View Full Version : 100 Mile Wilderness in August?
I am planning on hiking the 100 mi wilderness and climbing Katahdin starting around the 10th of August. I am concerned about the water levels as well as "buggie-ness" that time of year. I am awaiting the trail guide to that section in the mail, so any help/advise would be great. My goal is to essentially spend 9-11 days on the trail the last two weeks of August.
ric2hunt
07-30-2007, 20:04
You are going to find the black flies a royal mess. Sometime later in September would be better if your schedule would allow.
boarstone
07-30-2007, 20:07
Gin: :You shouldn't have high water on fords unless there has been heavy recent rainfall while you are on trail. Right now water levels are very low. Bugs: "skeeters" are still out and deer and moose flies are a bother still with all this humidity it's a breeders haven for them. Expect nights to be cool but not cold. 50's -60's. Heavy leaf cover doesn't allow for much air circulation, will be muggy at times at lower levels.:sun
You are going to find the black flies a royal mess. Sometime later in September would be better if your schedule would allow.
OK so tell us how you know this to be factual info. We Mainers have been experiencing the mildest Black Fly Season in years. I don't recall seeing one for a few weeks now. I'd say the season is over for them!
Anyone else seen any lately
No blackflies for me, but I did find sufficient mosquitos last week.
No blackflies, the moquitoes were very light (by Maine standards) when I was up there in July and the water levels were summer normal which means unless there is a lot of rain they will be fairly low in august. (meaning most of the mudholes wont be over your boot tops).
Anyone else seen any lately?(Blackflies)
No blackflies for me,
No blackflies,
I rest my case
Go for it gin, have a great hike!
Thank you all for the replies. I have been watching the weather and the Northeast has been getting nailed by rain. A bit iffy. Anyhoo, for the other section hikers/thru hikers out there, if you know of another great section that will take around a week to a week and a half, let me know. I love being spontaneous. I'll just pick up a guide book for that section a couple of days before and go. I have frequent flier miles and or a Corrola so I'm game. My biggest sections have been in NC and TN. Well, thanks again.
Shutterbug
07-31-2007, 12:39
I am planning on hiking the 100 mi wilderness and climbing Katahdin starting around the 10th of August. I am concerned about the water levels as well as "buggie-ness" that time of year. I am awaiting the trail guide to that section in the mail, so any help/advise would be great. My goal is to essentially spend 9-11 days on the trail the last two weeks of August.
I hiked the section from Gulf Hagas to Monson last year in the third week of August. There were no black flies. The days were still warm, but not uncomfortable. The nights were cool, but not cold. By the third week of August, a lot of nobo thru-hikers will be in the 100 Mile Wilderness, so don't count on using the shelters.
Last year, there were plently of places to get drinking water and none of the fords were high enough to be a problem.
All in all, the end of August is a great time to hike the 100 Mile Wilderness. Take your time and enjoy it. If you have 11 days, be sure to detour to see the south half of the Gulf Hagas loop. I recommend doing an out and back on the south half. There is nothing to see on the north half of the loop.
Shutterbug
07-31-2007, 12:45
Thank you all for the replies. I have been watching the weather and the Northeast has been getting nailed by rain. A bit iffy. Anyhoo, for the other section hikers/thru hikers out there, if you know of another great section that will take around a week to a week and a half, let me know. I love being spontaneous. I'll just pick up a guide book for that section a couple of days before and go. I have frequent flier miles and or a Corrola so I'm game. My biggest sections have been in NC and TN. Well, thanks again.
Don't let a little rain deter you. Year before last, I hiked the north half of the 100 Mile Wilderness (Katahdin to Gulf Hagas) in the rain. One of the hurricanes that hit Florida came on up to Maine and stayed there for three days.
I stopped in at White House Landing and waited out the storm. I enjoyed it so much that I plan to go back there again.
