You suck Dad...Saddlebag snow? bugs?

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Messages 1 - 12 of total 12 in this topic
hellroaring

Trad climber
San Francisco
Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 11, 2018 - 09:33am PT
Hey all, was wanting to take my wee one into Hoover Wilderness this Monday (7/16) for her first backpacking experience. I heard the boat taxi isn't running nor is the resort open? My big ? to anyone whose been up at Saddlebag recently is how are the bugs and is there still a lot of snow down on the trail or around the lakes?

Just want to hopefully light a stoke fire so don't want to go in if super buggy or lots of post holing to deal with. Was thinking of Desolation as an alternative as I have a permit for lake Aloha area. Would prefer Hoover Wilderness though. Any other alternative suggestions would also be welcomed. She's 7 and I was looking for something a couple few miles mellow on the uphill elevation gain, to a place we could base camp a couple nights and do some hiking/exploring.

Thanks...Russ
yosguns

climber
Jul 11, 2018 - 09:40am PT
Hi - I was up there weekend of June 23 - 24. There wasn't a lot of snow (you couldn't avoid the snow around the lake, but once up higher, you could generally walk around patches). The mosquitoes were AWFUL up below North Peak. They disappeared after 1pm to return around dusk, but they were relentless in the morning.
John M

climber
Jul 11, 2018 - 09:48am PT
http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewforum.php?f=34

scroll down for the 2018 mosquito reports. First page gives you what the numbers mean. Last page is most recent reports. 3 weeks can make a big difference in the Sierra.

Edit:

This says saddlebags lake resort isn't opening for 2018. Thats probably means ixnay on the taxi.

http://www.saddlebaglakeresort.com

But I have not been up there this year.
hailman

Trad climber
Ventura, CA
Jul 11, 2018 - 10:05am PT
Hey there Russ

We were just up in the Conness area climbing some ridges on July 6. I kept waiting for the bugs to attack, but surprisingly they weren't too bad. It was a breezy day, though, which probably helped.

Snow is melted around the lakes and there are plenty of dry spots to camp. Here's a few pics:



yosguns

climber
Jul 11, 2018 - 11:57am PT
The day I was up there, there was NO breeze, which makes a big difference. And it was early, so probably a lot of newly hatched bugs.
G_Gnome

Trad climber
Cali
Jul 11, 2018 - 01:58pm PT
The walk around the left side of the lake only adds a mile or so to the hike and is all flat. I mostly quit taking the boat across in the morning because it is such a small addition to the overall hike. And it is pretty.
crøtch

climber
Jul 11, 2018 - 02:20pm PT
Last week my wife and I took our 2 and 4-year old kids backpacking in Little Lakes Valley out of Mosquito Flats trailhead. It's a rolling hike with no grueling ball-buster hills and a lake every half-mile so you can stop when you feel like it. My kids had a blast. Bugs were present but tolerable and easily dealt with most of the time. They got bad around 5pm for an hour or so.
David Knopp

Trad climber
CA
Jul 11, 2018 - 02:31pm PT
What? No Gym on monday? I'll wither away...
norm larson

climber
wilson, wyoming
Jul 11, 2018 - 04:51pm PT
I just spent a long week camped at Saddlebag. The bugs come and go but never were they hideous. Mornings and mid day no problem, evening sometimes so but not always. I’ve experienced much worse. Snow, not a problem.
hellroaring

Trad climber
San Francisco
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 11, 2018 - 09:35pm PT
Thanks. Doesn't sound too bad.
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Jul 11, 2018 - 09:38pm PT
hey there say, hailman... wow, lovely photos!
:)
rottingjohnny

Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
Jul 11, 2018 - 09:58pm PT
I drink Round-up to keep the skeeters away...
Messages 1 - 12 of total 12 in this topic
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