How to keep marmots out of your stuff??

I climbed in RMNP last year, left a bag at the base of the Petite Grepon. Marmots chewed holes in my bag, approach shoes, STOLE my socks, and TORE OPEN my partners wag bag!! Other than taking all gear up the route with you, any ways of keeping these little demons out of your stuff? Hanging it on the wall a pitch up probably wouldn't work, as we saw these buggers scrambling pretty well

Back in the day (late 60's) a CMH guide "Rudi" used to use 40 grains at about 1200 ft/sec up in Boulder camp ("Bugs"), but I guess that's politically unacceptable these days.

Realistically, I expect some sort of variant on the "Bear Canister", such as some sort of hard plastic box would work. Pain in the ass to get to a high camp, though.

Just bring some cord or a hook to hang your stuff.  I have never had a problem.  Watch out for the ravens though, they can open zippers.

Hang your bags from a tree or a nut in the rock 

Bury your stuff under rocks.

Daniel Kaywrote: Hang your bags from a tree or a nut in the rock 

This. There is always some sort of vertical wall. Our bags were fine on the Petit just hanging in a crack on the first pitch. 

Jay Egglestonwrote: Bury your stuff under rocks.

Above tree line, I'm voting for this one. You don't need a huge memorial-sized pyramid, just enough so they can't get their vampire-incisors on the items. Often, you can find "holes" between rocks in the alpine, so just shove your stuff down and add a "lid" of rocks on top. These critters are better climbers than weight-lifters, so I think hanging items anywhere near rock surfaces is likely to be less successful (as also observed by OP).

Patrikwrote:

Above tree line, I'm voting for this one. You don't need a huge memorial-sized pyramid, just enough so they can't get their vampire-incisors on the items. Often, you can find "holes" between rocks in the alpine, so just shove your stuff down and add a "lid" of rocks on top. These critters are better climbers than weight-lifters, so I think hanging items anywhere near rock surfaces is likely to be less successful (as also observed by OP).

Yup.   I've had success with piling rocks on my stuff, none with hanging it.  Marmots can climb pretty well.    

I've had just about everything that I've sweated on get eaten up in RMNP: shoes, socks and shirts.   They want the salt from the dried sweat.    The photo is at the base of Hallets.

can confirm that they are still hungry for salt this year.  partner's backpack straps were chewed through after a petit lap.  made the hike out interesting.

I’ve had success with hanging, but I may have just gotten lucky. Has anyone ever tried packing in a salt lick and putting it nearby? 

Em Coswrote:Has anyone ever tried packing in a salt lick and putting it nearby? 

How about we try not to teach wild animals to associate people with food?

Em Coswrote: I’ve had success with hanging, but I may have just gotten lucky. Has anyone ever tried packing in a salt lick and putting it nearby? 

Not really appropriate for a variety of ethical and legal reasons.

Bring a crossbow. 

Tried and true with all animals:

Take one extra large garbage bag that will cover pack.  Place bag over pack and place in storage spot.  Stand upwind of bag.  Spray bag with bear spray.  To recover, simply roll bag inside out and reuse.

30 plus years doing this.  Never a problem.

Little devils will steal cookies like crazy! Be especially concerned if they get up on their hind legs and charge.

An Ursack ( ursack.com/) works pretty well against vermin too, though the contents can get masticated through the fabric. Be sure to anchor it so it doesn't get dragged off to a marmot/coatimundi hole. Wire-mesh bags are also an option--for rodents not bears (e.g. rei.com/product/846495/armo…). Both will keep the ravens out.

Tanks for all the good responses y'all. As the climbs are above treeline, hanging a proper rodent/bear bag isn't really an option. I'll probably be burying my bag in the talus to keep it safe

Bring your pet crag-eagle along.

Thomas Chapmanwrote: Tanks for all the good responses y'all. As the climbs are above treeline, hanging a proper rodent/bear bag isn't really an option. I'll probably be burying my bag in the talus to keep it safe

Hanging your bag is an option as long as there’s climbable/protectable rock nearby. 

When I climbed petit we hung our bags off a stick on top of a boulder. That worked, but I left my shoes at the base and they got chewed to pieces. 

Spray wasp repellent on your stuff every few hours.