2010 Skeeter Updates

Questions and reports related to Sierra Nevada current and forecast conditions, as well as general precautions and safety information. Trail conditions, fire/smoke reports, mosquito reports, weather and snow conditions, stream crossing information, and more.
Post Reply
User avatar
Eastern Sierra
Topix Novice
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 11:38 am
Experience: N/A
Location: Western Rural Nevada
Contact:

Re: 2010 Skeeter Updates

Post by Eastern Sierra »

Dana Meadows July 11 the skeeters were pretty bad.
User avatar
Bill Markwood
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 23
Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 5:43 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: 2010 Skeeter Updates

Post by Bill Markwood »

Jamison Lake, Rock Lake, Wades Lake in the Plumas National Forest: 1. No problem during the day, a few would come out at dusk.
User avatar
DoyleWDonehoo
Founding Member
Posts: 480
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2005 2:06 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: San Jose, CA
Contact:

Re: 2010 Skeeter Updates

Post by DoyleWDonehoo »

Just came back from a four day trip yesterday to the Granite Dome area out of Kennedy Meadows.
No skeeters till after Grouse Creek, and after that they became bothersome in places. The higher I went, the more problems there were. Things were fairly manageable (2-3) and if I was too bothered wind-pants and shirt were enough, but day 1 to 3 became increasingly beastly hot (100's! At 8600 feet!), the hottest I have ever experienced in the Sierra, and by the end of day 3 and into day 4, it was a level 4 alert with the flying bloodsuckers. The heat must have hatched a whole new bunch. On the way back if I stopped they ganged up on me and followed me for a ways.
I have seen worse (Tilden Lake in early spring: Level 5), and if you know your stuff you can manage. The hard part was the heat: you got hot if you covered up, and expose yourself and you got attacked. At one point I was only wearing wind pants, camp shoes, wind shirt and head net, and I was hot.
At this rate things will dry out in a hurry and that will be it for the bugs. Maybe in a week or two. Still, if you are prepared, go anyway.
TR later.
(Night three I saw flashes, day 4 it cooled with clouds, thunder and lightening in the morning.)
Doyle W. Donehoo
Sierra Trails:
http://www.doylewdonehoo.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Eastern Sierra
Topix Novice
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 11:38 am
Experience: N/A
Location: Western Rural Nevada
Contact:

Re: 2010 Skeeter Updates

Post by Eastern Sierra »

There were a few in the meadow of Warren Canyon on Sunday.
User avatar
EpicSteve
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 89
Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2009 5:49 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: 2010 Skeeter Updates

Post by EpicSteve »

Glen Aulin in Yosemite last weekend (7/16 - 7/18) = 3 Hardly saw any bugs during the day, but they swarmed at dusk to the point that I donned my head net. Oddly enough, they were fine during the day at river level, all the way from the high sierra camp to California Falls, but when I ascended the dome just NW of the HSC, they became moderately annoying until the wind came up.
“I don’t deny that there can be an element of escapism in mountaineering, but this should never overshadow its real essence, which is not escape but victory over your own human frailty.”

- Walter Bonatti
User avatar
Eastern Sierra
Topix Novice
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 11:38 am
Experience: N/A
Location: Western Rural Nevada
Contact:

Re: 2010 Skeeter Updates

Post by Eastern Sierra »

Yesterday all the lakes above Saddlebag were terrible with mosquitoes. They were swarming. The deet I put on my face, neck and hands worked for me. The little buggers were everywhere.

Which brings me to the question, is there anything natural in the mountains that one could use as a repellent in an emergency?
User avatar
EpicSteve
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 89
Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2009 5:49 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: 2010 Skeeter Updates

Post by EpicSteve »

Eastern Sierra wrote:is there anything natural in the mountains that one could use as a repellent in an emergency?
I've read that back in the day, Native Americans used mud with reasonably effective results, though I haven't tried it myself.
“I don’t deny that there can be an element of escapism in mountaineering, but this should never overshadow its real essence, which is not escape but victory over your own human frailty.”

- Walter Bonatti
User avatar
schmalz
Topix Expert
Posts: 588
Joined: Fri May 07, 2010 9:18 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Altadena, CA
Contact:

Re: 2010 Skeeter Updates

Post by schmalz »

Thousand Island Lake, 7/22

It was definitely a 5. By far the worst I've ever experienced. There were constant swarms, even in the afternoon.

Image
http://CaliTrails.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://facebook.com/calitrails" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Cross Country
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1328
Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2009 11:16 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: 2010 Skeeter Updates

Post by Cross Country »

Nothing more than a side note to this is that some people aren't "allergic" to what the mosquitos injects into us (an enzyme?) to neutralize our antibodies. I believe it's about 5% of the population. Also it's hereditary. These people neither swell nor itch from the bites. Fortunately for us my sons and I are in this 5%. Mosquitoes still irritated us a lot but we never had to deal with the worst consequences of Mos. bites. As diehard backpackers it was always such an advantage for Mike and me.
User avatar
jeisz
Topix Newbie
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:25 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: 2010 Skeeter Updates

Post by jeisz »

I'm headed up to Seville lake, Lost Lake, Ranger Lake, and Silliman pass in the Kings Canyon / Jennie Lakes area this weekend. Does anyone have an idea what the current mosquito levels are like on this hike? Would you camp at Ranger Lake or up on Silliman Pass?
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest