Hornet Nest on Thoreau Falls Trail

[TDawg]

Just an FYI if headed in this direction.

It is located about .3-.4ish south of the falls in a Balsam Fir (I think) 8-10 feet directly above the trail. If headed north, it is just as the trail starts to climb away from the North Fork for the last time on a small ridge after a stream (which is probably dry most of the time.) Headed south as I was, it is as you near the North Fork for the first time going downhill (after the crossing @ the falls.)

I did not see it while descending, but when looking back in the opposite direction it is more noticeable. It is maybe a little smaller than a volleyball, looks of the Bald-faced Hornet variety.

Aggressive, stung me on top of the head today as I walked by. Ouch! Thankfully, I'm not allergic and just have an itchy head.

Edit: On a side note, the falls were absolutely RIPPING. Thought ahead and bushwhacked from the bridge on Ethan Pond Tr. to avoid the crossing above them. Turned out to be a good call as the crossing was, ehhhh.......suicidal.

Also, here's a picture. Zoomed in from 40 yards in low light, so kinda poor quality. This is what it looks like while looking up hill, hiking north on the TFT.

 

[Peakbagr]

Thanks for the warning. I'm sure others will appreciate.
I got hit by a yellow jacket on the arm today. Got a little concerned about post sting reaction that went away. Not fun to get nailed by 1 and worse by more.

 

[Elizabeth]

It seems to be a year for bald-faced hornets. I found a large nest near the ground on a trail where I commonly walk my dogs here in Lyme. I have also heard reports of others finding them in the area. I'd keep an eye out wherever you are hiking. Those things HURT when they sting!

 

[TDawg]

It seems to be a year for bald-faced hornets.

You may be right. This was the second nest I've seen while hiking this summer season, the prior one being on Adams Mountain (in Evergreen Valley near Evan's Notch.) In my years of hiking, I've only seen one other one on the trail up Algonquin in the ADKs.

Those things HURT when they sting!

YUP! Turns out I have two stings in my hair after the minor swelling and itchiness increased a bit overnight.

 

[John in NH]

Thanks for posting this. I know many hikers who are actually allergic and have family that are. Many wasps protect their nests so if there is one literally on trail it is a hazard worth noting. A sting in the backcountry for those allergic would be disasterous.

 

[TDawg]

Thanks for posting this. I know many hikers who are actually allergic and have family that are..... A sting in the backcountry for those allergic would be disasterous.

Which is why I thought it prudent to get the word out somehow. And it was my immediate concern at the time, having not been stung in a while I was banking on still not being allergic.

I thought about informing the rangers at Lincoln Woods upon getting out, but decided against it. Would this be something they'd be interested in, anyway? The bees are only going to become more agitated as it gets colder into September.

Also, I've added a picture to the OP.

 

[Tito Alba]

As an allergic hiker, I keep out of the woods until it gets nice and icey.

Benaryl gel caps are a wise addition to your first aid kit.

 

[Elizabeth]

My understanding is that an allergic reaction can suddenly occur even in people who have never had one before. I carry Benadryl, too. (Esp. since my Dad once saved the life of a bee-stung Portuguese Water Dog from a neighboring boat at a remote Maine coast anchorage by providing it.)

 

[DougPaul]

My understanding is that an allergic reaction can suddenly occur even in people who have never had one before. I carry Benadryl, too. (Esp. since my Dad once saved the life of a bee-stung Portuguese Water Dog from a neighboring boat at a remote Maine coast anchorage by providing it.)

You need to be exposed to a substance at least once in the past to have an allergy reaction. (However, the exposure to the substance may have come from a different delivery system than the current exposure.)

People who know that they have severe allergy reactions to insect stings often carry epinephrine pens* with them--anaphylactic shock can kill in 5-10 minutes.

* requires a prescription

Doug

 

[John in NH]

DougPaul People who know that they have severe allergy reactions to insect stings often carry epinephrine pens* with them--anaphylactic shock can kill in 5-10 minutes.* requires a prescription

The best practice if you are allergic or paranoid about being allergic (other than not being in the backcountry until below freezing) would be to carry both benadryl (preferably a quick dissolve version instead of regular tablets) and 2 epi pens.

If stung, take benadryl immediately, even before a reaction. There would be no downside to doing so. Use an Epi Pen only if you have anaphylatic shock (throat closing--can't breathe).

A common misunderstanding seems to be that Epi pens cure/stop a severe allergic reaction--they don't.
Its just a massive dose of adrenaline that will temporarily reopen you throat to breath. The effect might only last 20 minutes and does nothing to stop your body from producing the excessive amount of histamines your body produce that are responsible for the allergic reaction. Your allergic reaction can continue even after using an epi-pen. Benadryl is an anti-histamine and that's why you'd take it to stop your body's allergic reaction (hopefully). You can use a second Epi-pen dose if you go back into anaphalaxis. Don't use an epi if not needed, side effect could be heart attack from the adreneline shot. Getting to a hospital is your only good long term solution.

A prescription is required for an epi-pen, but often doctors would write a prescription if you explain that you do a lot of hiking in the backcountry and could be in a sitaution far from help if stung. To the best of my knowledge I am not personally allergic, but always carry and epi-pen and benadryl.

