high sierra update July 2017: bugs, snow, shuttles

Thanks Cameron.  Going in August 5th.  I’m wagering the bugs will be out of control by then.

Fire a concern now too. Oh California.

Thanks for the info Cameron.

Just took a 4 day hike through Humphreys Basin, and I’d agree with pretty much all of the above. We were fine without any additional traction devices, although our snow travel was mostly pretty flat. Also very surprised by the lack of bugs, hardly a bother.

THOSE SUN CUPS THOUGH!

Thanks for the info.

Jay Wilkerson

Thanks for the info!  This Friday July 28th, I’m heading out to Kings Canyon NP to do some high sierra off-trail travel.

I’m hoping that, at this point, microspikes will be sufficient for the fairly low-angle passes.

For those of you just returning — how are the conditions out there?

RVP

<p style=”text-align: left;”>Not quite the right area but I was in Sabrina Basin last weekend and encountered broken fields of snow starting at 10,700′ and was surprised that the mosquitos were not bad at all. I encountered more intense bug pressure 52 weeks earlier at the same location.</p>

OK I just got back from my second stage of the SHR, Tuolumne to Red’s, July 23-27. Conditions mostly the same as described above. Almost no one off-trail at high-altitude, saw just four people doing NOBO. They told me at Tuolumne that they had issued no SHR permits going south. Tuolumne a ghost town, completely closed- store, gas, campgrounds, except for ranger office, although I was told that the store would open the 28th. Thru-hikers were taking YARTS down to the valley for resupply. Rangers expect a “deluge” of people in August. Strange experience- no people, summer weather, surrounded by snow. Lower trails I saw appeared completely snow-free. Wet feet every day, all day, just no way around it. Any flat area at the bottom of a hill is a giant extended wet marsh, at least in the higher altitude meadows. Snow easy to walk or kick-step but firm enough to hold, and there is still lots of it. I appreciated the crampons most places, allowing for faster movement and safer early mornings, but after another two weeks I might leave them at home. Lyell canyon river a bit intimidating to cross. Twin lakes crossing up to my waist. Some places zero mosquitos all day and night, like the back of Thousand Island Lake where the 36 degree night frost might be killing them, other places they were swarming but only 3/4 mature. There is really no reason for anyone of any skill level to not get out there, but the mosquito factor does degrade the experience somewhat, and with all the water and upcoming warmer weather, who knows how long they will remain, perhaps into September?

Two updates:

-I previously gave the home phone for shuttle driver Kurt Payer (Lone pine Kurt). It is currently down, please use his cell: (661) 972-9476

-I just learned about the “Bishop Creek Shuttle” that ferries people between Bishop and Lake Sabrina/South lake twice a day:

https://www.estransit.com/routes-schedule/community-routes/bishop-creek-shuttle/

I just completed the SHR NOBO between Bishop Pass and Mammoth August 15th. The JMT-PCT crowd is out there in force now, certainly less than previous years, but really for any trail people it feels just like a normal June or July, except that there are more wet creek crossings. Mosquitos are highly variable- oftentimes none above 11,000, in a few places swarming, but all young and not serious biters/welt producers. For the high off-trail people, I took microspikes and no axe this last time and they were all I needed. I am even considering leaving the spikes at home for my last portion next week- the snow is melting fast and it is warm. I used Max for a shuttle (see first post) this last time and can report that he is a good guy and very economical and accommodating. All is good-