15 day hike Katahdin-South

[dickdurk]

I've been reading with interest the threads about bugs. It looks like a choice of Black flys in June or Mosquitoes in July. Previous advice was I should start about mid June to avoid the flys. That looks to be wrong. Being from Eastern Shore of MD. I know about Mosquitoes. The Asian Tiger ones really get my attention. They look like Sikorsky heavy lift helicopters.

Anyway, I've done section hiking from Springer to Nolichucky and am ready to experience Maine. For planning purposes I figure on 7 mile days and that has worked well in the Nantahalas and Smokies. Looking at the Maine maps it looks like relatively moderate hiking for 150 miles or so. Would that be accurate? Can I stretch out my daily averages with some sort of confidence?

Thanks for any input
Michael

[The Hog]

You can make pretty good mileage from Katahdin to White Cap, but expect shorter mileage days from White Cap to Monson (White Cap, the Barren-Chairbacks, and river crossings will slow you down). This is a great stretch of trail - if you can keep the bugs at bay. I would carry a headnet and 50% Deet, maybe even one of those insecticide impregnated shirts, and a bug proof tent setup.
In late June 1975, I ran into two southbounders near the ME/NH border. They looked really bad. Every square inch of exposed skin was superimposed bug bites (ie scar tissue).

[NotYet]

We started at Katahdin on July 18, 2000 specifically to avoid the black flies. I only had one black fly bite on the trip, and the mosquitos weren't very bad at all. Maybe we got lucky with the mosquitos (it was a drought year), but we didn't run into the angry swarms we used to have growing up on the Gulf Coast!

From what I read in the registers, those starting in June had it MUCH worse. If you want to minimize the bugs, I'd think about going later...

[SnakebiteSurvivor]

The conventional wisdom is that the black flies are bad in June and early July. Then the mosquitoes take over. But it depends a lot of conditions in a particular year (amount of rainfall, etc.).

We hiked the 100-mile wilderness in August of a dry year (2001) and weren't bothered at all by bugs. But the section south of Monson, we did in late June of a more normal year (2003). Black flies were bad in some places, but mosquitoes were worse. Be sure to take plenty of DEET and a long-sleeved shirt (and pants), and a bug net. DEET is pretty effective against mosquitoes, but black flies seem to thrive on it!

Yes, this is a fairly easy section, especially the northernmost part (except Katahdin itself). Easier than the Nantahalas or Smokies. There are some climbs in the south, and some areas are tougher than the profile would indicate: the section south of Monson along the Piscataquis looks pretty flat on the profile, but was very tiring, with constant ups and downs.

[dickdurk]

Thanks Guys. I think I've talked myself into going in August, the bonus being maybe my work schedule will allow me to hike for 30 days.

So...Is a floatplane shuttle really viable? anyone have a line on that service, perhaps Monson or Kennebec R. area? Looks like the list of shuttle service providers is kinda thin on the ground that area of the trail. Also not keen on a 200 mile car ride shuttle. I'd rather be walking ASAP.

Michael

[Tramper Al]

dickdirk,

I am setting up my Northbound section hike of the 100 Mile plus BSP/Katahdin for the last week of August.

Most often mentioned for float plane shuttles on the ME AT is Katahdin Air Service (http://www.katahdinair.com/hiking.html) and the web site has some specific information about shuttling AT hikers. We have not yet contacted them for our late August shuttle, but we hope it will be feasible.

[weary]

The conventional wisdom is that the black flies are bad in June and early July. Then the mosquitoes take over. But it depends a lot of conditions in a particular year (amount of rainfall, etc.).

We hiked the 100-mile wilderness in August of a dry year (2001) and weren't bothered at all by bugs. But the section south of Monson, we did in late June of a more normal year (2003). Black flies were bad in some places, but mosquitoes were worse. Be sure to take plenty of DEET and a long-sleeved shirt (and pants), and a bug net. DEET is pretty effective against mosquitoes, but black flies seem to thrive on it!

Yes, this is a fairly easy section, especially the northernmost part (except Katahdin itself). Easier than the Nantahalas or Smokies. There are some climbs in the south, and some areas are tougher than the profile would indicate: the section south of Monson along the Piscataquis looks pretty flat on the profile, but was very tiring, with constant ups and downs.
Okay. I live on a salt marsh on the coast of Maine. Mosquitoes are worse here than almost any place on the trail.

But black flies in the mountains of Maine start in mid to late May and continue through June. By the first week or so of July the black flies are mostly gone -- though global warming tends to move the flies, year by year, a bit later.

Once or twice I've experienced serious mosquito problems in the mountains of Maine-- mostly on overcast cloudy days, after several days of rain and drizzle.

But no worse than anywhere on the trail in similar conditions.

In my experience, black flies are a problem every late spring, early summer in Maine. Mosquitoes are a minor problem, everywhere on the trail, Maine to Georgia -- and vice versa.

Float plane service is readily available on the lakes of Maine. Folsum Flying Service out of Greenville I've used from time to time. Another service out of Ashland I've used even more. But I forget the name. If an internet search doesn't supply the information you need, let me know, and I'll research further.

Weary

[dickdurk]

dickdirk,

I am setting up my Northbound section hike of the 100 Mile plus BSP/Katahdin for the last week of August.

Most often mentioned for float plane shuttles on the ME AT is Katahdin Air Service (http://www.katahdinair.com/hiking.html) and the web site has some specific information about shuttling AT hikers. We have not yet contacted them for our late August shuttle, but we hope it will be feasible.

Thanks for the link; I got some flying service links (Greenville area) from the web-Katahdin looks to be way the most convenient, but it looks like their email is down for the moment.

So... You are looking to cover 100+miles in 7 days?

Michael

[Tramper Al]

So... You are looking to cover 100+miles in 7 days?
Under my current scheme, I give myself 6 full days from Rt. 15 Monson to Abol Bridge. However, after that I'll have 3 nights camping in the park with which to climb Katahdin, so if my pace for the 100 Mile is 1 or even 2 days slower than I have calculated, I can still make it work.