Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Fat Marmot

On 9/6/09 me and a group of friends dayhiked up the Main Trail to the summit of Whitney. On top there was the fattest marmot any of us had ever seen. I argued that since they are hibernators, that their metabolism decreases at the end of the warm season to build up fat stores for the winter. A friend of mine argued that it's the snickers bars, trail mix etc. that he gets from the climbers. He was actually standing on his hind legs and begging for food. I treasure my snickers bar and brandy, so he didn't get any from me.

Do they tend to get pretty fat this time of year?

Maybe he could be the Mt Whitney mascot.

It's that time of year, especially at that elevation.

In all of his glory:

There's a monster at Trail Camp too. Saw a few of them here and there, and was thinking how much bigger they are in the Sierra than the Rockies when this steroid-freak comes waddling out from a rock outcrop like he owns the place. I thought it was a coyote at first. I'd guess he's 50 pounds or better. Everything's bigger on Whitney . . .

He must be definitely acclimatized!

Noticed the Breathe-Rite(R)strip across his snout!

With all the tasty delectables he or she has been munching, I bet it might be good eating. When I lived in Missouri, there was nothing better than corn-fed venison!

Alas, there ain't no open fire allowed on the trail.

Wonder if it would fit in an "un-used" WAG bag to take back to the campsite. Marmot jerky? Marmot Burger?

Why be picky? Marmot tartar . . .

Dipped in chocolate...

YUMMAY!!!!

Yeah Glen_Jones, that's him with the white strip across his snout. When did you take that picture? I think he's gained a little weight.

That was on Saturday about noon. Maybe there's more than one!

We were up there this last Sunday. That's him.

too funny this thread. that little guy stuck in my mind, too from when i was resting on the summit on 09/05. i called him the fattest marmot with the highest house in america. he was sitting up, begging for food with his right, injured paw: "spare change."