We are starting from Breckenridge on July 23, headed for Durango. Expected arrival in Salida Aug 05 and Silverton Aug 18.
What sort of mosquito issues are we likely to have and where? We are considering leaving our net tents behind and carrying only the canopies to save weight. We will carry headnets and repellant.
I had no mosquitoes last year on segments 1 - 6 in either late July or early Sept.
Wandering Bob
I have spent the last 3 summers at Lujan Pass at 10,000 feet which is the midway point on the CT. Every year has been the same. The first 2 weeks of July have been crawling with mosquitoes and black flies even though there is no water near the place. I guess there are damp spots in the woods or something. But after mid July they all suddenly disappear thank heaven. Then the place is really nice. The black flies bite. The bugs are worst at sunup and sundown. The bug season seems to track the lightning/hail season fairly closely too. APPLE
APPLE
I have done the CT five times and never had any huge bug problems that couldn’t be handled by carrying a small amount of bug spray. The bugs are generally active for a brief period in the evenings then leave you alone for the night. Worst place on the trail that I have found is where you begin hiking up the Cochetopa south of Eddiesville (Seg 19 Mile 6.8) where a combination of black flies and mosquitos seem to rule. The headnet might be nice there, and I’d time it so I wasn’t camping there.
bearcreek