Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Gear/Food at Camp

I understand that bears are not an issue above the tree line, but that the marmots are. My team and I plan on renting bear canisters when we get out there.

My question is...How do you secure them while you are not around? Hang from a cliff?

BV.

No need to hang the bear cannisters anywhere.Simply stash them in the rocks (not in your tent as the rodents tend to chew through tents and packs to get to food). They cannot get into the cannisters even if they find them.Bears will occasionally move them around until they realize that they cannot open them.

Is it also true that it is best to leave your tent unzipped, and your pack open so the marmots will investigate but not tear into stuff?

BV.

No need to secure the cannisters. As for leaving your tents open...I don't know...but we ran into a couple of campers with a 4 inch hole in their tent, apparently one of the guys accidentally left an apple in the tent.

The marmots are cute but DEADLY! Watch those cute little b*st*rds. We walked down to get water - came back ten minutes later - and they chewed a hole in my buddies trail mix. The marmots sit and watch with tiny binoculars from the rocks. When you leave they send the fastest one to your campsite to steal as much food as possible.
I think a marmot also stole my sunglasses, but I can't prove it.