High Sierra Topix

North Lk South lake Loop + X Country in Evolution
July 11- 19.

Worst was the first 2 days at Lk Muriel in Humphries. Close to the water they were a 3 or 4 in the morning and late afternoon.

They really tailed off after that and we weren't really bothered by them again until the lake below Bishop Pass--again in the late afternoon. There were A LOT of flies through Evo. Valley. Ranger said it's the typical pattern. Flies didn't bite, but were a total buzzing and landing-on drag.

Dusy Basin is really drying out fast and it will be a hot and dry August there by the looks of it.

John Muir Wilderness Inyo & Sierra National Forests
Piute Pass trailhead to Pine Creek trailhead 7/13-7/18

Great weather, tolerable mosquitoes!

7/13- trailhead to Loch Leven (1-2)
7/14-Loch Leven over Piute Pass to Muriel Lake (daytime, 1) and Lower Desolation Lake (3)
7/15- Lower Desolation Lake to Honeymoon Lake via Humphrey's Basin, French Canyon and Pine Creek Pass (mostly 1, but 2-3 for Honeymoon Lake at dusk)
7/16- day trips to Royce Lakes, Golden Lake and Granite Park area (1)
7/17- Upper Pine Lake (3 at dusk 1-2 in daytime)
7/18- Upper Pine Lake to Pine Lake trailhead (1)

my two hiking companions used bug spray at points though I never felt I needed it. I'm always grateful for a trip that doesn't require using our bug nets...!!

Hi Arsenal Hiker and Vickster,

Welcome to HST! Thank you for your reports.
Hope there are some trip reports to follow also.

At Kearsarge Lakes on 7/21-22, mosquitos were a 1.5.

Was in Mammoth July 13-16. Shadow Lake, Lake Ediza, Iceberg Lake, Garnet Lake, Minaret Lake, and Crystal Lake area. Had to wear DEET one day only, but given the area and its usually high bug count, it wasn't bad at all. I was pleasantly surprised.

My trip to this area got cut short and had a lot of changes, but it was the best year ever for the mosquitoes cause there weren't that many, kinda strange cause they love me. I probably only used 1 oz of repel 40%. Only have about 10 bites through the entire trip which is a new record for me especially in July. The flies however were a different story but weren't biting, just annoying.

7-19-12
Coldwatercreek Trailhead up to Duck Pass
0 -1, and only because of one bite on my elbow

Pika Lake,
0 and very windy

7-20
Purple Lake 0
Purple Creek 0, however the flies were at a 4 but not biting
crossing the Valley over Fish Creek, was a 0 that turned into a 3 for about a five minute stretch of walking of trail though the grass.
Hiking up the south side of the valley and up to Olive Lake, 0 – maybe one, flies everywhere
7-21
Olive Lake, 0 but 1 in the early morning hours
Peter Pande Lake, 0
Lake of the Lone Indian, 0
7-22
Hike down from Silver Pass and through Tully hole I got plenty of warning from JMT hikers that the mosquitoes were relentless, but I would put them only at a 1.
Purple Lake 0 – 1
7-24
Hike out over Duck Pass 0-1

Mosquitoes in the Humphrey Basin was at 1.

We were hailed and rained on for 1/2 a day, there weren't any mud holes, the water was sucked into the dry ground.

Patty

Overnight to Thousand Island from Agnew Meadows.

7/27: Shadow Lake, Garnet Lake, Thousand Island Lake: Zeroes all. Very pleasant. I think I have three bites total.

Skelton Lake 7/27: 0 (breeze kept them down, but there were very few anyway)
Pike Lake 7/28: 1 (just a few around dusk and early morning, didn't need to use DEET)
Very pleasant conditions!

Duck lake - 1
Lake Virginia - 2
Silver Lake - 2
2nd recess - 2 but flys were realy bad all the way up mono Creek.
4th Recess- 1

I was very happy to spend a week in the backcountry and only put DEET on twice.