Thanks. I just received the Maine section AT trail guide and am getting very excited. I spent my honeymoon in 5 days of rain hiking from Damascus going north. I'm just not the biggest fan of spending most of my days moving in and out of swarms. I guess I will bring a ton of deet with me even though that stuff is beyone awful. Also, for those reading this post, any advise on good gators? I have very short ones and they have worked out well in TN, VA, and NC, but not too sure if bogs and what not will make a huge dif. Best to all
Shutterbug
07-31-2007, 16:52
Thanks. I just received the Maine section AT trail guide and am getting very excited. I spent my honeymoon in 5 days of rain hiking from Damascus going north. I'm just not the biggest fan of spending most of my days moving in and out of swarms. I guess I will bring a ton of deet with me even though that stuff is beyone awful. Also, for those reading this post, any advise on good gators? I have very short ones and they have worked out well in TN, VA, and NC, but not too sure if bogs and what not will make a huge dif. Best to all
You don't need gaiters in the 100 Mile Wilderness -- at least I didn't use them. I wear boots. I did slip off of the foot logs a couple of times, but never sank in a bog deeper than the tops of by boots.
K. Thanks again. The only other two questions I have are: 1. carry all 7-8 day worth of food, or stop out and try to hitch aroud day 5 and re-supply? (most common?) and 2. Would you recommend fording in tevas or some sort of water shoe? What do most do? I cannot imagine having to ford something knee deep in my boots. When I'm out fishing in the Kankakee river, I wear tennis shoes or tevas.
Shutterbug
07-31-2007, 19:25
K. Thanks again. The only other two questions I have are: 1. carry all 7-8 day worth of food, or stop out and try to hitch aroud day 5 and re-supply? (most common?) and 2. Would you recommend fording in tevas or some sort of water shoe? What do most do? I cannot imagine having to ford something knee deep in my boots. When I'm out fishing in the Kankakee river, I wear tennis shoes or tevas.
The food question is one of money. You can stop at White House Landing (I recommend it). If you are tight on funds, skip White House Landing and carry all of your food.
There is another option. You can cache some food in the Wilderness. To me that has always seemed a bit more work than it was worth, but I know that some people do it.
For your second issue, attach a pair of crocks or something similar to the outside of your pack. I use them for crossing streams and for camp shoes.
I have seen some people who just walk through the fords in their boots. Personally, I hate wet socks so I take the time to remove my boots before I cross a stream. Last year, I lost one of my crocks (I won't bore you with the story), so my choice was crossing in my boots or in bare feet. I chose bare feet. In most of the streams the bottom is sandy with smooth, rounded rocks.
You rock my man! All the best to you.
No the black flies are out of season now. However the deer flies and the mosquito's are in and they are thick.
Any suggestions? Will deet do the trick or will I be completely swarmed to death? Any 100 mile + section you recommend starting around the 10th or so of August where I wont be taken hostage by flies and skeeters?
hammock engineer
08-01-2007, 17:04
I went through a couple weeks ago, taking a nero in straton now.
The black flys are not bad at all. As was said earlier the mosquitos are out in force. There was plenty of water when I was there. It also rained at some point for 7 out of my 10 days going though. No high fords either. Highest was knee deep.
Have a great time and enjoy all the great swimming Maine has to offer.
Thanks a ton. Best to you and enjoy!
Shutterbug
08-01-2007, 18:14
Any suggestions? Will deet do the trick or will I be completely swarmed to death? Any 100 mile + section you recommend starting around the 10th or so of August where I wont be taken hostage by flies and skeeters?
I have hiked sections of the 100 Mile Wilderness in the fall in each of the last 4 years. I have never been taken hostage.
If you are sensitive to bites, use some deet. Personally, I prefer the bites to the deet. I didn't use any repellant during my hike last year and still enjoyed it.
Relax. You are going to have a great time.
You asked about recommended sections. Plan you hike based on access. If you can't hike the entire 100 miles then plan it so that you complete your hike at one of the points of easy access: Golden Road, Jo Mary Road, Gulf Hagas, or Monson.
boarstone
08-01-2007, 21:53
K. Thanks again. The only other two questions I have are: 1. carry all 7-8 day worth of food, or stop out and try to hitch aroud day 5 and re-supply? (most common?) and 2. Would you recommend fording in tevas or some sort of water shoe? What do most do? I cannot imagine having to ford something knee deep in my boots. When I'm out fishing in the Kankakee river, I wear tennis shoes or tevas.
