does Mosquitno maintain a Facebook page but I could also follow them @MosquitnoBuzz on Twitter and on Instagram!

The Mosquitno Bandzz & Spotzz arrived!

Sadly it's late in the season here in Rhode Island for mosquitoes. Once the bands had arrived temperatures already dropped into the bug hibernating 50's and we've had nights down into the bug killing 20's. Oh well we'll try them out anyway. I tossed a band to our son who wanted to wear it right away; and why not! The bands are cool looking, come in different sizes & colors, non-toxic, waterproof and they smell pretty good since they're infused with citronella oil made from lemongrass. Which gave me an idea for my first location to stick a Spotzz; my car! 

Here's a place I always seem to get those pesky bugs bouncing along my windshield after a weekend of camping. Placing a SpotZzz here should help and it made my car smell nice. I would definitely place these on the rain fly above the door of our tent, picnic table, camp chairs, you name it! Anywhere I wouldn't want skeeters or winged things hanging around; no limits on these.

Mosquitno SpotZzz fits nice on the volume.

The wrist band we put to an official outdoor test. R.I. hadn't been cold for long, certainly we'd find bugs outside somewhere. We decided to take a Sunday morning hike out to Rome Point to see if there were any seals hauled out of Narragansett Bay onto the rocks. Once we arrived we were disappointed to find no seals today. But we did find BUGS! My daughter and I were off snapping some pics and when we returned my wife complained that "small little winged things" were annoying her. I asked my son (who was wearing the Mosquitno "Don't Bite Me" bracelet) if they are bothering him and he replied that he hadn't noticed any bugs. That's proof enough for me since they were together. I'll say they work.

Mosquitno Band, Rome Point, Narragansett Bay R.I.

I believe these are a fun way to begin getting the kids interested in protecting themselves from mosquitoes and other bugs without exposing them to potentially more harmful chemicals. Nobody likes the eye stinging spray especially kids. We'd use them.

* "Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Mosquitno Bandzz & Spotzz for free from Mosquitno
as coordinated by Deep Creek PR an Outdoor Retailer Public Relations Company in consideration for review publication."

Winter Hiking: 4 Things to Consider

Last day of winter 2012, Mt Monadnock, N.H.

Winter officially arrives here in the Northeast on December 21st and with that a BIG change in the weather outside. I haven't been much of a 'cold weather hiker' in years past, but this year, I intend to get out onto the trails more often. Lately I've been researching the topic on the internet and discovered four things I needed to become more educated about in order to protect myself from the colder weather conditions.  

1. Wind Burn
2. Snow Blindness 
3. Frostbite 
4. Hypothermia 

Is there such a thing as wind burn? Not really, in fact, wind burn is actually a sunburn. During the winter months the cooler temperatures and cloudy sky's give hikers a sense that there's no danger from the sun. It's true the clouds block the suns light, but not the ultraviolet rays! These easily continue to pass through the clouds. If your outdoors no matter what time of the year, sunscreen is always a good idea.

What is Snow Blindness? Back again to ultraviolet light! Reflection will be the enemy here. Basically UV rays from the sun (even through the clouds) are reflected off the snow potentially causing damage to your eyes. Nothing a good pair of uv rated sunglasses or snow goggles wouldn't take care of. In fact, I've read on Instuctables.com that 'emergency' snow goggles could be created by using duct tape.

Now here's an important one for me personally, Frostbite. Body parts exposed and furthest from the heart are the most bitten. The different degrees of frostbite begin with mild symptoms that most folks have probably experienced already such as reddening of the skin followed by chaffing, itching & pain. If exposure continues one could potentially lose a piece of, or a whole something. In addition to this, certain medical conditions such as diabetes or even medications you may be taking could make you more vulnerable to the condition. For me personally, I take a Beta-Blocker that reduces the blood flow to my extremities. If I'm not paying careful attention this could become a problem.

Lastly Hypothermia is one that I would put higher on the danger list. "Stumbles & Mumbles" often are the first sign of an afflicted person followed by shivering and difficulty using your hands. I've experienced some of these mild symptoms after spending too much time shoveling snow. Continued exposure could potentially become life threatening even leading to cardiac arrest. Once a hypothermic person reaches the severe end of the scale, often even moving a victim could cause them to go into shock. For more info CLICK

I think Shakespeare said it best:

  "Thou knowest, winter tames man, woman, and beast." 

(The Taming of the Shrew, 4.1.10)

Rhode Islands Great Swamp Management Area

Click for event details: Hike in the Great Swamp Management Area with Buffalo & Tough Cookie

Trail head sign

Rhode Island may not have great mountains but we've got a Great Swamp! We recently hiked around the management areas gentle trail finding lots of birds, bugs, fields of wildflowers, and also discovered a little history.

Reaching the end of Great Neck Rd., we started from the main parking area (lots of parking) and headed over to the trail head sign. Nope, again no maps.....good for us that we printed one at home for just this reason. We almost NEVER hike on a trail without a map, even in 'Little Rhody'.

The trail is gated and wide for some distance. It really looks like a long graveled driveway. I felt kinda funny using my hiking poles and hearing the 'clinking' sound at every step. But I hike better with them. I stumble easily and they help me keep my balance. Continuing on, we passed some small pools of water beside the trail that are decorated with wildflowers. They looked very active with life and teaming with mosquitoes. Better bring some bug spray when visiting the swamp.

