Marmots behaving badly

Post general questions and discuss issues related to climbing.
User Avatar
Arthur Digbee

 
Posts: 2280
Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2006 2:03 pm
Thanked: 255 times in 173 posts

Marmots behaving badly

by Arthur Digbee » Mon Mar 08, 2010 12:31 pm

I just had a very strange dream about marmots behaving badly. However, they weren't doing anything in the dream that they wouldn't do in real life.

Rather than share my alternative reality, I thought I'd ask for your favorite marmot story.

User Avatar
cp0915

 
Posts: 1306
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2004 9:40 am
Thanked: 2 times in 2 posts

by cp0915 » Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:51 pm

I'm not sure this qualifies as my "favorite" marmot story, but a couple years back I was descending Otis Peak (Rocky Mtn NP) and came upon a marmot feasting on a human turd. Apparently he thought I was gonna grab it from him, 'cause he stood his ground and seemed rather pissed off.

User Avatar
woodsxc

 
Posts: 2620
Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2008 5:53 pm
Thanked: 7 times in 5 posts

by woodsxc » Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:05 pm

Six years ago, when we were doing Longs Peak, a marmot started following us near the base of the Boulderfield. One of the guys in our group shouted "Look! A marmalot!" The name stuck and so Mr. Marmalot became a member of the group. He probably followed us for a good 600 yards. He begged some pieces of fruit from us when we stopped. That was one big, fat, friendly marmot. I still miss Mr. Marmalot sometimes.

User Avatar
SpiderSavage

 
Posts: 393
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:37 pm
Thanked: 9 times in 5 posts

by SpiderSavage » Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:06 pm

A marmot stole my hat up near Kaweah pass last summer. Never got it back.

I figure turn about is fair play. I'm looking for a marmot fur to make into a hat. Unfortunately those are pretty hard to come by. The animal skin suppliers I know are plumb out them. I think my only option is to accidentally run over one up at Mineral King.

User Avatar
Dow Williams

 
Posts: 2345
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2004 1:59 pm
Thanked: 219 times in 101 posts

Re: Marmots behaving badly

by Dow Williams » Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:30 pm

Arthur Digbee wrote:I just had a very strange dream about marmots behaving badly. However, they weren't doing anything in the dream that they wouldn't do in real life.

Rather than share my alternative reality, I thought I'd ask for your favorite marmot story.


Arthur, were you watching Caddyshack late last night?

User Avatar
Bob Sihler
Forum Moderator
 
Posts: 8486
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2004 3:20 pm
Thanked: 2764 times in 1527 posts

by Bob Sihler » Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:41 pm

I was hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park back in 1998 and came upon a marmot right along the trail. It did not move a bit and was probably expecting food. Since it was so close and calm, I decided it was a good photo opportunity. Light was bad, though, so I had to use the flash.

When the flash went off, that marmot tore through the brush like you wouldn't believe. I never knew marmots could be so fast.

User Avatar
Ed F

 
Posts: 993
Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2002 8:15 pm
Thanked: 17 times in 14 posts

by Ed F » Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:44 pm

I was on the summit of a 14er in Colorado by myself eating a sandwich for lunch. It was the kind of day where you don't see a soul all day long. I heard a loud screech behind me and I accidentally dropped my sandwich down a few boulders below me. Suddenly, a brown streak goes by me, grabs my sandwich, and carries it off. Marmot thievery.

User Avatar
Stu Brandel

 
Posts: 154
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:38 pm
Thanked: 23 times in 19 posts

by Stu Brandel » Mon Mar 08, 2010 4:36 pm

On top of Mt. Tallac on a windy day in 2008 a marmot was very active mooching for food from the several hikers on the summit. A strong gust whipped my hat off my head and it landed right on top of the marmot. It gave a loud whistle and vanished somewhere underground, never to be seen again.

User Avatar
xDoogiex

 
Posts: 1163
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2009 4:33 pm
Thanked: 42 times in 20 posts

by xDoogiex » Mon Mar 08, 2010 5:37 pm

i haven't seen a Marmot let :(

now i know not to wear hats around them

User Avatar
John Duffield

 
Posts: 2461
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:48 pm
Thanked: 2516 times in 1399 posts

by John Duffield » Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:01 pm

xDoogiex wrote:i haven't seen a Marmot let :(

now i know not to wear hats around them


Then this is for you. The Canadian Rockies variety.

Image

The first time, you probably won't see them but you'll hear them. In India last summer,
one of the campsites had them whistling all night.

User Avatar
Arthur Digbee

 
Posts: 2280
Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2006 2:03 pm
Thanked: 255 times in 173 posts

by Arthur Digbee » Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:09 pm

John Duffield wrote:The Canadian Rockies variety.

Looks large. Is it?

The marmots in my dream (see OP) were unusually large, the size of beavers.

The Tetons have distinctive black-phase yellow-bellowed marmots. This makes them yellow-bellied marmots with black bellies.

User Avatar
John Duffield

 
Posts: 2461
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:48 pm
Thanked: 2516 times in 1399 posts

by John Duffield » Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:14 pm

Arthur Digbee wrote:
John Duffield wrote:The Canadian Rockies variety.

Looks large. Is it?

The marmots in my dream (see OP) were unusually large, the size of beavers.

The Tetons have distinctive black-phase yellow-bellowed marmots. This makes them yellow-bellied marmots with black bellies.


They're pretty big but slightly smaller than a beaver. There's another similar critter up there, the name escapes me right now, that's a little smaller but similar behavior. One of them will be standing on a rock whistling to let everybody know you're there.

User Avatar
Dow Williams

 
Posts: 2345
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2004 1:59 pm
Thanked: 219 times in 101 posts

by Dow Williams » Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:18 pm

Image

User Avatar
Ze

 
Posts: 336
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 2:50 am
Thanked: 61 times in 33 posts

by Ze » Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:01 pm

they're annoying and obese (especially on Half Dome), but cute

Image

User Avatar
Alex Wood

 
Posts: 317
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 11:45 pm
Thanked: 18 times in 14 posts

by Alex Wood » Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:08 pm

On top of Wheeler Peak (New Mexico), we kept feeding this one marmot little rocks. We would bend down and act like it was food. The marmot would then take it right from our hands and go nibble on it and realize it was a rock and then toss it out. It was very funny to watch so we did that about five times and he never learned.

<img src=http://c0278592.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/medium/547716.JPG>

Next

Return to General

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests

cron