Timing Q (I don’t like mosquitos)

[Matthewkphx]

I’m sitting on four permits and I think I need to start to make some decisions about when I want to take my one trip to the Sierras this year. Once I make a decision I will release the other three permits so others can get them.

I have two permits around June 25 and two around July 13. Each pair is for Sabrina Basin and North Lake.

I’d like to avoid mosquito pressure as much as possible. I think that means I should use the mid-July permits rather than the late-June permits. I know I’m only talking about 2.5 weeks difference so maybe it won’t make much difference.

Any advice here?

[cgundersen]

Matt,
If you're like my wife who hates bugs, hold off a couple more weeks in July and you should be good. Alternatively, move up your June entry a couple weeks and you should also avoid most of the beasties. Otherwise, I'm guessing you'll be in prime DEET time. Cameron

[balzaccom]

And PLEASE cancel the permits you don't use in time for some other hiker to enjoy a trip!

[Wandering Daisy]

Sabrina is a closed basin on the east side, with lower elevations than Humphreys Basin (which is where I assume you would go with a permit from North Lake). The advantage of Humphreys is that there are a lot of choices of where to go; if buggy at one, perhaps going up to a higher location with a breeze would help. Do not know if you want to do off-trail, but in Sabrina, you could go to the lakes high above Blue Lake to get into windy locations with less mosquitoes. I would look at a snow depth map (FS has one) and compare snowpack now in Sabrina vs Humphreys. Not sure how to get melt-out dates to compare Sabrina to Humphreys. If fishing is important, I think Humphreys is better. But Sabrina is very stunningly beautiful.

Not sure how much I would base my decision on mosquitoes alone. Take head nets and "bugs-off" clothing and camp where there is more wind. Another strategy I use when there are mosquitoes, is to base camp (only need to fuss with getting swarmed a few times when setting up) and then long day hikes where I can keep moving a lot. Doing some scrambling up peaks also gets you out of the mosquitoes.

I would wait a few more weeks before deciding. Releasing unused permits by mid-June should be sufficient to be sure they are utilized by others.

How many days are you planning on? As much as I like Sabrina, it is limited and not the best for a long trip of more than a week. There is just so much more available over Piute Pass.

[c9h13no3]

Matt,
If you're like my wife who hates bugs, hold off a couple more weeks in July and you should be good. Alternatively, move up your June entry a couple weeks and you should also avoid most of the beasties. Otherwise, I'm guessing you'll be in prime DEET time. Cameron

Yep. Mid-June to mid-July is prime bug season. The last week in July is probably the sweet spot when the bugs have died down, but fire season has yet to start in earnest.

[Matthewkphx]

Thanks for the responses!

1) I promise I will release the extra permits pretty soon. No need to hoard permits I will not use.

2) I wish I could move my trip earlier or later but I have work obligations before June 15 and after August 1.

3) @Wandering Daisy Thanks for the advice! Yes, if I go in North Lake I will wander around Humphreys Basin. Good point that Humphreys Basin provides more options finding campsites with a breeze. I'm not sure about the length of the trip. No more than maybe 5 nights? I'm nursing a couple of injuries right now so lower mileage in Sabrina Basin might be fun. That said, Humphreys Basin is not a high mileage trip but gives me more area to cover if I'm feeling good. I feel like I am talking myself into HB.

[kpeter]

During the last horrible multi year drought skeets seemed to bloom at their normal times but not stick around as long. I would anticipate mid June, or perhaps earlier, will be bad, but they may taper off more quickly than in wetter years.

[Wandering Daisy]

The current dates of images on Google Earth for Sabrina Basin are 5/31/14. East of Cataract Creek are 7/17/16. Anyway, 2016 was similar to this year and 2016 a bit more snow than this year for the same time. You could compare snow in Sabrina vs Humphreys, and then figure about 1-2 weeks after snow melt, mosquitoes hatch. Look at Google Earth; it may give you a guess at which area is best for which timeframe.

June is variable so I patch together a lot of information; my previous trips, CDEC snow data, Google Earth image dates, and PCT hiker data. A group of PCT hikers are now in Bishop, came out Kearsarge, a few farther ahead. Bottom line, prepare for likely conditions, and be willing to turn back if needed.

For example, I have a permit over Bishop Pass 6/7-17 and am concerned about snow on the pass east side. I also did a trip to Dusy Basin 6/25-30 2016 so know what the snow was like then-- only a small piece of the switchbacks covered with snow- on the way out it had melted. No mosquitoes on that trip. Very little snow either, except patches in shadows.

My upcoming trip includes lots of different elevations; a majority of the trip will be down in LeConte Canyon with side trips to Palisade Lake, Devils Washboard (if I can cross the creek), and up to Amphitheater Lake (north facing slope so trail may be covered by snow), and perhaps a side trip to Barrett Lakes. I have done Thunderbolt Pass early season before and it actually is better with more snow. There are lots of options, even if I cannot get over Bishop Pass.

[SweetSierra]

I have a solo permit for June 13th for Piute Pass. I don't usually go in June and expect I will encounter skeeters. I plan to stay at a higher elevation in the basin and go on day hikes, perhaps to Hutchinson Meadow. I was there last year and it's beautiful along the river. I also don't know what snow conditions will be like on the pass. I'll wait and see.

[cgundersen]

Hey Matt,
I just booked an 11 day trip over Piute, coming out on June 5th, so I'll be able to give you a heads up soon after returning. If we mis-time the bugs, my wife won't forgive me......Cameron