Date: 2010-07-15
From: Pawling, NY/NYC

To: Mt. Algo Lean-To
Miles today: 20.4

I put a wrap on my 9th state today passing out of Mid-Atlantic NY and into my first New England state, CT. Some days the end feels closer than others and today is such a day, likely attributed to generally mild terrain combined with fresh legs after 2 days of R&R in NYC.The region received a fair amount of rain during my 2 days off trail and I pass several brooks and streams with a slow but steady flow, a welcome relief after the last couple weeks of naught. Whether or not the rain raised the bugs as well I'm not sure but they pester me mercilessly today until I finally stop and don my head net for only the second time while hiking to keep the incessant buzzing away from my face and ears. Insects have been a constant unwelcome companion throughout my journey and it's amazing the number of bugs that have evolved that rely on the blood of something else for survival. At the beginning of my trip in GA/NC/TN it was mainly black flies; slow, clumsy and easy to kill but annoying by sheer numbers. I first used my head net back in NC when I was accosted by these creatures, usually while in camp or at a stream pumping water, on the occasions where I was a relatively motionless sitting target. Some time later it was the biting gnats or no-see-ums that rose to the top of the 'pest pyramid' as these little guys are ravenous and relentless. Whereas the black flies usually disappear when the sun sets or the temperature dips, the biting gnats will keep up their barrage all night night long if given the opportunity as I discovered one horrible night several weeks ago at Bryant Ridge Shelter. It was specifically after that night that I made the near permanent decision to sleep in my tent if I had the slightest thought that bugs would harass me (which has been almost every day since). My tent, with blessed bug netting, is my 'fortress of solitude' and bastion against these pests and many times I've watched from inside as these insects hurl themselves futilely against the sides as I watch from a safe and unmolested vantage point inside. The 3 other dominant flying pests on the trail include, the mosquito, most active at dawn, dusk, and near water sources; a small fly with red eyes about the size of the tip of a pen; and the horsefly. The mosquito is annoying but generally the least threatening adversary, being slower, clumsier, fewer in number and less persistent than the other bugs in the 'top 5'. The small black fly might gets my vote as most annoying with their ability to follow me down the trail while hovering and dancing about 4 inches in front of my eyes and continually zeroing in my ears. Their incessant buzzing in my ears is maddening and waving hands towards them only buys about 20 seconds of relief before they resume their barrage. If the terrain is fairly level I'll often walk with my poles propped up on my shoulders which has some success in keeping them away from my head. The last noteworthy flying pest is the horsefly known on the trail as 'green eyes' or 'green heads'. Unless you're able to kill a horsefly with your strike, swinging at a horsefly otherwise has a near opposite desired effect of seemingly enraging it to follow and persist with a spirited vigor. I've killed dozens of green eyes, most on the back of my neck. Every insect killed is a small moral victory, but ultimately hollow in that seemingly 2 or 3 more appear to take the place of a fallen comrade. Yet one more test of the Trail.