How bad are the ticks in the SNP this year?

[Waynesboro]

I believe the theory that some people are less attractive to ticks. I've lived near Rockfish Gap since the turn-of-the-century and spend a lot of time outdoors here, and haven't found a single tick this year. However, local mosquitoes in the area think I am one of the tastiest things that they have ever slurped.

I was hiking on trails about 40 miles up into SNP, not long ago, and we went through a lot of tall grass. 5 of the 7 hikers had to pick several ticks off of them, but two of us didn't find any (I know I did a very careful search). I am not confident enough to say that I am immune to ticks, but I do think that I am unattractive to them, most of the time... and I drink a lot of water.

When I get home, the clothes go into the washing machine immediately, and I go into the shower. Lyme disease is not something that you want to experience. I've heard the stories.

Greg

[OzJacko]

Different people DO attract insects etc at different levels BUT it isn't necessarily "uniform across all bugs.
If my wife is around it takes a real swarm of mosquitoes for any to come near me. Conversely I attract ticks big time. The original tick magnet.
Bites are different too. Even a short bite from a tick leaves me with a recurring itch and sore for 3 months or more. I have been stung multiple times by wasps (hurts like hell) but have no itch or pain within 1/2 hour. Mosquitoes don't generally give me more than a short period of irritation either. Bull ants (a local nicety) make me sore for days.

[turtle fast]

Is it possible for some that the lack of ticks was due to another hiker going through the area before them? We had that happen to us with a few groups ahead of us in July.

[scree]

Is it possible for some that the lack of ticks was due to another hiker going through the area before them? We had that happen to us with a few groups ahead of us in July.

Yeah, could be. Whoever gets out early contends with breaking through the spider webs and picks up the ticks.