 Wide Graveled Path

                             Wild Lupin (Lupinus perennis)

It wasn't long before we reached a fork at the end of the graveled trail and it became a well beaten double track with tall grass down the center. Here some loop options begin and they vary in distance from roughly 2 miles to 7 miles. Our hike took us left towards Wordens Pond, Rhode Islands largest natural body of water expanding to 1,051 acres. 

The double track soon broke out of the tree covering and into a wide open area. Good thing we packed the sun screen, suns out today and beaming down on us. We passed a couple of folk's who were out birding, so we asked "Any good sightings?" "Nope, a few butterflies but no rare birds." According to some blogs that I've read, biologists are working to make this area more inviting to Woodcock, Blue-winged Warblers & Bobwhite quail. Bring your binoculars to the swamp also! Hiking passed the high tension power lines a trail exited to the right giving visitors their first loop option back towards the parking.

Double track trail

Huge Dragonfly! Lots of winged things zipping around.

Back into the trees we ambled on but now keeping an eye out for the yellow blazed trail that would leave this main path and take us to Stony Point by the pond. Eventually we discovered the trail but it looked very un-maintained and largely overgrown. We weren't going in there, it looked like tick-tropolis. Sticking to the main path was a better option and it would still lead us to an opening on Wordens Pond. A granite marker dedicated to George F. McCahey Memorial Trails is ahead and provides a second option to split and loop back to the parking, we stuck left. 

George F. McCahey Marker

Cristy now tells me she's read that there are remnants of an old Air Force plane hangar ahead by the pond. I'm confused as to why the Air Force would have ever had a hangar, let alone a single hangar in a swamp area in Rhode Island.........Must be a good explanation I figure and a little Googleology research later would provide me with some answers! 

Apparently the Air Force kept a seaplane at this location along with a mock Destroyer on Wordens Pond during WWII for bombing practice! The hangar stood for many years until it was completely removed for safety reasons. Now all that remains is the foundation. Fishing legend has it that there are still bomb craters beneath the surface of the pond were the 'big ones' live, still interesting enough to check out. In addition we also learned that The Great Swamp Fight, or the Great Swamp Massacre, a crucial battle fought during King Philip's War between colonial militia of New England and the Narragansett tribe in December of 1675 was fought around this area.

Beautiful Wordens Pond from the seaplane hangar cove

Cristy checking out the Hangar foundation

Some of the views on our return hike

Lots of Bumble Bees and wildflowers

Our loop hike took us 4.5 miles and about 3.0 hours to complete leisurely, but that's the best way. The Great Swamp is a really beautiful piece of property with a lot of nature to see. 

If you would like to hike in the Great Swamp management area this your chance! On Saturday August 10th, at 9 am, Denali Outdoor Stores will be hosting Spend a day with Buffalo & Tough Cookie! We here at Epic A.O. will be leading event participants on a family friendly hike through the Great Swamp Management Area along with Dan Szczesny author of The Adventures of Buffalo & Tough Cookie and his hiking partner 11 y/old Janelle. The book is about their personal hiking journey of discovery through New Hampshire's 52 with a view mountain list. This will be a children friendly hike, the length, sites & duration will be determined by the ability of our group participants that day. For more details on this event please visit Denali's link, comment below, or you can contact me via E-mail at SDR106@yahoo.com

Event Details Click -------> Spend a day with Buffalo & Tough Cookie

Suggested Gear List: 

                  Sturdy Footwear - Water - High Energy Snacks - Sunscreen - Sunglasses

Bug Spray - Binoculars - Camera 

Winged Wednesday: Your Cleared to Land

Being stuck in traffic isn't always frustrating, in fact this is one of my favorite spots. I'm always excited to see a light break through the clouds; hoping the traffic will hold a few more minutes!

Plane lands at T.F. Green over traffic on Airport Rd in Warwick

Great Swamp Hike & Book Signing Event

Hike The Great Swamp management area 

with 

author Dan Szczesny, Denali Outdoor Store and Epic A.O.

This your chance! On Saturday August 10th, at 9 am, Denali Outdoor Stores will be hosting Spend a day with Buffalo & Tough Cookie! We here at Epic A.O. will be leading event participants on a family friendly hike through the Great Swamp Management Area along with Dan Szczesny author of The Adventures of Buffalo & Tough Cookie and his hiking partner 11 y/old Janelle. The book is about their personal hiking journey of discovery through New Hampshire's 52 with a view mountain list. This will be a children friendly hike. The length, sites & duration will be determined by the ability of our group participants that day. 

For more details on this event please visit Denali's link, comment below, or you can contact me via E-mail at SDR106@yahoo.com

Event Details Click -------> Spend a day with Buffalo & Tough Cookie

Suggested Gear List: 

                            Sturdy Footwear - Water - High Energy Snacks - Sunscreen - Sunglasses

Bug Spray - Binoculars - Camera 

Programs! Score Cards! Roster Line ups!

The sky was majestic yesterday evening over McCoy in Pawtucket. As the sun set, the clouds soaked up the last rays and colors of the day. It was 81 degrees, partly cloudy with a light breeze. Great night for a ballgame!

Winged Wednesday: Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens)

Bombus Impatiens

This Bumblebee had to be the largest I'd ever seen!! It left peacefully.