bug conditions in Tuolumne and Yosemite Valley

Hello, we are hoping to head there next week (Sun June 28th to July 3rd) to backcountry hike and climb then GTFO before July 4th weekend.
Does anyone know how prevalent the mosquitos are right now, south of Tuolumne Meadows (Cathedral Lakes and/or Donahue Pass) as well as heading to the Valley?
Hoping for a qualifier, like "so bad you can't leave your tent or stop moving" or "wear bug spray and you'll be fine."
Thanks!

Somewhere between eaten alive, and so bad you can’t stop your car. 

I'm heading up this weekend and can confirm based upon this time of year every year that I'll be bringing 100% deet and will still get eaten alive. That said, it's worse in August. 

Mosquitos on cathedral lakes trail were brutal at mid day over the weekend. 

The bugs have habituated to people.  With less people the bugs don't know how to find food on their own.  :-/

Overnighted at Upper Young lake last weekend. Stopped at Tenaya Lake on the way for a quick stretch and it was brutal. Hike from Lembert Dome Parking all the way to Middle young lake was clear, upper young lake was swarming. Probably 5-10 somewhere on my body continually. However I got away with no bites? For me personally I was annoyed slightly but it didn't ruin the experience if that makes sense.
Wear bug spray, keep moving, find a breezy spot, and you should be ok. Or maybe they'll decide to actually bite you and then you'll die of blood loss after about 20 minutes of being outside. 

Wow, actually makes me feel not so bad that my Tuolumne Lodge reservations were cancelled.  

Have you ever seen Aliens? It’s basically that. 

Danny V wrote: Overnighted at Upper Young lake last weekend. Stopped at Tenaya Lake on the way for a quick stretch and it was brutal. Hike from Lembert Dome Parking all the way to Middle young lake was clear, upper young lake was swarming. Probably 5-10 somewhere on my body continually. However I got away with no bites? For me personally I was annoyed slightly but it didn't ruin the experience if that makes sense.
Wear bug spray, keep moving, find a breezy spot, and you should be ok. Or maybe they'll decide to actually bite you and then you'll die of blood loss after about 20 minutes of being outside. 

Thanks Danny. Do you mean this past weekend (yesterday and Saturday) or the prior weekend? Trying to plan out where we can stop and camp without wishing we had metal for skin.

Climbed the regular on Fairview on Sunday starting around noon. No mozzies on the way up or down. Went swimming at pothole afterwards and all clear till around 6pm. A bit annoying on the hike out but not even close to as bad as I’ve seen it up there. 

oretro wrote:

Thanks Danny. Do you mean this past weekend (yesterday and Saturday) or the prior weekend? Trying to plan out where we can stop and camp without wishing we had metal for skin.

20th/21st

Yea, just got back. They are there.

Deet works, don't leave home without it. Was not overwhelmed by the queen alien and her minions.

Don't forget your reservation to enter the park. Many getting turned around after long drives at the entrance.

hillbilly hijinks wrote: Yea, just got back. They are there.

Deet works, don't leave home without it. Was not overwhelmed by the queen alien and her minions.

what sections of the park were you in? We have a permit.

oretro wrote:

what sections of the park were you in? We have a permit.

Valley and Meadows both. Stayed outside the Park on the Eastside at about 7000' and they were there too (not in hordes, but around).

Its late June = Early Spring in Meadows and Late Spring in Valley = Bugs.

You'll get seriously savaged in any marshy area until it dries up. Nothing new about that.

slap some vanilla on and accept that the outdoors can be uncomfortable

John Clark wrote: slap some vanilla on and accept that the outdoors can be uncomfortable

Californians don't know how to be uncomfortable in the outdoors...

hillbilly hijinks wrote:

Valley and Meadows both. Stayed outside the Park on the Eastside at about 7000' and they were there too (not in hordes, but around).

Its late June = Early Spring in Meadows and Late Spring in Valley = Bugs.

You'll get seriously savaged in any marshy area until it dries up. Nothing new about that.

Fair. Thank you!

Here's my take: The trouble with mozzie reports is that it literally changes on the daily and can be quite localized. This effect is amplified in a low snow year where remaining snow and moisture is patchy.

In the past week in Yosemite at elevations from 7k to 11k, mosquitoes grew in number over the week, with above 10k being highly localized (avoid trees and wet areas, obviously) and 9.2k to 10k being fairly ubiquitous. Around 7.5k to 9k they were out pretty much all day (right temps), but below 7k or so it's dawn/dusk only. Camping at 7k Sunday it was pretty miserable, but hiking down to the valley floor through LYV was completely fine during the heat of the day - Monday was super warm.

Based on my experience I'd say this is pretty much peak mosquito right now and over the next week or so for the snow levels we have this year. Many areas are completely snow free and what remains is going rapidly. I'll be in Tuolumne this weekend and expect it to be bad in places and at certain times of day but tapering off. Might just be wishful thinking... but overall it is incredibly dry in most places above 9k.

Edit: Also it's worth noting that if you are "hoping" to be there overnight you need to have a Wilderness permit already. There are no in-person permits available this year and it's a minimum 9 day lead time to get one. 

So for all you folks going to Tuolumne (and it sounds like some of you are going regularly), what kind of permit do you have to gain access to the park?  Campground is closed.  If you've got a backcountry permit, you're likely not climbing stuff near the road.  I get the feeling I might be missing something really obvious, but what gives?

Fat Dad wrote: So for all you folks going to Tuolumne (and it sounds like some of you are going regularly), what kind of permit do you have to gain access to the park?  Campground is closed.  If you've got a backcountry permit, you're likely not climbing stuff near the road.  I get the feeling I might be missing something really obvious, but what gives?

Daddy-o,

Pretty sure you need a day permit. Good for 7 days, but must leave each day.

https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/300015

Edit: If you have an America the Beautiful or Senior pass, then you still pay $2 for the day pass.

Frank and Fat Dad, if you have a wilderness permit to Yosemite then you’re able to be in the park for all of the days that the permit is good for, you just need to pay the entrance fee (unless you have an annual pass), and you need to show up on the first day of the permit. Frank’s right about the day pass if you’re not planning on staying in the park overnight. The hour’s it’s supposed to be good for are 5am-11pm, and you have to show up on the first day of the reservation for it to be good, i.e. if you can’t leave work early to hit the entrance for your Friday permit, they’ll tell you “oh well” when you show up on Saturday.