High Sierra Topix

Left from Mammoth, taking the High Trail up on the 22nd and the River Trail back.

High Trail / Thousand Island Lakes : 2
River Trail : 3

Bayview TH to Fontanillis Lake:

Bayview TH: 0

Trail up to PCT: 2 in the marshier areas

Fontanillis Lake: 2-3 in the evening (2 higher up, probably a 3 closer to the lake shore)

Trailhead to Camp Lake - 2
Piute Creek - 3-4
W Fork Cherry Creek - 2-3
Rosascoe Lake - 2-3
Pingree Lake 3-4

3-4+. Definitely worsening through the trip. They were minimal from Crabtree to Grouse Lake when we departed Saturday, but were very active in the same area around the same time today.

6/21 Day1- Ruby Lake. (1-2only at dusk -- too cold for any the next morning )
6/22 Day2- Lk 10825 Pioneer Basin. (1-2 dusk and dawn - calm, most bothersome cooking and eating)
6/23 Day3- Lk 10862 Pioneer Basin. (0-1 saved by a strong wind all day)
6/24 Day4- Fourth Recess Lake. (1-2 dawn and dusk, again wind helped)
6/25 Day5- Ruby Lake, calm and the beasties were out 2-3/ severe storm 4-6:30PM
6/26 Day6- nasty skeets up early and annoying at Ruby Lake, but few at the trailhead.

Not many were biting, but I did wear a head net in camp. Also, some gnat like bugs. They also swarmed at stream crossings.

Wrights Lake equestrian trail head to the Twin Lakes Grouse lake junction. 2-3 @ 10AM Above the junction they were a 1.
Grouse lake during the day they were a 2.

Onion Valley CG - 1.5
Stayed at Onion Valley CG on 6/25 where mosquitoes were a 1.5.

Kearsarge Lakes - 1
Hiked over Kearsarge Pass and stayed the night of 6/26 at Kearsarge Lakes. Mosquitoes were a surprising 1, present, but very little to no biting.

FYI, some of the hikers I talked to coming from Bullfrog Lake and surrounding area said they were unbearable over there.

6/26 - 4 at trailhead (wright's lake), 4 at camp (halfway to twin lakes on granite slab)

6/27 - 2 at twin lakes, 0 at island lake (breeze was helpful)

6/28 - 1.5 at twin lakes, 0 at island lake

6/29 - 1.5 at twin lakes, 0 at island lake and little pyramid

6/30 - 1.5 at twin lakes, 0 on trail, 3 at trailhead

Desolation, near Gilmore Lake area 6/30 7/1 7/2. Much wind sheltered green flowery deep forest. Mostly 3 or 4 except late day 5. Sunny open areas a bit less breezy 2 midday. Clouds of squeeters by some streams. None 1, along open sunny chinquapin manzanita 1706E.1 first mile plus. Fully clothed +100% Deet never used headnet, few bites were mostly during my dips in lake or creek each day.

June 27-30, 2024:
Crown Valley Trailhead -- 1
Geraldine Lakes (below Spanish Mtn) -- 5! I would score it a 6 if possible.
Crown Basin -- 3 during the day, 5 at dusk
. . . above 10k', mosquitos were a non-issue. But in that 7000-9000' zone, OMG it was bad.