High Sierra Topix

Lots of slushy snow and plenty of water meant that we dealt with Category 2.5 / 3 skeeters near all water sources; wasn't bothered by them much at all while moving, however. Dawn and dusk were certainly the worst of it.

Day hike, 8:30am-5:30pm.

Most of the trail was a 1, with lazier parts of the Tuolumne a 2. Glen Aulin notable exception at 4, swarmed by at least 20-30 when I stopped for 10 seconds, some biting through Permethrin-treated clothing.

Agnew Meadows - 5. Can't stand still for a moment, even when moving they swarm you. You will get eaten alive!

Trails to Ediza Lake and Garnet Lake- 3 - 4 depending on whether near body of water and wind. Doesn't matter the time of day. You go out for a few minutes to eat, wash up, etc, you will get at least 3 bites.

Had to cut our backpacking trip short because it was miserable with all the mosquitos. When we got to our destination, we'd just hang out in our tents to avoid getting bitten. Buddy and I came home after 3 days with at least 30 bites each.

Trail up to Green Lake was extremely wet in sections = lotsa bugs. At the lakes, 2-3. Used Sawyers DEET lotion + Permethrin spray on the clothes, plus head net, no bites.

<2 in the lower drier sections
2-3 in most forested and/or low wind areas

3 - On the trail and at camp at the northern end of Long Lake, though the breezes and hiking motion kept them at bay for the most part. We were attacked on breaks and in camp
4 - South Lake Trailhead - immediately swarmed upon arrival and getting ready to head out.

There were also biting flies of various sizes. I even got bitten by mozzies at 11PM when I got out to see the Milky Way.

Sorry for the late report!

July 24 middle Cora Lake - 2
July 25 North Fork San Joaquin near Hemlock Crossing - 3
July 26 lower Bench Canyon - 1
July 27 Long Creek just below Rockbound Lake - 0
July 28 East Fork Granite Creek west of Cora Lakes - 4. Miserable!!
July 29 - 4 until we got about 500’ lower than Cora Lakes, then gradually tapered to a 2.

Permethrin is a must, but even with treatment we still got occasionally bitten through clothes. 100% DEET on hands, ankles, faces, necks, midriffs.

2/3 at Cottonwood Lakes, Lost Lakes, and South Fork Lakes, but wind reduced bites to a minimum.

Level 3 at Saddlebag Lake TH - deployed headnets in the parking lot at 11:30am 7/29 when starting the trip. Just as bad around the same time when we returned the next day.

Level 2 in 20 Lakes Basin. We camped in between Cascade and Steelhead lakes, and an intermittent breeze kept them mostly at bay. Had to swat them away when the breeze died down. Seemed to be the same all the way up to McCabe Pass, and slightly worse below Conness Lakes where everything was a little wetter.

Our party of three got a dozen bites or so total over the two days. I treated my shirt and pants with permethrin last week ahead of the trip and I didn't get any bites with minimal headnet use

Hello folks! First time poster here!

Level 0 most of the trail, a 2 in some of the marshier areas (not too extensive) and a brief 3 at Summit Creek crossing. Ridge Lake was 0 until dusk, and then a few came out for their dinner.