SummitPost.org

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

i haven't seen a Marmot let

now i know not to wear hats around them

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.



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.

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.

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.

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

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>