4-5 day trip to ADK's?

“Hey guys.....
I'm thinking about doing a 4-5 day trip at the end of May early June. I wanna do a trip into the high peaks region. Does anyone know a good 4-5 day trip that would allow me to bag a few peaks?”

“Beware...it's black fly season then.”

“What black flies? Oh, do you mean the biting black birds that could carry off a small dog?”

“I can hardly wait to try out my new bug shirt while outside on my property in a few weeks.”

“No Lumberzac, Black flies are tiny and get through normal mosquito netting, they can also bite through cotton.
What they lack in size, they make up for in numbers.

You end up wearing rain gear just to get relief.

I got bitten up so bad one year I started to have a reaction. Hello puffy face.”

“The black flies I'm talking about aren't tiny and could not get through mosquito netting. They need running water to breed, like to bite and draw your blood, especially right around your hairline. The bite leaves a big welt that can last for weeks.”

“when does black fly season begin and end?”

“Black fly season begins any time between mid April to mid May and normally lasts until early July, but it all depends on the weather.”

“I always have trouble thinking of longer trips in the high peaks. Most of my trips are weekenders. Adirondack Loj and Johns Brook Valley have access to the largest number of peaks, but keep in mind that these areas will have large numbers of people. Also these areas have been having a problem with bear raids. Assuming you aren't very familiar with the area I would suggest using a bear canister. I would highly recommend Barbara McMartin's "Discover the Adirondack High Peaks" . Also check out the

Adirondack Journey

web site is full of information.”

“I was in Saranac Lake, Keene Valley & Lake Placid today. North of there, still has snow & frozen lakes. Gorgeous day. Lunch was good in Lake Placid. Listened to John Coltrane CD's.”

“yeah I've been to the High Peaks region before and had a close encounter with a bear....came within 5 feet of a black bear....kinda scary”

“Black flies emit a toxin when they bite and that's what causes the swelling. I got bit near my eye pretty bad 2 years ago and wound up with an infection in my eye. My eye doctor told me if an infection goes behind the eye, hospitalization and IV antibiotics would be needed to irradicate it. Darn black flies!”

“Last year, around the same time of the year, my wife and I went to Queer Lake in the Pigeon Lake Wilderness. It didn't have peaks to bag but it had a remote feeling to it. Many areas you can stretch into long trips if you just do a lot of exploring. I'm sure you could do a trip of that length in the Pharoah Lakes Wilderness. Just make sure you wear bug-netting at plent of repellent!”

“I like 98% DEET. I try to put it on my clothes instead of me. Had my heaviest bug biting on Lake Lila & Lows lake. Bog River & Raquette were ok. Normally paddling the canoe keeps them at bay but we had a very long portage. My brother-in-law (hope falls vintage) is immune to them. I wear long sleeves/pants/paddling gloves/hat & usually do ok. That time I brought a bug hat net as a joke but actually wore it. The only place the adirondack birds got me was on the wrists between my shirt & gloves. Left wristwatch sized welts completely around my wrists 1/4" thick. They put bloodsucking vampires to shame. At least you'll learn the "Adirondack Shuffle".”

“Damn you all. Damn you all to HELL!”

“Shiprunner08, lumberzac is right about the begin and end times for black fly season. A lot of it depends on the weather. The rule of thumb here in NH is that black fly season is the worst from Mothers Day through Fathers Day.”

“The only bad thing about black fly season ending it that it usually coincides with the start of deer fly season.”

“Always remember the for seasons of the Adirondacks, Mud, Black Fly, Almost Winter (Late Mud), and Winter.”