High Sierra Topix

I was wondering if anyone had gotten back from Mineral King recently and could comment on the marmot situation. The recording for the ranger station says there are no more marmots. However, Greg said something about marmots when he went earlier this month. Did they eat anything under your hood Greg? I don't want to take my car there if they're still active. Thanks.

When I went the ranger stressed the marmots are problematic in spring/early summer - the later it gets in the season the less of a problem they are. I guess at some point they find other things tastier than rubber. At the time he mentioned they hadn't had a reported incident for a month (this being ~3 weeks ago). Of the 20-30 cars at the trailhead, only 1 was 'wrapped up'. 3 nights out and no ill effects upon return. Hope this helps.

I think this is true generally - I've been to one location early season and again in late summer, Ostrander lake in Yosemite, and the place is crawling with marmots in spring - by late summer, the only marmot we saw was a young'un running around in the distance. Other places the marmots seem to take a powder as well. I wonder if they are moving higher or lower in elevation? Or just spending a lot of time rearranging their storage for winter?

A campground host at Courtright Reservoir told me this year that marmots had chewed his hoses in his truck while it was parked in the campground, and he uses dryer sheets placed around the engine compartment to keep them out. He swore by it. I wonder if he wasn't just seeing the later season migration to wherever. Anyone else try this?

Thanks Greg. I feel better now about the marmot situation if I go there.

I hiked out of Mineral King over Labor Day weekend. The car sat in the trail head parking lot for three days. No marmot damage.