Tent advice: Yellowstone mosquitos in early July?

[Thomas Getty]

I'm planning a trip to do about 18 miles in the north side of Yellowstone (in Black Canyon) 6/30 – 7/2. The trip will be three days with lots of fly fishing in the afternoons. I have an MSR Carbon Reflux 2 tent and I'm wondering if I should take the entire tent (57oz) or just the fly, poles and ground cloth (38oz). The only consideration for taking the rest of the test is mosquitos and ticks. Some have mentioned that bugs can be a bother until mid-July although with the less than normal snowfall this year, I'm wondering if the entire setup is necessary. We will be using the Blacktail trailhead as our start/end.

[Buck Nelson]

When I hiked the CDT, I think the worst mosquitoes of the entire summer were in Yellowstone the first week of August. I'd bring a shelter with netting.

[Gary Dunckel]

+1 on the mosquito issue. I'll also be on the north side of the Park during July, doing a series of several hikes (Slough Creek, H*llroaring/Coyote, Lamar River, others). I expect to be wearing DEET all day long, at least through twilight. You won't be able to have any campfires in the Black Canyon, so you can't use that to help counter the bugs.

It was a low snowpack year, though. And if the nights cool down, bugs might not be too much of an issue. It's better to plan for the mossies, I think, since you'll be near the big river. Keep an eye out for the occasional rattlesnake, as the elevation is lower where you'll be hiking/fishing.

[Richard Lyon]

I agree with the others on mosquitoes in the Park. A problem until late August at the earliest. You might also want to bring a headset if you plan to fish. Which you should, as that's salmon fly hatch time in the Black Canyon.

[Trevor Leaf]

as you mentioned the snowpack is very low this year so mosquito season should be over earlier then usual. They do a lot of their reproduction in the side ephemeral ponds and charged meadows, so when those dry up it's over. Maybe prepare to bring the full tent setup but talk to rangers and monitor forums in the immediate weeks prior to help make the right call

good luck with the fishing

[Kimberly Wersal]

Definitely bring the netting. The worst mosquitos I have EVER experienced were on the north side of Yellowstone in July near dusk. Absolute SWARMS– not so bad during the day.

[Brian Johns]

No brainer. Lots of big a$$ deer flies. Like Mosquitos but with double the wing span, oh and they swarm. Even with a lite snow pack there can be snow/wet until July or later. I would not risk ruining my trip.

[Corbin Camp]

I was there last year in July and I was a little surprised by the lack of mosquitos. I only saw a few one evening. Could have been the weather as it rained mostly and was a little on the chilly side.

[Thomas Getty]

Thanks for all the replies! Looks like I'll bring the entire tent and perhaps invest in a headnet.

-Tom

[David Chenault]

I agree with the other folks on the need for full netting. I'd add that some of the Black Canyon sites are very close to the river, and tend to have a good breeze most of the time. Might make for a more tranquil evening. 1Y1 is an outstanding site, for instance.

[Raymond Estrella]

+1 on the netting.

What I found even worse there was the deer flies. They are used to biting buffalo it seems and were biting us right through shirts.

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