Holy Fucking Black-flies, Batman!

[dagibbs]

It was a beautiful day, so I took the afternoon off to go rock climbing. I was heading out with trad gear, and another trad climber, so we went to Bald Face. Bloody long and annoying approach -- probably 1.5-2 hours of approach involving a bunch of bushwhacking. (And, some overshoots and misses.)

While hiking, the bugs didn't seem so bad, but as soon as we stopped at the bottom of the cliff they were just swarming. And they didn't let up the whole time we were climbing. I'd sometimes swat my hands together in the swarm and get 2 or 3 at one blow. Ugh. And, mostly, black flies, with the occasional mosquito. Oh, and they sneered at Deep Woods Off. Either that, or they were so dense that the repellent just didn't have enough juice to help.

We did it as a 3-pitch climb, each of them about 30m (100'). I followed, but that was ok. I was still looking at his placements and thinking about alternatives, and stuff like that.

Rappelled back down, except had to walk off the last 5m or so cause we ran out of rope. Luckily there was a ledge there that we could walk off. (Ok, we knew we'd reach the ledge, but didn't know if we'd reach the ground. As I expected, we didn't reach the ground.)

The hike out wasn't as slow -- not nearly as much route finding. Still longish, though.

Now, now I'm tired.

Comments

[soul-diaspora.livejournal.com]

Yikes! Already?

Mud Lake's been great so far...one measly mosquito bite and that was back during the hot spell a couple weeks ago. Since then, swarms of gnats but nothing worse. I fear this won't last.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

My ankles are very itchy from bug bites. And I've got 3 or 4 bites on the backs of my hands as well.

So, at least up in Gatineau park, yes already. But... the Eardley escarpment will tend to get spring before anywhere else.

[soul-diaspora.livejournal.com]

Yup, indeed it is time...came back from my hike today slightly nibbled by black flies (presumably the nearby river rapids attracted them). Nowhere near what you had to contend with in Gatineau, of course.

Wierd question...

[perkyshai.livejournal.com]

Where do you live, and is it anywhere near Seattle or Portland?

Re: Wierd question...

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

I live in Ottawa, Canada. Where kgkofmel is from. I'm pretty sure without even looking at a map that you're closer to Seattle and Portland than I am.

(Yup, Google maps says Ottawa-Seattle is 2850 mi, Houston-Seattle is 2440 miles.)