“You’ll love it up there, but, you know, black fly season?”
Can’t say we weren’t warned, but goodness, black fly season is a challenge! I’ve camped in bear country, wolf country and spider and snake territory. I’ve been under canvas in the high desert, the low desert, in rain forests and the mountains. It’s been too hot, too cold, too wet or too dry. I’ve even tent camped in a field in England. None of that, whatever challenges they might hold, came close to black flies in the north woods. Banana slugs and ants? I love you guys. And I’ll never complain about mosquitoes again… (I will, of course I will, but they’re a breeze compared to black flies!)
We rolled up and pitched our tent in slightly overcast and light-ish wind conditions after a day of rain showers. By the following morning the skies had cleared and if you wouldn’t call it hot, the next day or two were pleasantly warm. One or two black flies, one or two mosquitoes but no big deal. Those flies were waiting for the sudden heat and humidity of day four! A lovely morning, with mid teens temperatures and blue skies. These gave way to a bit more cloud cover, increased humidity, a temperature climb and then the onslaught – onslaught I say – of black flies. Onslaught!
They were everywhere! Oh how I miss the lightweight drone and whine of a mosquito or two. (Like the regular lightweight drone and whine of a contented PlaidCamper before the onslaught. Onslaught I say!) Music compared to the heavy chainsaw buzzing, dive bombing and all out in your face antics of the black flies. They were relentless! I didn’t get a single bite (Mrs PC picked up a few when one got in her hair above the back of her neck – ouch!) so the several gallons of bug spray worked to some extent, but still they zoomed in and away, over and over. And in such numbers – you simply couldn’t ignore them!
After almost two decades camping in various Canadian locations, you’d think we’d have encountered this before, but nope. We will be aiming to avoid another black fly adventure, that’s for sure. Yes, we were warned, and, after the first three days, were still ignorantly wondering what the big deal was. Well, now we know!
I’ll explore a bit more in another post about other aspects of the trip, but, driving home, having been seen off by the black flies, this is what we were talking about the most, so I’d thought I’d share! Definitely a lesson learned and isn’t doing something the hard way a more certain way of remembering the lesson?! There are certainly far worse things than being in the woods in black fly season, but for those few hours before we sounded the retreat, I’d have taken some convincing…
Mrs PC’s black fly bites are healing, so no external scars, but we’re still reeling from the intensity of the experience. The adventures of an almost outdoorsman? Yup, still an almost outdoorsman, and still learning through mistakes. Usually I like making new to me discoveries, but this wasn’t one of those times! We’re off again next week, a slightly shorter trip, closer to home and not too northerly. Black fly season, the worst of it, is almost done now – isn’t it?!
Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
OldPlaidCamper 
Yikes! I’ve never heard of an onslaught of black flies. I’ve been chased by March flies, and they were pretty damn horrific, but never black flies. Definitely doesn’t sound like too much fun. Hope it didn’t wreck the whole weekend.
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They were pretty challenging! We’ve a screen tent for our next outing, see if that helps…
I hope all is well with you!
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A few years ago we made the mistake of taking a vacation downeast in June. Never again! Black flies and mosquitos were everywhere. They say black fly season is Mother’s Day to Father’s Day but with the weather changing over the last few years, that may have shifted.
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Yup, we’re hoping the worst is behind us… taking a screen tent next week, just in case! Wouldn’t head north again for June, that’s for sure!
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Well, it sounds like you had a few good days before the onslaught, and more great ones to follow– without them, we hope. Black flies are awful in the North Country for a little while at this time of year (I know from experiences in the ADX & in Maine) & it sure is sweet when they & we are gone from each other. They can even drive the deer & moose insane. So, cheers for a good time without them!
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We live and learn! Won’t be repeating a northwoods trip in full black fly season again, that’s for sure. I can see how they’d drive a critter nuts!
Thanks, Walt, and I hope all is well with you as summer takes hold!
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This was hilarious, pc. I am glad you survived the onslaught and your new black fly experiences. We had black flies when we lived on the mountaintop and they were brutal. We discovered when we had the first remodel that there was something about the sawdust that the black flies especially liked, not too fun for the remodeling guys. We don’t have them where we live now and I do not miss them. I guess that’s why I could just keep chuckling here. Sounds like there was fun and beauty too, and very nice Tacoma you have. I have a Tacoma too. Cheers.
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Goodness, I couldn’t imagine attempting construction under a wave of black flies (but could imagine being relieved to be no longer plagued by them!)
Won’t be repeating a north country camping trip in full black fly season, we definitely learnt that.
We love the Tacoma, very versatile and just the right size. (The European part of me always winces slightly when I hear it described as a small or lightweight truck! But I love it anyway!)
I hope your week is going well!
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Yes, experienced this in Ontario. Had a swarm of them biting my neck which ended up looking like one big welt. They are so tiny, but mighty in numbers.Wait for the horse and Deer flies!
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That pretty much describes the back of Mrs. PC’s neck! Ouch!
Yes, it’s the numbers – wave after wave and they won’t be waved off!
No, not deer and horse flies… I surrender!
Thanks, Jane – I hope all is well with you and your week – and summer – are both off to a good start!
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I’m so glad you’re adventurous enough to brave those black flies so we could enjoy that gorgeous first photo of Black Fly Country!! After my experience with deer flies in my yard, I would have ended up with a dislocated shoulder swatting them away before I jumped in the truck and took off!😁 Glad you guys survived and looking forward to more photos and stories from the trip. Hope you’re celebrating by the campfire this week the Stanley Cup being back in Canada!!🏒🍻🙂
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Lots of nerves about the game later!
Lots of haunted looks when we think of the black flies! Out there again tomorrow, but fingers crossed they are fewer in numbers now (and that the new screen tent we’re taking is up to the task if necessary!)
Now, come on Oilers! (Just for this game and don’t tell anyone in Calgary…)
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Brutal. The first tent I pitch is my screened tent. It’s absolutely necessary.
When i hiked up western brook Pond gorge in NFLD. I’d never experienced black flies like that. Had mess hood on and the minute you unzipped it for a sip of water or bite of lunch, they went right for our ears. twhich another odd thing..my ear were so swollen. Craziness. I’ll never forget it.
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As you say, brutal! Never doing it again, not early June, that’s for sure. Just got back from a camping trip, mercifully bug free (well, bug light compared to last time out…)
Hope all is well with you!
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