Bugs on the LT

[angewrite]

FYI for those of you starting the LT in the next few weeks, the mosquitos and black flies are hatching and WOW are the biting. Bring your DEET especially for areas North of the AT.

[burger]

I'll second that. I hiked from FR 72 (near the base of Stratton Mt.) to Goddard Shelter and back last weekend, and the blackflies were horrendous when it warmed up. I actually cut my trip short by a day because the bugs were keeping me from enjoying myself.

It's too bad that spring is so buggy in New England--it's the nicest time of year for birds and flowers and (usually) has great weather. Makes me long for someplace nice and dry that doesn't have any biting insects.

[4eyedbuzzard]

Rats. I was thinking of doing a weekend hike with my daughter over in the Big Branch area. Maybe I'll wait a week or two. Bugs are out but still manageable with repellent on this side of the CT river - they weren't too bad when I was mowing the field yesterday.

[earlylight]

Rats. I was thinking of doing a weekend hike with my daughter over in the Big Branch area. Maybe I'll wait a week or two. Bugs are out but still manageable with repellent on this side of the CT river - they weren't too bad when I was mowing the field yesterday.

I was up in the Big Branch section last weekend and the bugs didn't get bad until 5ish while I was setting up a tent at Lost Pond. But if you were hiking there were fine. Of course, I was wearing long pants, a long sleeved shirt, and a bandana sprayed with permethrin that might have kept them more at bay than just deet.

[Rainman]

I am starting north from Jonesville on July 6. Do you think the insects will be better by then? All the bugs seem to indicate no problems finding water. do you have any specific water info for that section?

[4eyedbuzzard]

I was up in the Big Branch section last weekend and the bugs didn't get bad until 5ish while I was setting up a tent at Lost Pond. But if you were hiking there were fine. Of course, I was wearing long pants, a long sleeved shirt, and a bandana sprayed with permethrin that might have kept them more at bay than just deet.

Thanks for the info.

[4eyedbuzzard]

...Makes me long for someplace nice and dry that doesn't have any biting insects.

I think that place is called autumn most everywhere. We are all just intruders on an insect/bug inhabited world.

[burger]

I think that place is called autumn most everywhere. We are all just intruders on an insect/bug inhabited world.

Actually, I call that place Arizona.

[4eyedbuzzard]

Actually, I call that place Arizona.

They got them scorpions and spiders and snakes though.

[Pokey2006]

I'd take spiders over mosquitoes any day.

[DuctTape]

Actually, I call that place Arizona.

yep. doin a full moon hike on the bright angel trail tomorrow

[Tinker]

I think that place is called autumn most everywhere. We are all just intruders on an insect/bug inhabited world.

No, actually we are a mobile buffet.

[Quoddy]

I decided to head out for the weekend on a section of the AT/LT. Began the hike at Stratford-Arlington Road and headed SOBO toward Glastenbury Mountain. It seemed that the closer I got to Glastenbury, the more bugs there were. By the time I reached the top of the mountain 12.5 miles later I was being swarmed every time I stopped by black flies, mosquitos, and even some horse flies.

I set up the Speer and MacCat Deluxe near the top of the mountain, had supper and turned in early. It was supposed to be showers and thundershowers beginning in the morning, and fortunately it held off till I'd eaten and packed up. Shortly after heading out on the 10.5 mile hike to Rt 9 east of Bennington, a heavy thunderstorm began and never slowed up at all for over five hours.

It was a great getaway weekend despite the bugs and heavy rain. Slept great in the Speer on a cool, almost chilly, night.

[Yukon]

I'll second that. I hiked from FR 72 (near the base of Stratton Mt.) to Goddard Shelter and back last weekend, and the blackflies were horrendous when it warmed up. I actually cut my trip short by a day because the bugs were keeping me from enjoying myself.

It's too bad that spring is so buggy in New England--it's the nicest time of year for birds and flowers and (usually) has great weather. Makes me long for someplace nice and dry that doesn't have any biting insects.

