Yea honestly I think a reasonable fear (at least I can relate). I have been van-life the past year and have seen my fair share of ticks.
Just general advice that has been effective for me (I’m sure you can probably find this online)
Before any hike, deet or other repellant on your skin and clothes/shoes. Know where they hang out and try not to go into deep grass. After a hike, shed all your clothes and shoes carefully and wash it all. Take a shower and either have someone check you out or do a self inspection.
Some places, like desert climates, I have never seen any. One of the worst hikes I’ve encountered I was in Idaho by a river and must have seen 100. I literally turned around and stopped the hike. I usually start by looking at the tips of grass blades hanging over the trail. As you walk you kinda just scan and after a while you might see them just hanging on the very end with their arms extended. If you don’t see any, there probably isn’t much to worry about.
DEET on skin and permethrin on clothing and shoes is more effective. With the right kind of clothing and thorough permethrin treatment, any ticks that get on you will be dead before they find their way past the clothing to bite your skin. Just don't use it on skin, and keep it away from your cats. DEET can also do nasty things to clothing made from synthetic fibers, which are generally some of the best clothing choices for hiking.
I'm not sure about Alpha-gal Syndrome, but thankfully in Idaho you won't contract Lyme disease from tick bites.
I'm originally from Idaho but recently moved to Virginia. I've been far more cautious about ticks here than I ever felt the need to be in Idaho because you just don't get Lyme disease there.
When I go hiking here I treat my clothing with permethrin, wear long sleeved shirts and pants, and use 100% deet on any exposed skin. So far I haven't seen any ticks on my body.
Also avoid passing under low hanging branches. Ticks will hang out on a branch and wait for animals or humans to pass by underneath and then drop off onto them.
Just general advice that has been effective for me (I’m sure you can probably find this online)
Before any hike, deet or other repellant on your skin and clothes/shoes. Know where they hang out and try not to go into deep grass. After a hike, shed all your clothes and shoes carefully and wash it all. Take a shower and either have someone check you out or do a self inspection.
Some places, like desert climates, I have never seen any. One of the worst hikes I’ve encountered I was in Idaho by a river and must have seen 100. I literally turned around and stopped the hike. I usually start by looking at the tips of grass blades hanging over the trail. As you walk you kinda just scan and after a while you might see them just hanging on the very end with their arms extended. If you don’t see any, there probably isn’t much to worry about.
Ive avoided a bite so far but I also obsess…