***post disclaimer-- I am not a doctor*** my wife is the one who is allergic though and have gotten this info from the doctor. She is a November through April hiker only. The scenario TDawg experienced is why.


I wonder if anyone else has been stung on trail while hiking? How common is it?

Never has happened to me in seven years of hiking weekly.

TDawg Quote:
I thought about informing the rangers at Lincoln Woods upon getting out, but decided against it. Would this be something they'd be interested in, anyway? The bees are only going to become more agitated as it gets colder into September.

TDawg, it wouldn't hurt to call them. The worst they can do is chuckle and say there is nothing they can do about, which is what they did when I called about the dead moose on the carter ledge trail this year.

Yes, fall is the worst season in terms of likelihood of aggressive sting beehavior.

 

[griffin]

I wonder if anyone else has been stung on trail while hiking? How common is it?

Never has happened to me in seven years of hiking weekly.

A friend and her dog got nailed by yellow jackets (we think) on the way up Goose Eye Trail right below the first peak. The dogs were in the trees and she was bringing up the rear - we think the dogs got the things riled up and she just got the worst of it. Multiple stings for both (the poor dog had one stuck in her fur that stung her repeatedly until I got it out). I have never run up a trail so fast in my life.

Not common, but not pleasant when it happens.

 

[Quietman]

I wonder if anyone else has been stung on trail while hiking? How common is it?

Never has happened to me in seven years of hiking weekly.

This is from a post I made a few years ago:

2 years ago I was hiking down East Royce in Evan's Notch when stumbled on an unseen nest on a cool rainy day. Bees in my hair, ears, and in my clothing. Ran down the trail hollering and striping off clothes, only to run past a pair of hikers on their way up. The look on their faces was priceless. I yelled BEES to explain my wierdness and kept running.
After calming down, I walked back up to retrieve my gear, and found the other hikers pointing to one of my hiking poles hanging 20 feet up in a tree! I was stung multiple times

Ironically, today while I was picking blackberries on a side trail off of the Wapack trail, I was stung/bitten 4 times on my legs. After I stopped running, I went back to retrieve my poles and saw the fairly large "paper" type nest in a bush next to where I was standing. Baldface hornets are nasty little creatures. I did not feel bad about destroying the nest with a couple of well pitched rocks (from a distance!). It was a little ways off the trail so no threat to other hikers.

 

[TCD]

Time to switch from summer bug spray to fall bug spray:

 

[GBKDalton]

Never while hiking. I have run into several while horseback riding, however, which really, really sucked.

 

[JacobH]

Never while hiking. I have run into several while horseback riding, however, which really, really sucked.

I thought for a second and this must be a lot worse than it even sounds. I can only imagine the horses reaction...

This must be a year for them. My wife found a nest of the same type of hornet on our grill earlier this summer. It was a bit larger than a grapefruit. Knocked it down and they abandoned it... only to rebuild in the lilac bush out front! We noticed after about 3 days and it had already grown to bigger than a softball. After the second round of rake toss, they moved on. Persistent, though, and very aggressive.

 

[audrey]

I've been stung three times by 10-15 "bees" (little black nasty critters) that live in the ground. Painful, but the weeks of itching afterwards was worse.

Our dog Leo was stung by a couple of bumblebees on the State Line Trail near Watatic a few weeks ago. I now carry Benadryl and a bit of peanut butter. His face swelled quite a bit but he didn't exhibit signs of allergy. I called the animal emergency hospital and they said I could give him 25 mg (1 adult tablet) of Benadryl per 25 lb of body weight.

I used to buy liquid Benadryl and carry it because Pat has gotten a fairly bad reaction in the past, though not an allergy. I've only been able to find the half dose children's version, but that will work. I don't know if it's faster than the liqui-gels.

 

[hikerfast]

i was on mt jefferson halfway up and sitting on a rock. there was a yellowjacket on a tree about 5 feet away. for the first time in my life, i didn't keep my eye on it. if you leave them alone they leave you alone right? i went to get up and got stung on the back of my thigh. i kept hiking uphill(yeah my mother already yelled at me) and by the time i was on jefferson summit i had one leg all swollen up. unbelievable. i didnt take my boot off becuase the ankle and foot was so swollen id have never gotten it back on. i hiked down, stayed at a b&b, and the elderly lady there immediately said 'did you get stung?. she practically threw me in a full bath and dumped a box of epsom salt in the water. the epsom salt drew the swelling out and i seemed fine. i called the doc and he said it wasnt an allergic reaction, i get very severe local reactions. my family also has a wasp allergy that has come on at times. i carry an epi pen i keep in a coat in my car. I'm told the hot or cold temps dont affect the epi pen. i put the pen in my pack when i hike just in case. I have also been stung by those nasty bald faced hornets and my arm swelled up the size of my elbow when i was 15. we used to call them 'white tails.' my brother and his friend were pelting the nest from 4 feet away and didnt get stung. i was 'safely' watching from 50 feet away and got stung a few times. ack. I wonder if the ranger would want to know about the nest. can't hurt to tell them i guess.

 

[RoySwkr]

I wonder if anyone else has been stung on trail while hiking? How common is it?

I have never been stung on the trail but I've been stung on face, hand, arm, leg, etc.

It seems to happen every few years but fortunately not recently

Another hazard of hiking I try not to worry unduly about