My dad has always had an affinity for marmots that I will never completely understand. I try to shoot them whenever I see them in the alpine hikes that I do. When we stopped for a break just after sunrise on Mount Whitney we happened to make a new friend. This marmot walked right over to us, seemingly unafraid of our stature, and much more consumed with the granola bars that we were eating to replenish ourselves before we trekked up the 99 switchbacks that lay before us. The marmot kept creeping closer and closer and then was enamored with my camera so I decided to get a shot while he was thoroughly examining it. I don’t take a lot of wildlife shots but I do try to seize the moment whenever a cute little marmot crosses my path.

Mount Whitney Portal, CA