Sierra Mosquitos

[Jennifer Mitol]

So all you western folks…since the water is so low and everything is so dry, does anyone have an update on the current mosquito situation? Wondering if I still need to bother with lots of anti-bug stuff on the JMT next week ;)

And yes, soon ill be on my trip and no one has to answer all my JMT questions any longer. Then I can start in on the pct planning……..

Nick, any good suggestions for a pct pencil? Might as well get started now…

[Andy Duncan]

Jennifer: The bugs are getting better in the Sierras right now. I was on the SHR about 2 1/2 weeks ago and it was the worst I have ever experienced in some places. . . but last week I was hiking around the Minarets and it was fine. The wildflowers are crazy right now. Bugs were only noticeable around the swampy streams in a few areas. The only place that seemed to have a current or recent bug hatch was around Lake Catherine, but that is way off the JMT. Some DEET and a head net was fine, even in shorts and a t-shirt. Have fun!

FYI, if you're looking for the most up to date bug info check out the 2013 Mosquito Reports on HST: http://highsierratopix.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=9131

[Jennifer Mitol]

Thanks!

[David Thomas]

Not that it matters for Jennifer, but interestingly, a similar thing transpired this year in Alaska. A wet winter followed an early ground freeze in Fall which kept the water from percolating in during the Spring making it a horrible mosquito season this Spring and Summer. But it has also been an unusually warm, sunny, and dry summer and just in the last week, the Summer dryness has trumped the Spring wetness and now the bugs aren't so bad.

[Nick Gatel]

"Nick, any good suggestions for a pct pencil? Might as well get started now…"

You won't need a pencil. Have fun and enjoy the trip.

[Paul Wagner]

We were at 9,000 feet in Northern Yosemite and they were fierce last week. This was a head-net trip!

[Art …]

on July 20-21
I was on the JMT from Whitney Portal to Onion Valley.
The mosquitoes were mostly non existant.

[Steve S]

Just finished the JMT from Rush Cr to Whitney Portal, July 8-23…. bugs went from a few, to nil …. never took the head net out of the bag, used DEET very sporadically… great time to be in the mountains!

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