There were some patches late in the Sierras where the mosquitos were bad, but the last few days they've been especially thick. Anytime I stop moving I get swarmed. In real wet areas I'll have a swarm on me even while moving. On Friday in probably the worst swarm of them I've ever seen (except maybe a couple spots in Alaska) I took shelter in an outhouse at a tiny campground and waited for them to disperse.
Fortunately, I've never had much of a reaction to them biting me, the rare bumps they leave usually don't itch. They still do a good job annoying me by buzzing in my ears and flying in my eyes and mouth. The DEET seems to keep them from landing on me, but that's about it. I'm very thankful for my bug-proof tent.
In other news, I camped last night at Tuolumne Meadows. There is a store, post office and a outdoor supply store all near a large campground. I got there just a few minutes after the store closed, so I had to put off my shopping until it reopened this morning, which meant sleeping in. What a shame. I walked back over to the campground with Buster. I met him during my first week on the trail but only saw him a couple times until Kennedy Meadows. He dropped off his gear then took a bus back south a bit to climb Half Dome last night. I didn't see him this morning before I left to see how it went.
I got food for 6 days at the store, as well as some ice cream for breakfast. It's 150 miles to my next stop at Echo Lake. That'll be 25 miles per day, maybe a bit ambitious but I can make the food stretch a bit if I need an extra half-day or so to get there. Echo Lake is right along the trail, but I may try to hitch a ride into South Lake Tahoe, I hear there are all-you-can-eat buffets at the casinos there!
Fortunately, I've never had much of a reaction to them biting me, the rare bumps they leave usually don't itch. They still do a good job annoying me by buzzing in my ears and flying in my eyes and mouth. The DEET seems to keep them from landing on me, but that's about it. I'm very thankful for my bug-proof tent.
In other news, I camped last night at Tuolumne Meadows. There is a store, post office and a outdoor supply store all near a large campground. I got there just a few minutes after the store closed, so I had to put off my shopping until it reopened this morning, which meant sleeping in. What a shame. I walked back over to the campground with Buster. I met him during my first week on the trail but only saw him a couple times until Kennedy Meadows. He dropped off his gear then took a bus back south a bit to climb Half Dome last night. I didn't see him this morning before I left to see how it went.
I got food for 6 days at the store, as well as some ice cream for breakfast. It's 150 miles to my next stop at Echo Lake. That'll be 25 miles per day, maybe a bit ambitious but I can make the food stretch a bit if I need an extra half-day or so to get there. Echo Lake is right along the trail, but I may try to hitch a ride into South Lake Tahoe, I hear there are all-you-can-eat buffets at the casinos there!
Post titles like "Losing Blood" momentarily make your mother anxious :/ but I have recovered - nasty mosquitoes.
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