Gin: If you care to, you can look in your AT companion book, I am listed as a resupply option. You send your resupply to me and I can drop it at Cooper Brook road/trail crossing. (see Map 2 for Maine) Keep those toes covered, use a full cover water shoe, tevas allow the water to run between your foot and shoe, hence, loss of shoe sometimes with the current. Use the type that hug the whole foot with elastic, can usually be found in drug stores, Wal-Marts, Targets etc or outlet store. We haven't had any rain up here in the "100 mile" section for awile. Rivers/streams are very dry, the Pleasant River runs right behind my house and is very low, not even knee deep in spots. Upriver, it's even drier, with only potholes of water here and there with no "running" water. Upriver as in, Gulf Hags area, White Cap, Cooper Brook, and all feeder streams are not "running". Only wet pockets of water here and there. PM me if you have any questions about resupply. :)
7Sisters
08-02-2007, 03:13
As others have said - you won't experience black flies in Maine during August.
When I did the 100 mile wilderness, I used tevas and hung my boots on my pack. Didn't worry about drying my feet when I put my socks back on. It all dries so quickly. I think you'll find the river crossings very refreshing in August.
Personally I would never visit White House Landing as I find it detracts from the 100 mile wilderness and don't believe there s/b resupply points at this section. At one point it was the last section that remained without resupplypoints. So if we want there to be more wilderness, than we shouldn't visit and support WHJ. It's only 5 or 6 days of food, so it's not real bad. The other thing about WHJ is that it's about a mile off the trail (1 way).
You'll love the wilderness, but just don't expect it to be wilderness. It is however beautiful.
Route Step
08-09-2007, 22:11
I just got back from Maine (East of Katahdin) and the deer flies were very bad. Not so the black flies this time. Bring a cap or a bug shirt if you can.
Two of my kids and I are going to hike from Gulf Hagas to Baxter the end of August and early September. I read in one of your earlier posts that the shelters are busy this time of year with people completing thru hikes. Is there any problem with just finding camp sites along the way in Maine (rules re: camping at places that are not "designated"). Also will we probably need to treat our water?
Shutterbug
08-10-2007, 02:55
Two of my kids and I are going to hike from Gulf Hagas to Baxter the end of August and early September. I read in one of your earlier posts that the shelters are busy this time of year with people completing thru hikes. Is there any problem with just finding camp sites along the way in Maine (rules re: camping at places that are not "designated"). Also will we probably need to treat our water?
There are lots of great places to camp in the 100 Mile Wilderness. It is good practice to camp only where someone has camped before. There are lots of flat spots with fire rings along the trail.
There are also tent sites near all of the shelters in the 100 Mile Wilderness except Logan Brook. As I recall. that shelter has no flat area around it.
The advice about shelters being full was merely so that you would carry a tent or a hammock and not depend solely on a shelter being available.
Yes, you will need to treat your drinking water. Of course that is true almost everywhere, but especially in Maine where moose droppings are all over the place.
Mr. Clean
08-11-2007, 10:11
With deer flies, it's best to wear a hat with deet sprayed on it, but I've also stuck a sprig of greens in my headband when it's to hot for a hat. Worse for me are those gnats that buzz in front of your eyes as you hike, also helped by a hat. Relax, and have fun.
flyingduckmonster
08-16-2007, 13:37
...I've also stuck a sprig of greens in my headband when it's to hot for a hat. ...
What kinds of greens keep bugs off? This is very interesting!
Gin,
You probably have heard the horror stories about fording chest deep water and dealing with the legendary black fly (I believe this is the Maine state Bird!!). Most such folks, if I am not mistaken, had the brillians to come through this section southbounding in June. Probably worst possible time.
While you never know of course, chances are in late August the bugs won't be too bad and water levels should be reasonable. But there's always plenty of water so no need to worry about drought.
I hope you get nice weather. the scenery is gorgeous up there! Wide open spaces!!
DavidNH
Jim Adams
08-16-2007, 15:14
Go to the Whites! Nice weather, no bugs, pretty sights.
Save the 100 mile for mid September. No bugs, low water, warm enough to swim, muscles for supper and beautiful folage........
Hell, now you got me fired up!
Quit work and just wait until September and start a sobo thru. How could you go wrong? Walking south with fall!
geek