Just got back from Evolution Valley…. Holy crap! Worst I’ve ever seen in my life!!

Pretty bad on Thursday & Friday in Horse Creek canyon and near Mono Village / Twin Lakes .. not surprising.

Horrendous in the Humphrey's Basin, Friday , Sat, and Sunday. Once the breeze kicked up they weren't bad but in the morning you could see five foot balls of mosquito death coming at you. 98.11% deet would work if you applied every hour. Camped at Desolation Lake and I am beat up.

I can still hear them.

Sunday at Mosquito Flat did not encounter ANY mosquitoes. Was not there after 5:00 PM though.

Tuolomne - Saddlebag Lake and Tenaya, even Cloud's Rest this weekend.....a few near water. I came home with a modest assortment of bites...no big deal. Didn't use DEET either.
But the freaking biting black flies at Whoa Nellie WERE annoying! Fish tacos in peace pleeeze!

mrchad9 wrote:Sunday at Mosquito Flat did not encounter ANY mosquitoes. Was not there after 5:00 PM though.

Good ! sounds like I will be bite free Aug 14-15 for Abbot and others.

Damn, Deb beat me to it...

Yeah, they were not that bad in Yosemite-Tulomine over the weekend. We got lucky

I spent the weekend in the Desolation Wilderness. On Saturday I hiked up Mount Tallac and didn't see a single mosquito. On Sunday I hiked to Island and Grouse Lakes and only got a few in the forests in the late afternoon. Didn't use any repellent.

Anyone been around Alger lakes/Waugh Lake/Lyell canyon recently? Thinking about making a loop out of Yosemite this weekend...

no2haven wrote:Anyone been around Alger lakes/Waugh Lake/Lyell canyon recently? Thinking about making a loop out of Yosemite this weekend...

Was at Lyell two weekends ago. In the canyon they were not too bad, certainly not bad enough to break out the DEET. But up at the lake south of the creek crossing (around 10,200 feet or so, forget the exact elevation) they were pretty rough- not a place to hang out without repellant. We camped at 11,000 ft near Lyell itself and not a problem there either.

My guess is they are easing off, but if you are considering those lakes be prepared.

thegib wrote:Went over University pass and hung out in Center Basin Tues-Weds-Thurs and I didn't even use repellent! Going up there were some at Robinson lake, but not above. I had a leisurely snack at 11000' and sat unmolested. They came out at the universal dinner time both nights, but during the day, (I was moving), they weren't an issue. Very pleasantly surprised.

What is University Pass like these days? Ice axe and crampons?

ROL wrote:

thegib wrote:Went over University pass and hung out in Center Basin Tues-Weds-Thurs and I didn't even use repellent! Going up there were some at Robinson lake, but not above. I had a leisurely snack at 11000' and sat unmolested. They came out at the universal dinner time both nights, but during the day, (I was moving), they weren't an issue. Very pleasantly surprised.

What is University Pass like these days? Ice axe and crampons?

I hit it late in the day coming up, and mid-day going out and had no trouble. I carried one pole and my boots were semi-rigid. It's melting out fast and my descent was sloppy snow fast.

ROL wrote:What is University Pass like these days? Ice axe and crampons?

thegib wrote:I hit it late in the day coming up, and mid-day going out and had no trouble. I carried one pole and my boots were semi-rigid. It's melting out fast and my descent was sloppy snow fast.

Thanks

Fourth Recess ,and Third Recess had very few pests this last weekend. Hopkins Basin had a few more and Pioneer Basin was pretty bad when the wind died down. Still lots of wild flowers blooming and patches of snow to cool off your water bottle.

mrchad9 wrote:Burying in snow might stop critters, but it wouldn't affect a bear- they can smell through that.

Not sure if you meant to imply that. Maybe you were only referring to critters.

(ursack is the best!)

I'm with Mrchad on the Ursack. It's the only way to go: light weight, flexible and tough. If you
carefully follow the instructions, no bear is going to get to your food. It's all I carry!