High Sierra Topix

Lower half of Lyell Canyon and camping in Lyell Canyon near the Ireland Lake Trail (8,900 ft.): 1.5
Upper half of Lyell Canyon (hiking during the day): 2.5
Camping in basin north of Maclure Creek (10,500 ft.): 4

We were planning on going cross country to Ireland Lake, but the skeeter situation north of Maclure Creek was untenable, so we retreated down Lyell Canyon. Much worse at higher altitude, where meadows were still very wet. At least the spectacular wildflowers were a consolation.

Parking lot -3
Trail and Loch Leven and Piute Lakes - 2
Humphreys Basin - 3 except Tomahawk Lake was a 2
Golden Trout Lakes - 2+
Piute Canyon - 4

Intolerable mosquitoes, got attacked by swarms as thick as swarms of gnats a couple of times.

Post Corral Creek - 5
Hell For Sure Lake (and surrounding lakes) - 4

This was the second trip I cut short this summer, it just wasn't fun. I had hoped to get to a tolerable mosquito load by heading up high, but even at lakeside (10,750 ft) there was no respite.

I am hoping for a mild winter this year.

Emigrant locations all 0-1, possibly due to the storm system that blew through and the freeze on the morning of 9/4
I did see a few mosquitoes at Huckleberry Lake and in the swampy areas of East Fork Cherry Creek, both only highly intermittent and very localized to extremely wet areas.

Otherwise 0s for the following:
Grouse, W Fork Cherry Creek, Rosaco, Pingree, Big Lake, Letora, Woods Lake.

This is a bit late but adding here for historical records.

Rancheria to Chuck Pass: 2
Scepter Lake: 3
Maxson Range: 1
Blackcap Basin: 2-3
Guest Lake: 4
Fall Creek: 5
N Fork Kings back to Rancheria: 2-3

Near Guest Lake and hiking below the mosquitos were intolerable. Before that they were manageable in the upper basins; unstable weather helped a bit with light winds. We did not find high country conditions as bad as the previous Blackcap Basin report. I wonder what the cold weather and rain from Labor Day weekend did to their fecundity.

Effectively 0-1 everywhere, but perhaps due to the wind festival we were in. This was Cottonwood Lakes- Miter Basin- Crabtree Creek- Wallace Creek- and down North Lonepine Creek.

0-1 everywhere, including evening & morning on the NW side of Garnet Lake...but that might be due to blustery wind and near-constant drizzle throughout the weekend!

TH to Whiteside Meadow including Powell Lake -1
Wire Lake-1
Whiteside Meadow to Emigrant lake, including Buck Lakes 2
Y Meadow Lake 2-3
Did not need headset or whole body net at all, even for washing up.
Herbal repellent was sufficient
During the all day storm on 9/20, somehow, those buggers did not get the memo saying t mosquitos are not out during rain. They were WORST, during the rain. Perhaps because during the heaviest rain we hunkered down under trees and were not moving? Anyway, rain and even hail did not stop these skeeters.

September 7-12 Courtwright to Hell for Sure

Hobler- 2. I had a smoky fire and that brought it down from a 3.
Fleming- 5+
Hell for Sure- 3 where I camped but some areas of the lake basin were 5+
Post Coral- 2. Got substantial relief from mosquitos camping here.

Recent rains has created endless breeding opportunities until there is a hard freeze. Spraying Bens 30% Deet on clothing was worthless but when I mixed it with my sunscreen then applied it to my face and neck, it became extremely effective. I wore clothing they could not penetrate but that didn't keep them from trying!

Hoover Wilderness, September 7 - 11, 2023

2 at any of our camping spots (Leavitt Meadows Campground, Fremont Lake, Upper Long Lake, Lane Lake), with 1-2 while on the trail