June 25

The plan today is to leave for the trail on the 10:15 bus.  I'll be starting off at mile 1700.9 at highway US 4.  I hope both the weather and trail turn good.  Started hiking at 11. 

Did exactly 10 miles and decided to stop and camp at Stony Brook Shelter. The weather was nice today.  Today's hike included a 2000 ft elevation gain which went up and over Quimby Mountain which was strenuous in parts.

Bugs:  So the biggest pest is the mosquito.  After that, the insect that has a bite that really hurts is the black fly or deer fly.   Then there are the multitude of different spider species which inhabit everything.  Finally the various ants and ticks that crawl over and into things.  I have some strong bug spray that I'm constantly using on my exposed leg parts and around my neck. Sometimes I'll have to spray my hands because they will attack me there as well.  I've had mosquitoes fly right into my face, mouth, and eyes while I'm hiking.  That's when I have to resort to my head covering.  All of this is what makes sleeping in your tent the best option when it comes to insects.  But then there's the trade off of sleeping in the rain, if there's a rain threat, instead of a dry shelter.  One night while in the shelter by myself the mosquitoes were so bad that at 1am I got up and set up my tent inside the shelter.  I then had the best of both worlds and slept undisturbed from the rain and all of the bugs.  It's nice having a free-standing tent that you can set up in just a few minutes.  To do this you must however have the shelter to yourself.