Marmots at Mineral King Trailhead? What is the update?

[Shawn]

Yes, welcome JOM - nice pictures.

Since this thread bubbled up, here's an update from Sunday, August 17, 2014.

I made a quick day hike to Franklin Lakes. No Marmots were observed at the trailhead in the morning or upon my return in the afternoon. This would be typical for late summer of course, but a few cars did take precautions anyway. Only saw one little guy along the trail (albeit he was a fat one).

[richapple]

Hmmm... I see no mention of fabric softener dryer sheets (smell horrible) but just this year we've been giving it a shot. Drive onto four of them and also put them tied to rocks on top of each tire. But then we haven't been at Mineral King.

Are dryer sheets a known "dumb thing" that doesn't work at all? We'll be parked at Franklin Pass TH (or Timber Gap TH) more than a week coming right up, and I'd not considered the car-fence stuff.

And I'm not sure I understand in this thread the mention of parking down at the ranger station. Do marmots loath authority? Or is that lot fenced or something?

Thanks for info/opinions...

Rich

[Shawn]

Rich,

Not so sure you'll need to do anything about marmots this time of year

As for the ranger station, in spring when the marmots are out in full force parking at the ranger station provides a little bit more protection because of the people coming and going which tends to keep the marmots away as compared to the TH parking lots (and being a mile down the road helps too).

Have a good trip -

[richapple]

Thanks, Shawn, and yeah, a bit of Googling showed that early season in a big snow year increases the odds, so late season and not-so-much snow this year... And I guess in the thread some time ago someone mentioned a ranger saying no marmot invasions for over a month.

And that makes sense about the ranger station parking area.

Yes, looking forward to the journey. I'm almost ready to post a TR for the first one of the season for us (in June), so hopefully this year I'll catch up and even get some from the last couple years posted!

Rich

[orbitor]

Hi Rich,
What were your findings with the marmot situation last month?
Thanks.

Thanks, Shawn, and yeah, a bit of Googling showed that early season in a big snow year increases the odds, so late season and not-so-much snow this year... And I guess in the thread some time ago someone mentioned a ranger saying no marmot invasions for over a month.

And that makes sense about the ranger station parking area.

Yes, looking forward to the journey. I'm almost ready to post a TR for the first one of the season for us (in June), so hopefully this year I'll catch up and even get some from the last couple years posted!

Rich

[kpeter]

To revive a three year old thread....I am going to MK for the first time. It appears to be "early season" for Marmots, so I presume I need to prepare my car in some way. Anyone have any experience with marmots at MK that is more recent than this three year old thread? What do you do for your cars? And is there a parking area that avoids the problem altogether?

[Lazeydazey]

We were there 3 weeks ago and folks at cabins, trailheads and ColdSprings Campground were either staking out wire perimeters around their vehicles, leaving their hoods open, or attempting to wrap the bottom half of their car in a tarp. There is a shed across from the ranger station where you can borrow tarps, but the marmots are chewing through them. Parking elsewhere is a brilliant idea! You could park at the trailhead parking for Hockett Meadows (at the Atwell Cmpg) and hitchhike up the road. What is it, 8 miles? Good Luck!!

[JayOtheMountains]

I was up there last spring. Before I left I went to my local home improvement store and got some 3' tall chicken wire in a length that would fit around my esuvee. I also have a giant tarp that I drove onto. I was out for a week and had no issues with critters. I did see Marmots under unwrapped/unprotected cars and had a cuckle when I saw a guy lose it as his hoses were chewed. There is a reason there is a pay phone up there... YMMV.

[kpeter]

Thanks Lazey and Jay! Looks like I have a little shopping to do at Home Depot!

[catbound]

Well, I think marmots may indeed loath authority. A couple summers ago, instead of keeping their distance, they went for a couple vehicles parked at the gov't housing with a vengence. There's no predicatability anymore--maybe it's climate change... Used to be that only the vehicles at the upper trailhead parking lots got eaten, and that is still where most of the problems happen, but gov't housing is by Silver City way down the road. People were being told it is safer to park down by the station a ways down from the trail heads, but I'd tarp even down there with the new unpredictability. So far as I know a tarp that covers the wheel wells still works. Also, used to be that they always stopped chewing by mid-August, but I would not place any bets on those guys anymore. Good idea to call the MK station to see what they've been up to. It's a funny thing that they prefer some cars/trucks over others. That's why some people have been lucky and some not. Problem is they will not let us know which ones they prefer and why.