The Fit in the Timber Gap/Sawtooth Pass trailhead area. Marmots have been known to munch on cars here; note that the Subaru to the right of our Fit has chicken wire and boulders around it to hopefully fend off the pests. I trusted that the Fit, having low ground clearance and tight hood space with no coolant leaks, would not be an attractive rodent target.

June 2007 final "proof-of-concept" training hike, preparing for JMT. A very scenic loop with varied vistas.

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bryanlallen > Breaking camp in Cold Springs campground, Mineral King, Sequoia National Park, near the Timber Gap trailhead, having driven up the night before. Shelter is a Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo E.

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bryanlallen > The Fit in the Timber Gap/Sawtooth Pass trailhead area. Marmots have been known to munch on cars here; note that the Subaru to the right of our Fit has chicken wire and boulders around it to hopefully fend off the pests. I trusted that the Fit, having low ground clearance and tight hood space with no coolant leaks, would not be an attractive rodent target.

bryanlallen > View to south from just above trailhead. Farewell Gap is the obvious low spot; Vandever Mountain is the peak just to the right, featuring a snowfield dubbed by some as the "Bearskin Patch."

bryanlallen > Trailhead parking lot is at lower right; upper end of Mineral King valley extends to the south towards Farewell Gap.

bryanlallen > Nearing the top of Timber Gap, looking back south. White Chief basin is the large granitic cirque to the right of Vandever Mountain in the center of the photo.

bryanlallen > Looking north to Alta Peak from Timber Gap (9450 feet elevation) across the drainage of the Middle Fork Kaweah River.

bryanlallen > Yellow-bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris), photo #1. How close can I get?

bryanlallen > Marmot photo #2. Still closer?

bryanlallen > Marmot photo #3; getting ready to scurry off.

The Fit in the Timber Gap/Sawtooth Pass trailhead area. Marmots have been known to munch on cars here; note that the Subaru to the right of our Fit has chicken wire and boulders around it to hopefully fend off the pests. I trusted that the Fit, having low ground clearance and tight hood space with no coolant leaks, would not be an attractive rodent target.