High Sierra Topix

Meant to say

6-15 to 6-17

Sorry

Yosemite north of Tuolumne Meadows

Qe had a real Sierra experience with mosquitoes this last week in Yosemite. (TR to follow in a day or two—I’m working on it!) We had hiked cross-country to Roosevelt Lake. The first night in Conness Canyon was at about 8,000 feet, and while it was quite cold at night down in the canyon (37F) there were relatively few bugs. score 3-4

The next night, at Roosevelt Lake (10,200) it was warmer by a few degrees, but the bugs were fierce, 7-8

The following day we cross-countried over to Young Lake. Upper Young Lake (10,000+) was a mosquito nightmare—you couldn’t walk without inhaling them. 10.

Middle YL was a touch better, at 9,900 feet.8-9

And Lower Young Lake, at 9,800, was better still. We camped out on a dry ridge northwest of the lake, and managed to avoid using headnets for part of the evening! Temperature here was a few degrees warmer still.6-7

Just goes to show that conditions are all local…and if you are at 10,000 feet in the Sierra this week, God help you with the bugs!

Cottonwood Lakes, June 16-19, all areas = 2

Lots of bugs on both sides of Donohue Pass between 10K and 11K last week, June 17 to June 19. Much more tame between 9K and 10K in that general area.

Took a short hike out to the falls below Clark Fork Meadows from the Clark Fork TH. hit the trail at about 11:00 and it was about a 3. as we gained altitude it went down to a 2. There was a nice breeze most of the day of they would have been 3-4 all day.

Two night trip from Lake Sabrina.
June 18 - Blue Lake - 3
June 19 - Baboon Lakes - 4

Woodchuck Lake and vicinity June 19-21. In most areas level 3, including most of the time at Woodchuck Lake itselt. Mosquitoes moderately dense nearly round the clock except for going fairly light from about 10 pm to 6 am. June 21 was a bit better because the breeze was more consistent. June 19, 20, were better when a good breeze blew, but this breeze was not consistent.

South Lake -> North Lake trip 6/18 to 6/21:

6/18 - Parchers to Dusy - 1.5, perhaps 2 at dusk at our camp.
6/19 - Dusy to Evolution Basin - 2
6/20 - Evolution Basin to Hutchinson Meadow - 2
6/21 - Hutchinson Meadow to North Lake - 1 (quite breezy and we took the high trail away from the lakes)

All in all, I saw plenty of mosquitoes at times but survived without a single bite. I used some 100% deet on my exposed arms once or twice, but that's all it took. Perhaps they just weren't biting yet.

I spent 10 days in Kings Canyon and Blackcap Basin. Start was 6/11 out of Courtright, over Hell For Sure Pass, through several areas in northern Kings Canyon, over Reinstein Pass, over Finger Col, into Blackcap Basin, and return to Courtright. Mosquito level was a 1 from 6/11 to to 6/17, and went straight to a 4 at Martha Lake, and went to a 5 in West Goddard Canyon and Finger Col and Blackcap Basin. This was tied for the worst mosquito experience I have ever had. ( Another similar in Emigrant Wilderness in the 70's). Escape was not possible, meals in the tent. I was in Blackcap Basin at Pearl Lake 10,800 feet, on Friday and Saturday, 6/19 and 6/20,
I used no insect repellent in first 6 days, and ran out by last day. I got bitten on top of Blackcap Mountain (11/600). The "sweet spot" seems to be between 10,400 and 11,000 feet in this region. Below that the level goes down to a 2 or 3.

Left expecting the worse and got 0 everywhere on Tuesday (23). Wednesday, was a 1 at Wolf Creek lake with the air literally filled with them but thankfully they were not biting. I used no Deet and did not get a single bite.