Marmot Action in Mineral King

Discussion Topic

Return to Forum List

This thread has been locked

Messages 21 - 27 of total 27 in this topic

<< First | < Previous | Show All | Next > | Last >>

Paul W

Trad climber

Three Rivers, CA

Aug 19, 2018 - 02:42pm PT

I’ve seen marmots get inside of people’s tarps. I’m up there all the time and never do anything to protect my car, and I’ve never had an issue.

limpingcrab

Trad climber

the middle of CA

Aug 19, 2018 - 03:40pm PT

Not super relevant to the discussion but my favorite marmot experience was in white chief valley in mineral king.

Last minute trip and it’s not far so I threw in canned food for dinner. I had an empty can of chili behind me when I heard some noise. Turned around to find a marmot with its head stuck in the can running around blind. I stood up and it ran away, straight off of a 15 ft cliff into the creek below. It made me so happy, I hate those things.

johntp

Trad climber

Little Rock and Loving It

Aug 19, 2018 - 05:29pm PT

or got a 2 hour power nap after driving all night I took the nap. That road in there is a real PITA to drive.

Yeah, after a long drive up from SoCal that long ass drive to Mineral King is a bear.

I’ve seen marmots get inside of people’s tarps.

That's why I'm curios the have figured out chicken wire but not tarps.

It made me so happy, I hate those things.

Not that I have any desire to hurt animals, but I put marmots in the same class as raccoons; cute as heck but devious and damaging. Had several pieces of gear eaten by marmots.

Matt Sarad

climber

Aug 19, 2018 - 06:11pm PT

Yes Jody. That was Nile, Jeff, and me. Next trip will be Shelf Lake above Graveyard Meadow.

10b4me

Social climber

Lida Junction

Aug 19, 2018 - 09:31pm PT

I first went to Mineral King in 1976, and have been back a few times since. I've never had a problem with Marmots.

John M

climber

Aug 19, 2018 - 09:41pm PT

This is an interesting read. One theory is that the anti freeze makes them high..

https://www.nwf.org/en/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2002/Addicted-Marmots

He also says marmots have an amazing ability to handle toxic substances. "To tranquilize them, they need the same dose as a bear, and a bear will be down for 40 minutes while a marmot will be back up in 5," says Werner. "If you have to redrug them, it's really hard to make them unconscious again."