Hello, we are planning a trip to the BWCA this weekend (Jun 16) but i am almost ready to cancel due to reports of the bugs and black flies. I have never been to the bwca before, and I would not want the trip to be ruined by bugs. Help! I am a Minnesota girl, but still, I cannot stand the thought of bugs biting my face as I have heard. Thanks for your help & advice.

That's why repellent was invented. I am heading up there tomorrow and out in the bwca on Wed. We have read a few postings and decided to use some of the bug stuff you spray on your clothes before you leave and let them dry. Then when your out there, use some deet repellent to distract the few others bugs looking to bug you. If your concerned about your head face per say, try the Bugjacket which encapsulates you like a Martian or just a bug hood. Most outfitters or good sporting good stores have them. Good Luck.

We got back about a week ago now. The bugs were mainly on portages, and they would come out for about an hour at dusk. Other than that, you're fine. We took head nets and wore them on portages. Also, campsite choices will help keep the bugs away. Pick something where a breeze can blow through. With repellant, and a headnet, you'll be fine.

It is better to have too much bug juice than too little!

Here is a biffy tip. Guys are lucky b/c they don't have to cover and hover but it sucks more for us girls. Whenever I use the biffy in the bwca I spray in the hole first and wait a few seconds for all the bugs to fly out and then I spray around the biffy itself. I don't want anything biting my butt while I am doing my business. Keep your spray handy when you are canoeing. The biting flies like to swarm your feet so spraying them often and also washing them everynight is a way to cut down. You could also look for a campsite that catches a lot of wind which would keep the bugs down. You can purchase mosquito nets to wear over your head during portages if you want. I wouldn't let the bugs ruin your trip, you will be fine. Have a good time!

Ultrathon is a great product - buy some if you're concerned. The bug shirts are cheap at twice the price and finally I'd suggest - for several reasons - that you wear zip off nylon pants with proper footgear.

Get a pair of light leather gloves for portages!

You'll have a great time - and the bugs won't be able to bother you.

Enjoy.

I'll echo everyone's comments-and don't let the bugs "bug" you and ruin your trip.

I find that dealing with the bugs is as much mental as physical, but that does not mean to not be prepared.

All the advice above will take care of the physical part, you and your group have to take care of the mental part and get your mindset in a place that you are telling the bugs that they can't bug you.

With that said take the advice especially on portages and at dusk and dawn and you will be fine.

I got back on Sunday from the Gabbro/Bald Eagle area, and the only place the bugs were thick was on the EP33 portage. In camp we had some skeeters, but not enough to even use dope. Bugs were very good for us. Good luck.

Personally I think you should cancel your trip. I don't intend to be mean, but bugs (or at least the potential for bugs) is part of it. As others have said there are some things you can do to reduce their numbers, and there is the mental component, but if you can't stand the thought of bugs biting your face you will not have a good time. There will be times, especially this time of year, where they will swarm you at least for a short time.

Since this is your first time maybe you should plan a trip to the BWCA area, that is, camp outside the BWCA in a campground. You can probably better control the bugs. If not, you can escape to the car or to town, or, in the worse case, leave and head home.

Right now my 14-year-old daughter is away at Girl Scout Camp. She doesn't like bugs either. She is a mosquito magnet and this camp is mosquito heaven. She sleeps in a mosquito net. She wears tons of bug dope. They still find her. She looks like leper when she gets home (this time she's gone for three weeks!). Still she wouldn't consider not going to camp. This is her ninth year.

I say camp outside the BWCA. See if you like it. If you fall in love with the place, you'll return next year and not let the bugs deter you. If you don't love it, well at least you won't go through a week of torture being trapped miles from your car in swarms of bugs.

you could reschedule for September... we rent a cabin on Jasper Lake in September and the bugs aren't near as bad as they've been on my May-June-July BWCAW trips.

The bwca is great. Don't let bugs scare you off.

I will second a mid September trip. That is my favorite time of the year to go. There are no bugs, and the sleeping weather is great. You are cheated out of many hours of sunlight which is the downside compared to a trip now.

all you really got to do is tolerate them on the portages and hikes, and for about an hour around sunset....

look for campsites on points and such that have some evening breeze. ANd bring DEET........they will buzz around you, but wont so much land on you

DO NOT let the bugs ruin what could be the trip of a lifetime, leave that to Mother NAture I would encourage you to take your trip, BUT be aware that bugs are just a amall part of the whole......

NO DON'T CANCEL!!!

My wife hates bugs too. She uses a head net, pants, long sleeves and DEET. It saves us from a murder suicide situation.

I can also second the mental aspect. I worked for the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District for several years and endured the some of the worst bug conditions in the State (yes, their are areas in the Metro area that, at times, are worse that the BWCA). Just think about the fresh air and wilderness. At the very least you will survive.

I wish Illinois had a "metro area". The entire northeast quarter if IL is non-stop "metro area" (which is why I take my vacations 540 miles away in the BWCAW).

another don't cancel vote. take the advice given here and post up when you get back. my bet is you'll do just fine.

Mark-

i live in Chicago, and I guess at least they do a good job of killing all those skeeters. i can't remember the last time I saw one in Chicago proper.

hardly any skeeters out here in Kane County, either but that's probably because they can't breed on asphalt or rooftops!