Gear alert

Lantern also repels bugs

A new way to keep mosquitoes away from your campsite, while also providing light, is offered by the Thermacell mosquito repelling lantern (thermacell.com). It works on a single butane cartridge, which heats a small mat that releases allethrin, a synthetic copy of a natural insecticide found in chrysanthemum flowers. Each mat provides four hours of bug protection, and each butane cartridge runs 12 hours. Bug protection of 15 feet by 15 feet is claimed. I tried it camping last week and it works. Widely available. Cost ranges from $20 to $30.

DENNIS ANDERSON