Mosquitos in Alaska are problematic; they have to be acknowledged and dealt with. When we first came up we had a couple of cans of bug spray but quickly realized we were under armed and out gunned. So we stopped and got some heavy weapons - citronella candles (55 gallon drum size), bug nets (full body - "Alaskan camo"), and heavy duty Deet repellant (Alaskan gain in the economical 55 gallon convenience barrels). Still not enough... so what to do? I'm not a hunter but was contemplating getting a mosquito hunting license which only seemed fair as they - the Mosquitos- clearly had their human hunting permits with no bag limit.
As is often the case, my lovely wife Sophie had other ideas. So armed only with credit card she troops off to a Fred Myers (much like a Walmart except it's not), heads for the Outdoor Living Center and scores what will likely be our most treasured souvenir of the trip. A screen enclosure, 11ft. X 11ft. of enclosed bliss. Big enough to cover a picnic table, two huskies, and
two very itchy human occupants.
Of course there was "some assembly required" but I let Sophie have the full pleasure of erecting her new purchase. Heck, it was up in no time and it's amazing how fast an hour can go by while watching your not mechanically inclined spouse assemble something one handed while swatting the very same mosquitos she was attempting to defend herself from.
Once up I was more than happy to join her in her new abode. Short of a real cabin or igloo it did the trick of keeping the Mosquitos out and us in. A purchase any woman would be proud of. For me, I still regret not getting the hunting permits. I already had a special place on the wall to mount that mosquito I was going to bag...
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