High Sierra Topix

trailblazer wrote:Backpacked up to Red Mountain Basin in the John Muir Wilderness this last weekend (July 1-3). Encountered mosquitos just past the Maxson Meadow trailhead, but they thinned out until Long Meadow, where they became horrendous up until the climb away from Post Corral Creek. Above about 9000ft they were nearly non-existent so far, but the amount of standing water up there from the melting snow suggests they aren't too far away from emerging in clouds.

Did you get to Devil's Punchbowl? My favorite lake in the Sierra. I have never had skeeter problems there. Your report is encouraging. I will be at about 10k out of mineral King on Friday so maybe they won't be too thick yet.

zandarman wrote:anybody been up around seven gables, vee lake. Like an update on the bloodsuckers.

Does it look like there are any skeeters in this picture?



Actually, it was taken in Spetember about '91 or '92.

Here's my definitions:
Not bad: a few here and there, not enough to be annoying
Moderate: hungry enough to be annoying, swarm ya when stopped, swatting a lot while stopped
Voracious: swarming ya even while moving; so thick you want to cry

Bishop Pass 7/7/06: Moderate up to at least Bishop Lake (~11,200)
Mono Pass - Little Lakes Valley 7/5/06: Moderate up to at least Ruby Lake. None at Mono Pass.

Ranboze wrote:Here's my definitions:
Not bad: a few here and there, not enough to be annoying
Moderate: hungry enough to be annoying, swarm ya when stopped, swatting a lot while stopped
Voracious: swarming ya even while moving; so thick you want to cry

.

Meysan Canyon (near Whitney)
Moderate both days at Grass Lake at 10,900'
None up higher

zandarman wrote:anybody been up around seven gables, vee lake. Like an update on the bloodsuckers.

I was up that way early season about two years ago. Below Three Island Lake, Marie Lake and V-Lake the bugs like to have pestered me to death: I HAD to go to one of those higher lakes where they were not so bad. That is to say, its always better to be above timberline this time of year. And remember, mosquito season is just getting started.
I remember one time at Tildon Lake my pards white shirt was turned nearly black with mosquitoes. One swat and I could kill hundreds. My pard amused himself making a huge pile of dead mosqiotoes. In those kinds of conditions, you look for an exposed spot with lots of wind.

I was up in the Caribou Wilderness area last weekend.

There is an incredible amount of water in the region. Every low spot and meadow is a marsh/vernal pond.

As long as a breeze was blowing during the day and you slathered on the DEET it was tolerable. At dusk, it didn't matter how much bug juice you poured all over you, they were bad even by Caribou Wilderness standards.

I'm staying outta there until after the first hard frost.

On the plus side, still lots of wildflowers.

July1-4- Sawmill Pass Trail to Woods Basin area- not bad at all, but they were there. I'd imagine they are alot worse these days. Really annoying little gnats on the lower parts of the Sawmill trail, though.

Noticeable decline at Whitney Portal from two weeks ago, though moderate at Trail Camp due to the amount of water and lack of wind and warm weather.

Second week of July, snow mosquitoes are moderate in Tuolumne Meadows with higher numbers towards Tioga Pass, then less down the road east. A lot less than I've seen mid July in other years. However location is everything. I know swampy areas behind the Cottage Domes that are likely swarming. Midday I didn't bother putting repellant on when spending a couple hours roaming about turfy open areas of Tuolumne Meadows. At sunset at Dana Meadows west of the pass, they were thick enough swarming about that they became an issue whenever I actuated my camera cable shutter release since I didn't want the little black specs flying about in my frames. Fortunately dragonflies and damselflies are out in full force eating thousands every day so the days of the flying blood suckers are numbered.

Great reports everyone.

Just returned from Mineral King tonight. In the evening they were a minor annoyance in the meadows on the Eagle Lake trail. None in MK itself. Basically non-existent everywhere else. This morning, coming over Timber Gap I counted about ten total. Very very surprised about the lack of skeeters and very happy about it also. Didn't spray and only have 2-3 bites.