Hi, just trying to plan for the future and when I can finish the section I didn't get to do last summer.

I have from Great Barrington, MA---Katadihn left (about 600 miles). I was thinking of doing it SOBO so I could finish the section I missed but then keep hiking if I felt like it.

When is the optimal time to go to avoid the bugs in Maine? I loathe mosquitoes but don't mind a bit of cold.

Any advice?

I have from Great Barrington, MA---Katadihn left (about 600 miles). I was thinking of doing it SOBO so I could finish the section I missed but then keep hiking if I felt like it.

When is the optimal time to go to avoid the bugs in Maine? I loathe mosquitoes but don't mind a bit of cold.

Any advice?
Southbound, you'll want to summit Mt Washington by October 1st at the latest. An August (mid-July, even) start at Katahdin will get you past most bugs. Remember as a non-nobo LD hiker you'll need reservations to stay at Baxter Park. Why not nobo from Monson to Baxter? That way you can stay at the Birches, then flip back to Monson and head south.