Late July bug report California Sierras

You can always check here:
http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=12302&start=96
My friends were in the Thousand Lake area which was pretty bad late-June, and on July 25 they said they hardly saw any mosquitos.

Just finished a section of the SHR from Minaret Lake to Yosemite Valley. A couple bugs around Minaret Lake in the evening and some in the meadows high up in the Foerester Creek area of Yosemite. I didn't notice any in the area between Lake Catherine and Blue Lake pass, but I went through there in the morning/afternoon.

Just got back with 8 scouts and 5 adults from Dinkey Lakes. We entered from Cliff Lake TH by Courtright Reservoir. No bugs whatsoever.

That place can be really bad with bugs. We have a famous trip from a scout troop near me who in 1994 went into the Dinkey Lakes area for a 5 day trip. They left right after school got out in early/mid June. One of the kids on the trip told me that as they were walking in another group was walking out. He noticed they all had head nets on and kind of chuckled at how silly they all looked.

Then: whamo!!! It was mosquito hell. They spent that night and not sure the next and just all bailed!

When someone from that trip heard we were going in there (this was a few years ago) they just started laughing, figuring we would be blasted like they were. Difference? We went in August.

It's also been a low snowpack year (duh!). Nonetheless, they have had a lot of moisture in the Sierra this year. They allowed us to make fire. Most of the stuff we picked up was damp, damp, damp. Fires were real hard to start.

Hey thanks everyone. Have been in the Sierras couple trips in Sept, but not August… Had heard Thousand Island Lake area was often bad. Yes low snow year but has been some rain past month with some frequency…

I day-hiked from Agnew Meadows to Garnet Lake(9700ft) last Tuesday. No mosquitoes along the trail or at the lakes(Olaine, Shadow and Garnet) along the Shadow or River Trails. Couple biting flies but nothing too bad. Monday this week went out of Rock Creek from the Mosquito Flat(10,300ft) trailhead up towards Morgan pass along the creek and past 4 lakes all above 10000ft… no mosquitoes. I live in Mammoth Lakes and the bugs have been mostly gone for a couple weeks.

I realize you're already having a grand time in the Sierras, but I figured I'd post an update as well for anyone planning similar trips this time of year. Just got back from the Sabrina Basin in the Sierras from August 7-9th. Mosquitoes were 'cover up at camp but you don't need DEET' for me. Not bad at all, especially the further away you camp from lakes.