High Sierra Topix

Twin Lakes in Desolation Wilderness, July 15-16

Despite snow fields, daytime temps near 80 and raging torrents, I was pleasantly surprised by skeeters on an overnight in Desolation Wilderness. Some daytime mosquitos on hike out in marshy areas around Wrights Lake (2) but going down to 0 on the trail and at the campsite. Evening brought out a few more near but only near wet ground (2). I had treated wind jacket and pants with Permethrin and skeeters stayed away even at dusk. It's a great time to be out there!

Get ready...they're coming! !9 July 2017. South Lake trailhead parking...the usual tons of mosquitos. I barely opened the car door and a swarm came in. Ahhh, too bad they all died in the hot car while I was out. Anyway, at the pond north of Long Lake, thousands (or millions) of baby mosquitos were rising in the morning light. Those are not biting...yet. Buzzed between the trailhead and just north of the pond, but I was wearing repellant clothes plus repellant. They enjoy getting in front of your camera lens too. 0 at Ruwau and Choc Peak.

Having recently made the trip from Tuolumne to HI, I'm happy to report that with the exception of Tuolumne, the mosquito count was unusually low. Given the amount of water this year, I expected much more mosquito activity.

On the other hand, the mosquitos at Agnew Meadows are nuclear this year. Safe Travels, and Thanks Ansel for turning me onto this group.

Hi Dave,

Welcome to HST! Thank you for your report, please include dates and ratings (available in first post), Thanks

Quick trip to May lake last night (7/19) - mozzies are out, level 3. Likely going to get pretty unbearable soon!

Around Glen Aulin 2 or 3. If you stay up on the breezy ridges to camp, its only 1. Down in the canyon and in the boggy areas, 2 to 3.

What is "HI"?

Dave Taylor wrote:Having recently made the trip from Tuolumne to HI, I'm happy to report that with the exception of Tuolumne, the mosquito count was unusually low. Given the amount of water this year, I expected much more mosquito activity.

On the other hand, the mosquitos at Agnew Meadows are nuclear this year. Safe Travels, and Thanks Ansel for turning me onto this group.

scraperpro wrote:What is "HI"?

Dave Taylor wrote:Having recently made the trip from Tuolumne to HI, I'm happy to report that with the exception of Tuolumne, the mosquito count was unusually low. Given the amount of water this year, I expected much more mosquito activity.

On the other hand, the mosquitos at Agnew Meadows are nuclear this year. Safe Travels, and Thanks Ansel for turning me onto this group.

Happy Isles

7/21–7/22 in Sabrina Basin

Almost zero mosquitos at Blue Lake

Probably level 3/4 around Emerald Lakes but manageable with Insectshield-treated clothing and headnets. We camped on a ridge between Emerald and Dingleberry and I did pull my leather gloves on for a bit around sunset.

Overall I was pleasantly surprised how tolerable the mosquito situation was.

Dinkey Lakes 7/20-7/22. Constant cloud of mosquitos all times of day at elevations from 9000-10000 feet. Plenty of marshy land for them. DEET helped, but they would bite through any clothing thinner than a down puffy.

Paul