Spent 2 nights in the William O. Douglas Wilderness via the Bumping Reservoir area.
The rough road is slow going and deteriorated the last half mile where there are some deep ruts. Most vehicles will make it in with care. The Deep Creek Campground is evidently not being maintained or used.
Mosquitoes are bad right from the trailhead but get worse at the lakes. DEET will keep them from biting for a short time but I got many bites. Mosquitoes are to be expected this time of year. Since the area is called Mosquito Valley most people will understand that there will be mosquitoes.
Spent the first night at Blankenship Lakes where I enjoyed the Canada Jays. The second night was at Big Twin Sisters Lake. There was not a cloud in the sky the first two days but I woke to fog and light mist the last morning at Big Twin Sisters Lake.
There were few people hiking in the area. One vehicle at the Trailhead when I arrived and none when I got back to my vehicle. There were two backpackers leaving when I arrived at Little Twin Sisters and no one on the trails to and from or at Blankenship Lakes. There were 2 men camped at Big Twin Sisters when I arrived for my 2nd night.
Maybe my memory is failing me but I recall that the area was at one time heavily used by hikers and horse groups. It doesn't look like many people have been there yet this year or in recent years.
Apparently the trails have not been maintained for several years. There are about 15 windfalls across or on Trail 980 between the trailhead and Little Twin Sisters but most can be stepped over. A few must be walked around. Trails 1105A, 1105 and 1104A between Little Twin Sisters and Blankenship Lakes have a few downed trees but nothing difficult to navigate. Wildflower are blooming and views to the west from Blankenship Meadows are good. It might be worth noting there there are very few signs at trail junctions and that there are social and elk trails in the area as always. Paper maps don't work well so GPS with trail maps is the best bet to navigate in this area. I had little to no cell phone service except at Little Twin Sisters Lake but my phone service is poor.
I bumped into elk several times and found Barrows Goldeye and Spotted Sandpipers at most of the lakes. Three Barrows Goldeneye seemed to be going through their mating rituals at Blankenship Lakes even though it seems late.
All in all a great backpack trip in beautiful country. Maybe not the views or rugged peaks as in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and further north but gentler gradient tails and on this trip great weather. But be prepared for mosquitoes.
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