Marmots eating car hoses in Mineral King

If you've been searching for the best source of information and stimulating discussion related to Spring/Summer/Fall backpacking, hiking and camping in the Sierra Nevada...look no further!
User avatar
Herm
Topix Regular
Posts: 257
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2010 8:33 am
Experience: N/A
Location: Anaheim, CA
Contact:

Re: Marmots eating car hoses in Mineral King

Post by Herm »

Imagine the fun for the driver and passengers of such a vehicle if it overheats, which is always a distinct possibility when climbing the Mineral King Road.
I am not in a hurry, so don't be hasty.
Cross Country
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1328
Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2009 11:16 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Marmots eating car hoses in Mineral King

Post by Cross Country »

Every time (10 -15) I left my car I feared this. Thank God it never happened.
User avatar
AlmostThere
Topix Addict
Posts: 2724
Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:38 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Marmots eating car hoses in Mineral King

Post by AlmostThere »

I'd never spray the interior of anything I wanted to keep with cayenne/pepper spray and park it in active bear territory! That's like begging for the Black Bear Wrecking Company to work over your car.

Probably wouldn't even phase the marmots.
User avatar
rlown
Topix Docent
Posts: 8225
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:00 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Wilton, CA

Re: Marmots eating car hoses in Mineral King

Post by rlown »

Seems like the best approach is to try and line up your trip with Shawn and have him drive. :)
User avatar
Oubliet
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 69
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2005 2:10 am
Experience: N/A

Re: Marmots eating car hoses in Mineral King

Post by Oubliet »

Hey, how about adapting some pigeon-spike barriers and deploying them around a car?
Or,are marmots good at "slithering" around even poke-y things? I know they seem good at burrowing under rocks. The ground in parking lots is pretty hard-packed, though, so I dunno.Once, a friend tried cacheing food that wouldn't fit in our bearcans under a rock cairn.

When we returned after a bit of dayhiking, he uncovered the top rock in the cairn and was puzzled by what he saw. It took a moment to recognize that he was staring at the hind-end of a marmot with most of his body buried headfirst in a bag of dehydrated beef stew that was at the top of the pile.
( noticed the pile of fresh dirt from the burrowing nearby.)
Last edited by Oubliet on Mon May 09, 2011 4:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
SSSdave
Topix Addict
Posts: 3523
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2005 11:18 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Silicon Valley
Contact:

Re: Marmots eating car hoses in Mineral King

Post by SSSdave »

Over the years I've parked at the two trailhead many times, have never taken precautions, and never had any problem. But then I never go early season when there is still lots of snow about and marmots have come out of hibernation and are hungry. Oh I've seen other vehicles with all sorts of defenses set up. And I've seen the hillarious pics at the ranger station and had a good laugh listening to ranger stories.

Any grubby old vehicle is probably safe. Marmots are after fresh meat. Those newer cars with their squeeky clean brightly colored plastics. As the alpine sun beats down on the warming hood those fresh plastics outgas exotic aromas that any marmot cannot deny is tempting. Just a lick or two on that soft rubbery coolant hose. Ahhh that sweet taste! Hurry up Bucky!!! (Soon as Bucky bites all the way through we'll get the juice.) We all gonna die but today WE LIVE!

Want some pics of marmots? There is no better place in the Sierra to see DOZENS wobbling about than at the horse corral at the trailhead.
User avatar
East Side Hiker
Topix Regular
Posts: 391
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:10 am
Experience: N/A

Re: Marmots eating car hoses in Mineral King

Post by East Side Hiker »

I'm amazed at all the stories and advice about Marmots I've read about on this thread. I can saw, I really didn't When I worked at Uppper Piute Mdw, the evelvation of which I can't remember now - over 8,000' ? - there were marmots all over the place. But the most I see are in the Horseshoe Mdw. area. They almost seem tame. I wonder how much damage cars get at those two trailheads?
Shawn
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1061
Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2005 9:56 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Marmots eating car hoses in Mineral King

Post by Shawn »

RLown is right. I'm ready for another season at Mineral King and I'll drive. :D
Image
User avatar
oldranger
Topix Addict
Posts: 2861
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:18 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Bend, Oregon

Re: Marmots eating car hoses in Mineral King

Post by oldranger »

Shawn

What kind of gas milage do you get?

Mike
Mike

Who can't do everything he used to and what he can do takes a hell of a lot longer!
User avatar
AlmostThere
Topix Addict
Posts: 2724
Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:38 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Marmots eating car hoses in Mineral King

Post by AlmostThere »

Looks like it will be a long ride in there, but we won't have to pull over much for oncoming speed bumps - I mean, traffic. :nod:
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot], grampy and 131 guests