Anybody who has hiked the high Sierra in early July will tell you to consider another time for your hike. Mosquitoes—Anopheles communis and several other species—will greet July visitors in swarms. The insects hatch in the wet meadows and woodland areas where the snowmelt pools as it drains to streams and rivers. Mosquitoes don’t bite on cool or windy days, but they can be very persistent in the calm, early evening. Don’t look for mosquito abatement authorities in the high Sierra. Your best bet is to come back in August or September. But if you must hike in July, bring a strong repellent and a tent with a good insect screen.
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