My question to the field is how are the hikers handling the daily pests of black flies? Are hikers wearing bug nets? Are hikers spraying on the Deet? I was orginally suppose to go hiking the last week of April but due to my co-worker out on surgery, it was postponed. Now I'm thinking next week (5/19-5/23)-Black Fly season?? I would really appreciate your thoughts??
_Brownie_Black Flies - Appalachian Trail
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#1
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#2
I hiked Mt Liberty in NH yesterday and the Black Flies were not out yet. When they do start DEET does not seem to have much affect on them so I usually wear long sleeves and pants and when in camp I wear a head net. While I hike I just bear them the best I can. I personally find the Mossies much more annoying. Camp in areas with breeze if you can and take breaks in direct sunlight where both mossis and BFs do not like.
_Big B_
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#3
Unlike mosquitoes Black flies are diurnal only and usually can't bite through clothing so your best bet is to cover up as much as possible during the hiking day and apply repellent to face and hands (or wear gloves and headnet). Natural repellents like citronella or neem oil seem to work better than Deet against black flies, but won't last as long so plan to reapply every few hours as needed. While BF's in general are more easily thwarted than mosquitoes their bites are more pernicious causing bleeding and long lasting welts (and you won't feel the bites until afterward) so it's important to take them seriously when their numbers are swarming.
_woodsy_
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#4
The worst of Black fly season is between your mother and your father in the Northwoods. That is between mothers day and fathers day. They are so tiny that the net on your tent or head are not very effective. The two things you can do other than deet is cover your skin with clothing and try to camp on the windward or exposed side of the mountain. In the evenings hike fast.
_Francis_
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#5
Headnets and tents are effective, of course. Blackflies aren't nearly as small as no-see-ums so the mesh is able to keep them out. What fabrics incl clothing won't do is keep the bloodsuckers from trying to crawl up a shirt sleeve or pant leg, down your socks, under your wristwatch, etc. So these are good places to add a little extra repellent (again, not deet). Also blackflies are most active during the heat of the day, rather than early morning or in the evening. And they're completely dormant at night, so if you camp like a thru-hiker - for the sake of sleeping rather than lounging - then they're a non-issue and you can camp anywhere you please. All of this is assuming the mosquitoes aren't active, which is no guarantee, as their seasons overlap, especially in June in the high country.
_woodsy_