Leeches

[ofuros]

Can be a bit unnerving when you lift the top of your sock after a long day
& there's a leech swollen to the size of your thumb sucking merrily away.....harmless enough though.

[mikethepike]

There are certainly some horror stories in this thread and my question is: How did bushwalkers get on decades ago before the advent of modern tents with secure zips to seal the inner tent from leeches? I seem to recall that the best makes and models of A-frame tents could be zipped to keep out mozzies and leeches but a lot of walkers presumably used cheaper tents without such a refinement. I’m interested in this because I am about to walk on the Central Plateau with a singles tent with a broken zip (1.75 m long and no time to secure a replacement). I would never take such a thing in well known leechy places (Pt Davey Track during rainy days and no-one to share them with is my worse leech experience) but so far I have not encountered a leech on the Plateau (mainly north of Great Pine Tier) though the weather has been generally dry on the four trips I’ve done there. Are leeches more common south of the GP Tier in the lake country around Mtns of Jupiter etc on the way to Derwent Bridge and east of the Traveller Range? Also, given my tent situation, can leeches be a problem on the Mt Anne Circuit?

Prepare to suffer, baby.

I do have a heavier single tent which I will take if leeches are likely to be a concern.

I think I will opt for the heavier leech proof tent! And presumably the old timers suffered a fair bit more than I am prepared to.

[corvus]

We have found that using Bushman 80% Deet helps deter Leeches et all.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I was bitten by Leeches while hiking up Mt Donna Buang in Dec. 2014. That place is crawling with them. Those bites remained troublesome for days. It was good that I was armed with a salt shaker.

[flyfisher]

I have spent a lot of time in the area north of Great Pine Tier and have never found a leech.

Maybe just lucky but I don't think there are many in that area.

FF

[Maaxxx]

Yep! Just dab 'em with a bit of Bushman's and they let go in a hurry!

[mikethepike]

I have spent a lot of time in the area north of Great Pine Tier and have never found a leech.
Maybe just lucky but I don't think there are many in that area.

That's one of the reasons why I love that area so much.

We have found that using Bushman 80% Deet helps deter Leeches et all.

I am thinking that maybe I will take my light tent (with its faulty zip) and put Deet around the entrance so that leeches would have to slime /crawl over the treated area to get inside. It would need to last 10 hours. The spray on 20% Bushman would be good for his but would the stonger mix be more effective? Any ideas on this would be much appreciated.

[Burny]

I was on a day treck in thailand many years ago, the guide who was ex thai military, made us soak our socks the night before. he had us soak our socks in a mixture of tobacco and water. Basicaly a good pinch of rolling tobaco, with about a litre of water, mix that up till it nice and brown and soak away. Hang the socks out to dry and hit the track the next day. Dont know why this worked, probably due to the natural poision in tabaco. We walked over grounds where we could see the leeches searching for some purchase on a foot but they never did. I still soak my socks when there is potential for leeches. I guess you could adapt this to other areas of bushwalking if you dont mind the smell.

[oyster_07]

A great way to stop leeches on the lower half of the body is to wear stockings or pantyhose under your trousers.

[perfectlydark]

Anyone that wears gaiters do you find it helps keep them out? Or they still manage to squeeze in?

[DanShell]

Anyone that wears gaiters do you find it helps keep them out? Or they still manage to squeeze in?

It helps but in my experience they still find their way onto your skin.

[oyster_07]

Gaiters will slow their progress only.

[horsecat]

I put RID on my gators (when I wear them) and boots, not just on my skin, which seems to help more

[Tortoise]

I do better when I tuck my pants into my socks. I think they have a bit of trouble getting through Darn Tough socks. Few times I've had half a dozen on my lower leg that haven't got through to the skin. I do use repellent on my gaiters too, but not sure if it helps or not.

[Walking_addict]

We did the sct in a meg amid once, were really concerned about leeches after retiring to bed at night.
Shouldn't have worried, although daylight was bad in places (they zero in on you at lunch stops in about 10 mins !) after dark no movement.
Now, as they apparently hate salt, why'd we see them on some of the beaches (!) across there.
It's one of the places we thought we'd get away from them, but no, they appeared non bothered right on the sand itself.


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[paidal_chalne_vala]

Wilson's Prom in heavy rain in places is a leech infested apocalypse!