Weekly Blog #6 - The Growing Terror that is Ticks
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posted: Saturday, May 16th, 2026
It's Time to Tackle the Tiniest, 6-Legged Terrorists of the Trail
A common question Sponge gets from those who don't transverse trails is this: What is your biggest fear out there?
They likely expect an answer of "a mother bear separated from her subs", "a snake that finds its way into my tent" or "a crazy lunatic looking to re-create his favorite horror movie scene in the woods."
So Sponge gets a few puzzled looks when he says, instead: "Ticks."
But the deeper one dives into these blood-sucking hitchhikers, the more menacing they become.
Social feeds are increasingly full of celebrities that have been inflicted with tick-borne illnesses (Shania Twain, Justin Bieber, Bella Hadid, Ben Stiller, Justin Timberlake and Avril Lavigne just to name a few). News outlets report that our rapidly warming world is pushing the "range" of ticks (carried most often by deer) into more and more of our states. And even the CDC reported in April 2026 that tick-bite ER visits are at a high not seen since 2017.
If you're not trembling even a 'tick' yet - then Sponge offers perhaps the most horrifying development yet: Alpha-gal syndrome.
Spread by three varieties of ticks, including the Lone Star Tick, this condition occurs when your body creates enzymes to fight off the offending tick's saliva. Side effect? Alpha-gal syndrome often causes a deathly allergic reaction to red meat and dairy products. Even certain medications, like those with gelatin coating, can become life-threatening. There is no cure.
So, a hiker or outdoor enthusiast is left with two options - watch a LOT of nature videos from the safety of their couch or take some serious precautions against ticks.
But what precautions are best?
This is where things can get fuzzy, depending on what you read and your own personal belief system. There are some hikers that absolutely detest pesticide chemicals - they will advocate for using a combination of essential oils to ward off ticks. They caution against DEET, Picardian, and Permethrin - saying these chemicals can leech into your skin and bloodstream. They deplore the impact it can have on the environment. And they very well could be making decent points.
But Sponge won't risk a life without cheeseburgers to use spearmint oil.
Instead, he uses Sawyer Permethrin spray on his clothes, socks, undergarments, sleeping outfit, hat, chair and portions of his tent. A generous application lasts 6 washes - plenty to get through a long trail journey. While on the Appalachian Trail for 110 miles, Sponge never had a tick crawl on his clothing or gear. He transverse PLENTY of patches of tall grass and witnessed other hikers just crawling in them. This included one poor dude who picked 14 of them off his legs at a wayside (he counted aloud as he tweezed them away). Btw, he needed one of these instead.
On exposed skin Sponge uses Sawyer Picardian spray. It's easy to apply and also seemed to be effective against mosquitos. There are those who tout DEET at high concentrations, but Sponge has never been a fan. Unlike the Sawyer products mentioned above - DEET has a strong smell. Like gasoline-strong. And frankly, most hikers already smell bad enough without adding extra elements to make it worse.
Finally, there is the precaution that isn't found in a bottle or spray. It's your brain.
Hikers need to be smart about how they travel the trails. If there are reports of heavy ticks ahead - choose long sleeves and pants over cooler shorts and short sleeves. Stick to established paths as much as possible - ticks usually use tall blades of grass or foliage as launching points. Trailblazing can turn you into a tick buffet. Lastly, check your body for ticks - at least nightly... or more frequently if it's safe to. It's commonly believed that Lyme disease only spreads when a tick latches to you for at least 24 hours. That nasty Alpha-gal? Research is inconclusive - but it could be hours or mere minutes.
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