Skeeters in the Sierra - 2010

by **KathyW** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 2:34 pm

Thanks - the DEET is going in the pack.

by **Norma R** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:13 pm

i put on my mosquito net head covering on while soaking my feet in a creek on the PCT near Olancha Peak on June 6th. yes, the skeeters are here and i had the nasty bites to prove it after that hike! :cry:

by **rhyang** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:34 pm

Late June into July is the usual mosquito season in the Sierra. Note to self: pack the headnet & deet, apply permethrin to hiking clothes. The bastards don't seem to be able to bite through my windshirt though

For sleeping out & tarp camping I sometimes bring one of these -

http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/ ... fm/ADV1000

Of course when you are doing your business with the cathole or wag bag there isn't much you can do :shock:

by **Blair** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:14 pm

I was wondering when this thread would pop up...

I can say that I have been in the Sierra the last 3 weekends, and no sign of them just yet.
Onion Valley 3 weekends ago; nothing to speak of
Rock Creek 2 weekends; just a few here and there, but they were small and weak, no bites
Convict Lake last weekend; they were around, but again, small and weak, no attacks yet

I bet within the next two weeks this will all change, unfortunately

BUST OUT THE DEET!

by **mrchad9** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:18 pm

by **granjero** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 10:26 pm

lots of standing water on donner summit, no bugs yet at summit climbs or in serene lakes, which is somewhat surprising...time bomb!
used deet at the leap, but no bug problems.
some skeeters on slabs approach to half dome, none on nighttime descent.
lake tuolumne :wink:

should be an exciting producer!

by **mrchad9** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:32 am

butitsadryheat wrote:
mrchad9 wrote:

That is a fat little bastard

Worst I've ever had it was in Humphreys Basin a couple of years ago. DEET and treated clothes didn't phase them, nor did the high garlic diet and B1 patches I brought along to try. Nothing. Until I tried the Cutter with Picaridin. Not sure why, but it worked the best, but I had to apply it often. Something about my odor profile is like heroin to the little bastards. My wife or kids don't seem to be pestered by them while they are ten feet form me, while I will be covered, being bit through my hat, shirt, etc.

He was a bastard! Forgot to post the caption...

Managed to execute this fellow leaving his body intact, while he was still feeding.

I had plenty of opportunities. At times you could kill 10 at once. This was on the John Muir Trail in a very wet 2006 near Deer Creek.

Wouldn't have been such a rough trip if not for these fellas, and a Bear Creek that nearly swept us away.

by **Scott M.** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:28 pm

Over Baxter Pass, north on JMT, and out Sawmill Pass last weekend (6/18-21). One low on Baxter at about 7000' but otherwise none the whole way.

by **Kerstin** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 2:46 am

In the Tahoe Basin, the mosquitos are out and hungry. I've got two of them scoping me out right now at the computer. I went on an evening hike yesterday, and without repellent I'd have up to ten on one arm trying to bite. Bring repellent. They're annoying, but you won't nearly suffocate on them like people might in Vidette Meadows in two or three weeks.

by **KathyW** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 7:13 pm

Just a few out yesterday at Treasure Lakes/South Lake.

by **SoCalHiker** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 3:02 am

TacoDelRio wrote:Killed about 50 over the past two days near Langely. I'm sure that put a real dent in their 85 trillion population count.

We must have missed each other

I've been up Trail Peak yesterday and killed about 50 per hour

by **mrchad9** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 3:50 am

Was in Virginia Lakes area today- expected to see a lot. Saw a few but none biting, yet.

by **calipidder** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:49 am

Yosemite 120 to north rim - nothin'. Spent the weekend up there including some random wandering through marshy bear-infested meadows and fishing along creeks that I expected to be infested, but nothing to speak of. I saw one spinning around my tent before bed, but put him out of his miserable existence.

Skeeters in the Sierra - 2010

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