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

Posted: July 14th, 2018, 2:13 pm
by xrp
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.

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

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

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

Posted: July 17th, 2018, 10:31 am
by xrp
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.

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

Posted: July 18th, 2018, 11:18 am
by cjwillson
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.

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

Posted: July 19th, 2018, 6:50 am
by Waffle Stomper
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.

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

Posted: July 20th, 2018, 6:02 am
by Jaimeapois
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.

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

Posted: July 20th, 2018, 6:37 am
by retired jerry
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.

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

Posted: July 23rd, 2018, 5:57 pm
by sheilakpdx
At Cairn Basin last weekend. The bugs were bad - and hungry.