Bug report: Timberline Trail Top Spur Trailhead to Cairn Basin area

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xrp
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Bug report: Timberline Trail Top Spur Trailhead to Cairn Basin area

Post by xrp » July 14th, 2018, 2:13 pm

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.

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Waffle Stomper
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Re: Bug report: Timberline Trail Top Spur Trailhead to Cairn Basin area

Post by Waffle Stomper » July 14th, 2018, 5:38 pm

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

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xrp
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Re: Bug report: Timberline Trail Top Spur Trailhead to Cairn Basin area

Post by xrp » July 17th, 2018, 10:31 am

Waffle Stomper wrote:
July 14th, 2018, 5:38 pm
I'm guessing that is just below the snowline where it is melting out? How were the flowers and the ponds?
Ponds drying up.

From what I saw, we were well below snow line while on Timberline Trail.

cjwillson
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Re: Bug report: Timberline Trail Top Spur Trailhead to Cairn Basin area

Post by cjwillson » July 18th, 2018, 11:18 am

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.

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Waffle Stomper
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Re: Bug report: Timberline Trail Top Spur Trailhead to Cairn Basin area

Post by Waffle Stomper » July 19th, 2018, 6:50 am

xrp wrote:
July 17th, 2018, 10:31 am
Waffle Stomper wrote:
July 14th, 2018, 5:38 pm
I'm guessing that is just below the snowline where it is melting out? How were the flowers and the ponds?
Ponds drying up.

From what I saw, we were well below snow line while on Timberline Trail.
That didn't take long for the ponds to dry. Thanks for the reply.
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." - John Muir

Jaimeapois
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Re: Bug report: Timberline Trail Top Spur Trailhead to Cairn Basin area

Post by Jaimeapois » July 20th, 2018, 6:02 am

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.

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retired jerry
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Re: Bug report: Timberline Trail Top Spur Trailhead to Cairn Basin area

Post by retired jerry » July 20th, 2018, 6:37 am

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.

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sheilakpdx
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Re: Bug report: Timberline Trail Top Spur Trailhead to Cairn Basin area

Post by sheilakpdx » July 23rd, 2018, 5:57 pm

At Cairn Basin last weekend. The bugs were bad - and hungry.

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