High Sierra Topix

Burt Canyon and Molybdenite Canyon-1.5 Light activity at dusk and dawn. Absent during the day, even in marshy, shady and grassy areas. The flies just about drove us crackers, though.

Saddlebag Lake to 20 Lakes Basin: 0-1 throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. Only a few mosquitoes in late afternoon/evening around Wasco/Steelhead/Cascade. There was a decent wind for much of the day, but even when the wind died down there weren't the mosquitoes in droves like I was expecting.

The entire route, except the 1/4 to 1/2 along Helen Lake, a 1 or a 2. They'd get a little annoying around sunset, but by 9pm always a 1.

But Helen Lake was a different tale altogether. On 7/8 mosquitoes were at least a 5. The air was black with them and it was impossible to breathe without a headnet. The worst I've seen in 52 years of backpacking in the Sierra.

July 16-20, 2021, we encountered very few mosquitoes or biting flies along the JMT. We camped at Lyell Headwaters, Garnet Lake past the peninsula, Red’s Meadow, and Purple Lake. We used head nets for maybe 10 minutes near dusk at Purple Lake, but more from fatigue than need. Most of the route I would place bug issues at less than 1. However, there were definitely mosquitoes near Tully Hole—about a 3, so we didn’t stay there long. We climbed the canyon toward McGee Pass and the bugs petered off steadily, til there were virtually none at our campsite at 10,600 ft on 7/20. Our whole party used permethrin treated clothing so as not to have to use bug spray.

Sorry, dates were July 14-20 not 16-20, 2021.

1-2; breeze kept them off and it was noticeably heavier when the breeze died down

Traveled from Red Lake to N Fork Big Pine via the Split Mtn, Upper Basin, Amphitheatre pass, Cataract creek, Deer meadow, Knapsack pass, Dusy basin, Agassiz col, Sam Mack lake and meadow.
Was pretty surprised how light mosquitos were at most places.
Red Lake - 1
Upper Basin - 1
Amphitheater Lake Basin - 2
Palisade Creek Deer Meadow area - 3
Dusy Basin - 1
Sam Mack meadow - 2

Golden Trout Lakes - 2

redbear wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:29 pm Traveled from Red Lake to N Fork Big Pine via the Split Mtn, Upper Basin, Amphitheatre pass, Cataract creek, Deer meadow, Knapsack pass, Dusy basin, Agassiz col, Sam Mack lake and meadow.
Was pretty surprised how light mosquitos were at most places.
Red Lake - 1
Upper Basin - 1
Amphitheater Lake Basin - 2
Palisade Creek Deer Meadow area - 3
Dusy Basin - 1
Sam Mack meadow - 2

Hi,

How did you reach the Red Lake trailhead? TIA.

Parker Pass creek, killed a few skeets in the morning & evening. Generally bug free though.