Friday 13th of July (2018) a buddy and I hiked from the Top Spur TH to the Cairn Basin area.
Bugs weren't bad at first, but as you approach (approximately) 5,000 feet, they get really bad. Swarming bad.
I didn't take pictures on this trip, I'm not much of a picture person. I just like to give bug status updates for people wondering.
Bug report: Timberline Trail Top Spur Trailhead to Cairn Basin area
- Waffle Stomper
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Re: Bug report: Timberline Trail Top Spur Trailhead to Cairn Basin area
I'm guessing that is just below the snowline where it is melting out? How were the flowers and the ponds?
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." - John Muir
Re: Bug report: Timberline Trail Top Spur Trailhead to Cairn Basin area
Ponds drying up.Waffle Stomper wrote: ↑July 14th, 2018, 5:38 pmI'm guessing that is just below the snowline where it is melting out? How were the flowers and the ponds?
From what I saw, we were well below snow line while on Timberline Trail.
Re: Bug report: Timberline Trail Top Spur Trailhead to Cairn Basin area
I was up there 7/13-7/15. Bugs were better after the turn up to McNeil. Some avalanche lilies on Top Spur, more in Eden Park. A lot of paintbrush and Heather close to McNeil Point and anemones mostly in hippie stage, also cat’s ears. Some flowers still on Bald Mountain but past peak. One tarn is mostly grass and the other is shallow.
- Waffle Stomper
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Re: Bug report: Timberline Trail Top Spur Trailhead to Cairn Basin area
That didn't take long for the ponds to dry. Thanks for the reply.xrp wrote: ↑July 17th, 2018, 10:31 amPonds drying up.Waffle Stomper wrote: ↑July 14th, 2018, 5:38 pmI'm guessing that is just below the snowline where it is melting out? How were the flowers and the ponds?
From what I saw, we were well below snow line while on Timberline Trail.
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." - John Muir
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Re: Bug report: Timberline Trail Top Spur Trailhead to Cairn Basin area
I was hoping to overnight in Cairn Basin this weekend, are the bugs bad enough there to find somewhere else?
Is there anywhere scenic that won’t be swarmed with bugs right now? My other idea was Jefferson Park but a recent report also noted horrible mosquitos.
Is there anywhere scenic that won’t be swarmed with bugs right now? My other idea was Jefferson Park but a recent report also noted horrible mosquitos.
- retired jerry
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Re: Bug report: Timberline Trail Top Spur Trailhead to Cairn Basin area
The coast? The desert? Maybe above Cairn Basin would be better, higher elevation, more windy. Like the trail to McNeil Point has a couple nice campsites. Or the trail up to Barret Spur.
If you go to the mountains bring DEET (or equivalent), long sleeves, head net.
If you go to the mountains bring DEET (or equivalent), long sleeves, head net.
- sheilakpdx
- Posts: 70
- Joined: June 3rd, 2017, 6:05 pm
Re: Bug report: Timberline Trail Top Spur Trailhead to Cairn Basin area
At Cairn Basin last weekend. The bugs were bad - and hungry.