Bugs in Yosemite (Mendocino, Yosemite Valley: how much, schools, camping)

[jambo101]

Daughter is off on a 2 week geology trip in and around the Yosemite area camping the whole time, i was telling her to bring insect repellant and a bug net, thinking at this time of year up in the northeast bugs can become a real problem when camping and was wondering if its similar in the Yosemite neck of the woods., she insists its close to desert-like conditions around Yosemite and theres no need for bug protection.
Am i just being an over worrying parent?

[OwlKaMyst]

We have bugs, but it usually is nothing like other areas I have been too around the U.S. Nevada being the worst, so desert means nothing.
Usually there is that time of day when the sun is going down and the mosquitoes come out, but only for a short time and only if temperatures are right. And this is usually in the summer. However, we are having warmer than normal temps.
Ticks would be my main concern and repellent is not much help there. Only preventative measures and a body check after a hike is what can be done for ticks.

[Mr5150]

I live about an hour NW of Yosemite. This time of year can be somewhat buggy due to standing water left from snow melt, but it is nothing compared to the Midwest and East. A lot depends on the altitude of where she will be camping. I would bring repellent, but a net would be overkill. Ticks are not common at elevations over 4000', which is the elevation of the Yosemite Valley floor-about as low as any place in Yosemite gets. I live at 4000' and have never had a tick on me. However, when I lived in Mendocino County the ticks were awful-so it varies depending on what part of the State you live in.

One thing your daughter is wrong about: Yosemite is anything but desert-like. It is basically forest and meadow and averages 45 to 70 inches of precipitation-depending on elevation (4000-12,000 feet)

[jambo101]

Heres a map of her itinerary.
Schedule - Field school 2

[PNW-type-gal]

You don't say when she is leaving, but the mosquitoes in the Sierra/Cascades are worst at snow melt, when the ground is boggy. We don't have the big biting flies and no-see-ums out here.

Given that itinerary (which doesn't really include Yosemite proper, by the way), stout field boots (preferably broken in BEFORE she leaves), good socks, sun hat, sun block and good water supply are more important than bug spray. Depending on how much hiking she has to do (it looks mostly like day hiking) and how much of a pack she has to carry and what shape she is in - a small tube of bug spray will be fine.

ETA: there are pretty much two kinds of geology field schools:
1. The death march through heavy terrain while camping in primitive sites
2. The tourism and sight-seeing with a bit of mapping thrown in.

This looks more #2 than #1, since they are on the move to different sites.

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by jambo101

Heres a map of her itinerary.
Schedule - Field school 2

OK, she was right about the desert part-bugs will not be an issue. Nowhere near Yosemite tho. But she will see some fine country.

Mrs5150 and I love the east side of the Sierras.

[jambo101]

Shes leaving Montreal tomorrow around 8am