2021 Bug Conditions Reports

General discussions on hiking in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest
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Chip Down
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Re: 2021 Bug Conditions Reports

Post by Chip Down » July 1st, 2021, 10:47 pm

Today was one of the worst mosquito days I've ever suffered. I was on Zigzag Mountain Trail, and as I approached Zigzag Mountain, the mosquitoes quickly became more abundant and aggressive. The worst of it started shortly east of Horseshoe Ridge, to the point where the trail leaves ridgecrest and drops down the north face of ZZ Mtn. It's only about a mile, but what a mile of misery it was. I aborted, retreated back west. By the Horseshoe junction, things were back to normal. Based on my observations today, I suspect Cast Lake isn't even visible through its cloak of mosquitoes and larvae.

There's a spot on my back where I have about 8 bites in a circle about the size of a golf ball. That's the worst of it, but there are several others on arms, torso, face. I used permethrin, picardin, and deet. Imagine if I had ventured there with no protection!

edit: I just looked in the mirror. I have dime-sized domes on my forehead, plus one that's the size of a quarter! Oh well, it's still better that a bunch of embedded ticks, or a three-week blistering rash of poison oak.
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Small scarlet smudges. Source: swatted bug-belly blood bags
MozzieHell.jpg

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retired jerry
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Re: 2021 Bug Conditions Reports

Post by retired jerry » July 2nd, 2021, 5:29 am

I've experienced bad mosquitoes there before.

There's a swampy area to the east of the Mozzie Mothership (Cast Lake).

The Zigzag Trail east of Cast Lake can be really bad

Go up to East Zigzag and not so bad

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Don Nelsen
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Re: 2021 Bug Conditions Reports

Post by Don Nelsen » July 2nd, 2021, 8:34 am

Chip Down wrote:
July 1st, 2021, 10:47 pm
I used permethrin, picardin, and deet. Imagine if I had ventured there with no protection!
Wow! - and I complain if I only get a bite or two - I'm such a wuss. Maybe the little buggers have mutated to the point that the usual deterrents have become attractants? ;)
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly

"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller

Webfoot
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Re: 2021 Bug Conditions Reports

Post by Webfoot » July 2nd, 2021, 10:40 am

Chip Down wrote:
July 1st, 2021, 10:47 pm
Imagine if I had ventured there with no protection!
Alaska says "Hi!"
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ebishop
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Re: 2021 Bug Conditions Reports

Post by ebishop » July 2nd, 2021, 11:06 am

I assumed the gorge would be dried up too much for mosquitoes, but on Benson Plateau yesterday, they were ferocious. I didn't have too much trouble when I was running, but stopping at all immediately resulted in 8 or 10 on me.

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Chip Down
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Re: 2021 Bug Conditions Reports

Post by Chip Down » July 2nd, 2021, 11:28 am

Hey Webfoot, thanks in advance for the nightmares.

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drm
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Re: 2021 Bug Conditions Reports

Post by drm » July 2nd, 2021, 12:34 pm

Sounds like roundabout 4-5000' is the sweet spot for the little vampires right about now. Looks like I got to Wapiki just in time last week. A friend went into IH yesterday from the west side and said they were bad. My guess is that the Timberline Trail will be peaking in a week or two.

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rubiks
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Re: 2021 Bug Conditions Reports

Post by rubiks » July 2nd, 2021, 6:26 pm

Hordes of mosquitos on the west side of Jefferson, above 5800' in the area of Coyote Lake. They weren't so bad down lower.
You know exactly what to do.
There's no need to be afraid.
Keep walking.

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Don Nelsen
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Re: 2021 Bug Conditions Reports

Post by Don Nelsen » July 2nd, 2021, 8:46 pm

Elk Mt., Bluegrass Ridge, and Elk Meadows today, July 2: After reading Chip's cautionary tale about his Zigzag Mt. hike, Kel and I applied the deet before we headed out today. It turned out that there were very few bugs, but I got slightly bit by one fly - but I got him, so I claim a draw for that. Never saw a mosquito until I got back from the summit of Bluegrass and started circling elk meadows on the perimeter trail on the way back to the TH off the meadows road. One got me slightly but I got him before he finished the meal - so, another draw. I expected to get mobbed in that wet meadow but it was not a problem. It was about 70 the whole day and extremely low humidity. Maybe that had something to do with it.
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly

"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller

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Chip Down
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Re: 2021 Bug Conditions Reports

Post by Chip Down » July 2nd, 2021, 9:41 pm

Don Nelsen wrote:
July 2nd, 2021, 8:46 pm
One got me slightly but I got him before he finished the meal - so, another draw.
See how bad it's getting? Even the males are biting now!

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