black flies
Was in pharoah lake region last weekend. Black Flies at unbelievable levels.
To put this in perspective, I have been hiking & backpacking in the adirondacks for the past 15 years. As you know a certain amount of perserverance is required - and during this time I've encountered a wide variety of dak inflicted suffering. During this time I've abandoned my hiking plans 3 times (not counting the times my partners have wimped out)
1. Late February 3:45PM 200' from top of Mount Marcy, low visibility, high winds, getting dark...
2. Five Ponds Wilderness - second day of a planned 5 day backpack - encountered incredible blow down from the microburst in the late nineties - after 2 hours of climbing over downed giant pines and progressing 1/2 mile...
3. Pharoah Lake Wilderness 2008 - after 24 hours of swarming black flies from 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM with bug repellent and smoky fires acting as seasoning for my flesh I packed up and left.
Seriously though - I have never seen flies at this level - I certainly caught them at peak time but the peak is off the charts. This is not spray some DEET on the hat bug levels.
I can't imagine they will be worse during the upcoming weekend but I also can't imagine they've dwindled a whole lot either and are probably moving North and Up (I was at 1500'). If your looking for a peaceful weekend in the woods - this won't be it. If your looking for stories to tell your friends - this is a great opportunity. If you go - go prepared - headnets, gloves, long pants, tent - and keep moving.
That said I'd go and suffer it again...as when the bugs disappeared at dusk...we had the entire lake to ourselves, nice fire, loons,.....but when we got up and the bugs started up at 8:30.....and another 12 hour stretch before the next peaceful moment....it was definitely time to leave.
