This forum provided lots of useful info for my trip last weekend, so here is a quick report for anyone heading out to this area in the next two weeks:
We started on 7/10/10 and encountered almost no snow on the entire trip. Towards Dog Lake the low areas were green, but not too muddy. Dragonflies were emerging ("hatching" in fly lingo) in mass at Dog Lake and you could see their empty former exoskeletons all over every piece of vegetation near or coming out of the water. Walking around the shore would set off a small swarm of clumsy dragonflies and the robins were having a feast.
A log bridge and a fixed rope set up by those before us allowed for a dry crossing of Delaney Creek. The bridge is set up 2-3 ft over a deep section and looked intimidating to some in our group, but we all made it across without incident. All other creeks were easily crossed.
There were lots of boggy and muddy sections of trail and we were attacked by a ravenous swarm of mosquitoes right before getting to the meadows surrounding Delaney. That was the only section where using a head net, dousing yourself in Jungle Juice, and running while smacking yourself with a towel only delayed the evil swarm from discovering the 1x1in section of skin you somehow forgot to protect.
There were thankfully no mosquitoes at the high point on trail (+10,000 on the west shoulder of Ragged Peak) and few mosquitoes at the middle and upper Young Lakes. My group got bites mostly on the face, annoyingly behind the ears or jaw. WARNING: the middle lake shallows were full of large, twitching larvae and I expect it to be FULL ON mosquito misery in 1-2 weeks!
For wildflower lovers, Arrowhead Butterweed is abundant on trail and there were lots of Phlox and Lupine in the meadows. At the Young Lakes the Mountain Heather, Bog Laurel and Cinquefoil are blooming.
The cross-country shortcut across the saddle on the NE side of Ragged Peak to Lower Young Lake is still covered in snow and not recommended without proper gear and experience.
I have pictures to share but can't post them yet due to the site rules. I will post them when I can.
Thank you all!