I am going to hike the Rae Lake's Loop

“I am hiking the Rae Lakes Loop out of King's Canyon, CA Aug 20-24. I hope there are few (or no) mosquitos!”

“I just got back from doing the Evolution Valley Loop, mosquitos were pretty common everywhere.”

“CATNIP! CATNIP!”

“Mosquitoes should be pretty light by the end of August, but always go prepared with a head net, lotion, and consider spraying or washing your clothes with a repellent product before you leave:http://www.cabelas.com/p-0031692516902a.shtml”

“I just got back from a trip out of Big Pine in the eastern Sierra's. Since it was August I expected a light mosquito weekend. This was completely wrong. Due to a late snow this year, the mosquitos are still pretty thick (at least in that area).”

“This was my thinking of what to expect. late water year, late bugs.

You are gonna love the Rae Lakes loop. One of the finest. If you fish, bring your gear because I remember seeing some real lunkers in those lakes and was sorry I left mine behind.”

“Two summers ago we were catching brookies or rainbows on nearly every cast at Rae Lakes.

The Rae Lakes Loop is awesome. We were coming South on the JMT and stopped at Rae Lakes.

Plan for bugs, and then it is nice when they are not there!”

“we'll be hiking in that area coming in at Onion and hiking North to South lake and staying at Rae Lakes on Monday 8/31
Head net,and some DEET are in order

any of you guys know Songbyrd
last edited: 8/11/09 9:14:00 AM”

“Olddog: On Sept 5th I am hiking from South Lake to Whitney (9/5 - 9/12) so maybe we'll run into you as you come north. What is your itinerary?”

“I am heading out South Lake on the 6th. Sounds like we'll just miss eachother. But I will be camped at North Lake on the night of the 5th.”

“olddog - Have you considered reversing direction on your trip so you don't have to hike up to Bishop Pass?

I know songbyrd...why do you ask?”

“Come on Phil. What's wrong with Bishop's Pass?? *wink*”

“Ha! I've hiked down from Bishop Pass to LeConte twice and my goal is to never hike the other direction!”

“Oh yeah, that looks like a looong slog out of the valley...”

“SongByrd,is leading us for the 3rd annual trip We started at Yosemite two years ago at Kennedy Meadows hiked south to Toulumne Meadows, last year we started at North Lake over Piute Pass north to Reds Meadows so this year we go in at Onion valley over Kearsage on Sun ,Rae on Mon,South Creek Tue,Lake Margorie on Wed Palisade,Dusty,and South Lake by the time we get to Bishop we should we food less and ready for a Big Cheese Burger”

“I have had the "pleasure" of hiking Bishop Pass in both directions on the same trip. When you come from Leconte, it's best done in two parts. Leconte to Dusy Meadows is about an 1800 ft climb in 2-3 miles. Camp there by one of those pretty lakes and then hit the pass the next morning.”

“oldog - I've hiked with songbyrd several times and she was a good team player and fun to be with. Have a great trip! It is over 60 miles with 5 passes!! Hardest hike I have ever done. Very scenic.”

“Yeah, It's funny how, in the planning stages, we are taking these passes for granted but, when it comes down to slogging over these passes...we start to question our own sanity!”

“when I start thinking of those butt kicking climbs ,I block those out and instead remember the beauty that come with the views of those passes such as the Palisade Creek and the Black Divide viewed from the top of the Golden Staircase. At last years trip we had just crossed Speieve or Spevie pass and we came upon this lake ,It was so freaking beautiful that I told my fellow hiker if I died that week to bring my ashes back and deposit them ,because that was the closest place to haven I was going to get
Wish me luck”

“I did a quick little day hike in King's Canyon last week to Mist Falls and Paradise valley--my first time in King's Canyon NP. Made up my mind then to do the Rae lakes loop next year. I live in Maryland and go out that way every July/August. would love to hear your trip report and see pics when you get back. thanks.”

“I passed on an invite from Theresa this year, had the AK trip scheduled eleven months ago with Fridge. Folks need to get in shape and carry less weight. No bears on my loop trip a couple years ago. Would have liked to have made the after trip party at Onion Valley with T and Paige but had my own plans.”

“Next year I promise to spend more time in the Sierras!”

“What's all this next year stuff? There's still a good two plus months of hiking in the Sierra left and better yet, Sept./Oct. mean very few bugs and hungry fish.”

“what roseymonster says”

“I like going in Oct. for my second trip of the season too. Not many people out and the snow doesn't get too deep.:)”

“maybe next year,if I make it out.Sunnydayz T or one of use will get the picks out”

“Well, I have to report that there were plenty of mosquitos on the Rae Lake's Loop this year even though we hiked it between 8/20 and 8/24. I have one more big hike planned. I am hiking the southern half of the John Muir Trail from 9/5 through 9/13. Hopefully the mosquitos will have called it quits!”

“I hear ya, twobeer. I am hoping the skeeters are on the way out for my hike this week in Evolution Valley. Rae Lakes, for whatever reason, seemed to be particularly bad. My buddy's widebrim hat looked like an aircraft carrier at one point”

“Were you using any kind of repellant? Catnip? Garlic? B-1? DEET? (Sounds like the wide brim hat might have supported a head net?)”

“Must be the lack of fish in some of the lakes that the Fish and Game gill netted out.”

“Just got back from the Cottonwood Lakes - Whitney loop. No bugs. Very few fish.”