Can you tell me where you parked to start that hike? What was your mileage? Thanks in advance

[Quoddy]

Can you tell me where you parked to start that hike? What was your mileage? Thanks in advance

I'm hiking that this weekend. Parking is on the north side of Kelly Stand Road (often called Stratton-Arlington Road), and is fairly obvious when you get there. It's right where the AT/LT crosses the road. It is 12.5 miles to Goddard from there. I'm going with a couple of friends who have never hiked that section and want to stay on Glastenbury or Goddard before we head on to Rt 9, which is another 10.1 miles, on Sunday.

[oruoja]

I live just west of Camel's Hump and the black flies seem to fading out, but a healthy crop of deer flies will provide hours of pleasure. We have been having pretty regular rain and combined with the high snow pack melt this season water on the northern LT will not be problem in the next few weeks at least. Some pretty good deluges may have caused some trail damage in spots. Last Sunday in Ripton west of Middlebury Gap on Vt 125 they got seven inches on rain in two hours washing out some roads. The bats and bees seem to be at normal numbers this season at least in the area here. Also, most planning hikes in this area realize this, but this week it has been dropping into the high 30s at elevations on the trail, so combined with the rain being prepared is important as always.

[burger]

I'm hiking that this weekend. Parking is on the north side of Kelly Stand Road (often called Stratton-Arlington Road), and is fairly obvious when you get there. It's right where the AT/LT crosses the road. It is 12.5 miles to Goddard from there. I'm going with a couple of friends who have never hiked that section and want to stay on Glastenbury or Goddard before we head on to Rt 9, which is another 10.1 miles, on Sunday.

I started my hike at FR71. On the AT, that's about 2 miles south of Kelly Stand Rd. In terms of driving, go about a mile west of the AT crossing on Kelly Stand Road, and you come to the parking lot for the Stratton Pond Trail. About 100 yards further west is FR71 (on your left). The AT crosses FR71 about 2/3 of a mile south from Kelly Stand Rd (it's a subtle crossing, but anyone should be able to find it). I left my car there on the side of the road for a day and a half, and it was fine.

There's an excellent site on trail access in Vermont here: http://rohland.homedns.org/at/state/...0&sectionID=51

[Yukon]

I'm hiking that this weekend. Parking is on the north side of Kelly Stand Road (often called Stratton-Arlington Road), and is fairly obvious when you get there. It's right where the AT/LT crosses the road. It is 12.5 miles to Goddard from there. I'm going with a couple of friends who have never hiked that section and want to stay on Glastenbury or Goddard before we head on to Rt 9, which is another 10.1 miles, on Sunday.

Ok, I have been on Kellystand road many, many times because i have snowmobiled up there in the winter and driven up there in summer. I'm trying to pinpoint exactly where on the road you are talking about parking. I have always picked up the road from arlington, so from there how far do i have to go down the road to pick up the trail to Glastenbury? I have snowmobiled to the top before but never hiked it.

[Monkeywrench]

Ok, I have been on Kellystand road many, many times because i have snowmobiled up there in the winter and driven up there in summer. I'm trying to pinpoint exactly where on the road you are talking about parking. I have always picked up the road from arlington, so from there how far do i have to go down the road to pick up the trail to Glastenbury? I have snowmobiled to the top before but never hiked it.

If you ever snowmobiled from Arlington over the crest at the top of the ridge, and down (east) to the point where the road up from West Wardsboro is plowed (where the truck selling coffee and soda and burgers and such is always parked), that's the parking lot where the AT crosses the road.

Hiking north the AT/LT leaves the NE corner of the parking lot and heads up Stratton Mountain. Hiking south the trail goes up the road to the west to cross the river on the bridge, then heads into the woods on the south side of the road.

[NorthCountryWoods]

Must've gotten lucky this weekend.....bugs were not much of a problem between Johnson and Eden....maybe I'm used to them? The mud on the other hand....was knee deep in more places than I ever recall.