If you've been searching for the best source of information and stimulating discussion related to Spring/Summer/Fall backpacking, hiking and camping in the Sierra Nevada...look no further!
Wandering Daisy wrote: ↑Thu May 30, 2024 7:37 am
Deet will damage clothing, nylon in particular. Although I take Deet or Picardin, after a few uses I cannot stand it. Mostly a matter of smell- it just about makes me puke. Clothing and head net are my main defense. You have to have a tight seal around your pantlegs or the bugs will just crawl up from your ankles. I am a big fan of gaiters. They even have what is called a "neck gaiter". You can take some Velcro strips or wide rubber bands and put around your shirt cuffs.
I have been pleased with "Bugs Off" clothing. I really think it makes a difference. You can buy spray-on or wash-in repellants, but the clothing made with it woven in will stand many more washings. Ex-Officio makes these as "travel clothes" intended for the tropics. Kerchiefs and hats are also available in repellent treated clothing.
Some locations in Dusy Basin are mosquito prone, but there are plenty of windy locations to camp, away from trees, out in the open. A day-hike to Barrett Lakes would be a good activity. Dusy has good fishing but I prefer to keep moving and day-hike if there are mosquitoes.
There are some streams up on Bishop Pass and flat ground, where you can camp. The lakes east of the pass are also very bad for mosquitoes, maybe even worse than Dusy.
And there is a possibility that with the snow quickly melting and a forecast "heat dome" for early June, the mosquitoes may be less of a problem this year in early July.
I appreciate the insight! You're giving me some hope that it may not be as bad as I originally thought. I'll keep an eye on satellite imagery to see when the snow melts in Dusy. Thanks!
jimmyjamhikes wrote: ↑Thu May 30, 2024 8:12 am
Early season trips are also a good way to avoid mosquitoes. In most places you have about a 2 week window between the retreat of the snow and the onset of the mosquito bloom. I will be doing a trip next week in southern SEKI at about 10,000 feet and I am not expecting to see many mosquitoes at all.
Yes! I had great success with that last year. I hiked Big Pine Lakes the last week of June, and it was incredible. Enjoy your SEKI trip!
For reference, I did a trip to Dusy June 25-26, 2016 (an 89%snowpack- with a bit slower melt than this year to date). Lake 10742 WAS buggy but the off-trail higher lakes were fine. Last night was at Treasure Lakes, which were buggy dawn and dusk. The mosquitoes were just getting started when I left. Dusy is fairly windy during the day, but often calm evenings and early morning.
Higher elevations should be better at your time frame. Just go in, deal with them, and if all fails, it is a quick walk out.
Wandering Daisy wrote: ↑Thu May 30, 2024 1:56 pm
For reference, I did a trip to Dusy June 25-26, 2016 (an 89%snowpack- with a bit slower melt than this year to date). Lake 10742 WAS buggy but the off-trail higher lakes were fine. Last night was at Treasure Lakes, which were buggy dawn and dusk. The mosquitoes were just getting started when I left. Dusy is fairly windy during the day, but often calm evenings and early morning.
Higher elevations should be better at your time frame. Just go in, deal with them, and if all fails, it is a quick walk out.
