High Sierra Topix

Looks like there were a few of us out there.

Creek below treeline: 3-4
Loch Leven: 2
Cony Lake region: 1

Hiked from trailhead to Cony Lake region in the afternoon of 7/16; zero bites. Came back down early morning on 7/17; skeeters started biting like mad once I got below treeline. In general better than I anticipated.

Majority of the trail- 2
First through Third Lakes- 2

Great trip with practically no bites. Must have been lucky due to a nice wind/breeze.

Trip Photos- https://www.flickr.com/gp/nylareau/6MY24i

7/15 - Bishop Lake: 3-4
7/16 - Dusy Basin: 5 at lower lakes up to Knapsack Pass (literally had mosquitoes all over my camera lens...)
Palisade Basin: 3-4
LeConte Canyon: 2-3
7/17 - Dusy Basin (Lake ~11,345): 3, but breezy
7/18 - no skeeters in the morning on the way down to South Lake

Hiked from Crescent Meadow out through the Whitney Portal from 7/12 - 7/19/2016 via the following campsites:

Buck Creek: + 2 moderate mosquitoes at dawn, few in the am
Hamilton Lake: + 1, then extremely heavy +5 clouds starting in the marshes past Precipice Lake through the Kaweah Gap down the valley for five miles. Get suited up before entering this region.
Moraine Lake: 1-2
Kern River Hot Springs: 1-2
Wallace Creek: + 5, needed two layers of clothing, bug netting, DEET and gloves. Hundreds congregated on my tent netting. All disappeared from 9:30 pm to 5 am when the temperature dropped into the 40's. Avoid this area if possible. Unpleasant!
Guitar Lake: 0, bug free.
Whitney Trail Camp: 0, bug free.

Little Lakes Valley -- 7/19/2016
Rated a 5, unfortunately

We just got back from Little Lakes (7/19) after having to cut our trip short due to an ungodly amount of super aggressive skeeters

I've never experienced anything like it

We hiked in to Long Lake with our 2 kids, and split off the trail to the opposite side of the lake. Locals told us it would be more secluded there as opposed to setting up camp near the trail.

The runoff from the mountains made most of that side of the lake a swamp, what dry ground we traversed was literally rolling under our feet like a wave. However, we did find an idyllic meadow with trees for the hammocks, easy shore access, and privacy.

We set up camp at 10:30am and by 5pm we were tearing it down and covered head to toe in blood smears from annihilating countless bloodsuckers.

With our gear back on our shoulders, we headed back towards Heart Lake, hoping for relief. We found none. In the late day sun you could just see clouds of the little shits swarming down from the base of the mountains to the trail/water. I'd find 5-10 feasting on a couple square inches of flesh.

My wife got the worst of it and has been in bed all day. I'm a bit concerned. They lit her up right through her shirt.

We drove home 7 hours that night...and we NEVER bail on a backpacking/camping trip

Not sure if we just picked the exact wrong time of year, but even though it's up there with some of the most beautiful places I've been, I can't see going back if that's anywhere near normal conditions.

Sorry to be a bummer *itchitchitch*

Sorry, meant to say Hi, as well - first post here, looking forward to tuning in.

My name is Jack, from San Diego.
Just started backpacking this year, typically with my awesome wife and our two kids (11 and 9).

We did the Pine Ridge Trail in Big Sur a month ago and LOVED it, even when I fell off the cliff side of the trail trying to let someone pass

The attached pic is of our (temporary) campsite at Long Lake near Bishop/Mammoth

Hi Mutant Sherpa Turtle,

So sorry to hear about your ordeal with mosquitos! Sounds like you hit the absolute peak. Probably fine in a few weeks. We hiked the length of Little Lakes Valley last year on July 27 and saw no mosquitos at all. Of course, 2015 was a record dry year, so the mosquitos died out extra early last year.

-Phil

MST.. September.. September..

Spent several days at Ediza Lake Iceberg Lake, Nydiver Lakes, Thousand Island, Gaylor Lakes, and Cathedral Lakes. Not a single bite.

Hey Mutant Sherpa Turtle,

What preventative measures did you have in place? I always wear long sleeves/long pants/hat, and spray all my clothing with permethrin before hitting the trail. Then DEET for any exposed skin, refreshed several times a day as necessary. And of course, headnets are mandatory insurance for a tiny weight penalty.