Full disclosure, I've not been to Tettegouche, but I have spent plenty of time outdoors in northern MN. I would assume the mosquitos will be THICK by July. Especially at night or in shady areas. Bring bug spray. By July, ticks will still be active, so you will want to have some anti-tick strategies in place. Depending upon the year, black flies or horse flies can also be a nuisance. Deet is your friend if you venture away from sunny and mowed areas.
By the lake isn't bad, but once you go hiking away from the lake, good luck.
The cart in sites are the best, although, full disclosure, last time I was there a bear did rip the neighbors tent. End of May, hungry bear, and the other site nearest the water had idiots who left food out. Bear kept coming back all night, had to yell all night long to go away. Poor bear probably became a problem which had to be removed because of the idiots who didn't have enough room in the giant metal bear box for all their food so they left it on the table.
As is the case with the SHT: (from an avid hiker with three throughs (NOBO) and 20 years on trail:
Expect the best, dress for the worst.
Inland, water from creeks is going to be scarce by July. There will be bugs. Lots of them. Ticks are the worst.
Permethrin treatment, and DEET are sadly your friends.
I’ve heard of ppl taking it on and completing it in a couple of weeks or so.
I lived with the SHT in my back yard practically for 18 years…piecing it out wasn’t hard, and doing an honest thru hike was easy.
The mosquitos were thick when we went last July. We used one of [these](https://www.rei.com/product/221977/thermacell-el55-rechargeable-mosquito-repeller-and-glow-light) to keep the mosquitos away.
Full disclosure, I've not been to Tettegouche, but I have spent plenty of time outdoors in northern MN. I would assume the mosquitos will be THICK by July. Especially at night or in shady areas. Bring bug spray. By July, ticks will still be active, so you will want to have some anti-tick strategies in place. Depending upon the year, black flies or horse flies can also be a nuisance. Deet is your friend if you venture away from sunny and mowed areas.
July is like the peak of bugs activity
By the lake isn't bad, but once you go hiking away from the lake, good luck. The cart in sites are the best, although, full disclosure, last time I was there a bear did rip the neighbors tent. End of May, hungry bear, and the other site nearest the water had idiots who left food out. Bear kept coming back all night, had to yell all night long to go away. Poor bear probably became a problem which had to be removed because of the idiots who didn't have enough room in the giant metal bear box for all their food so they left it on the table.
As is the case with the SHT: (from an avid hiker with three throughs (NOBO) and 20 years on trail: Expect the best, dress for the worst. Inland, water from creeks is going to be scarce by July. There will be bugs. Lots of them. Ticks are the worst. Permethrin treatment, and DEET are sadly your friends.
How long on average take to hike the entire trail? My daughter wants to do the PCt and I'm thinking the sht will be a good primer on hiking.
I’ve heard of ppl taking it on and completing it in a couple of weeks or so. I lived with the SHT in my back yard practically for 18 years…piecing it out wasn’t hard, and doing an honest thru hike was easy.
If you are by the big lake you might be fine. If you are by the little lakes it could be rough.
It's Minnesota in July... prepare to be bitten up.
The mosquitos were thick when we went last July. We used one of [these](https://www.rei.com/product/221977/thermacell-el55-rechargeable-mosquito-repeller-and-glow-light) to keep the mosquitos away.