This is great!! I'm down in southern Wisconsin, Kettle Moraine area. I've been doing sections and sleeping out when there are legal locations. Still a newbie myself I'm getting used to how many miles are okay. On my last trip, I did 8 Mi and was shocked at how quickly it was done. I was imagining rolling into my campsite well after dark but it was only like 6:00! LOL the next day I did 12 Mi, which might have been okay, but I was going on about 2 hours of sleep after the coyotes kept me awake all night and a bad tent setup had me sliding around and being uncomfortable. Oops. I definitely recommend using a smartphone with the maps! There is an app called far out that you can buy the entire Ice Age Trail map or different sections of it. It is quite accurate and will show you where you are on the map even if you don't have cell phone service, as long as you've downloaded it to your phone. The Ice Age Trail website has their interactive map as well, but I'm not sure if it's downloadable so you have to have a signal to see that one. But that is the one I use to see if the parking lot I'm going to use allows overnight parking and all of that sort of thing, when I'm planning my trip. As for the bugs, I spray all of my gear and the outfits that I'm going to be wearing with Sawyer brand Permethrin and then any spots that have skin showing get the picardin lotion. I am also very careful to not use any soaps and shampoos and things that might smell absolutely lovely to any sort of bugs. So far so good! I have a thermacell thing to use once I set up camp as well. Sometimes the mosquitoes just don't care because you look too delicious, but for the most part, it works great! Be sure to practice using that Sawyer filter! And before you go out on the next trip, make sure it still has good flow. After it sits for a bit, it can get weird about it. Always test it before you head out! I'm planning to go on a two night section in the middle of next week. Hoping for good weather and decent air quality!