On Saturday, July 20, the Teton Climbers’ Coalition (TCC) installed three new “marmot posts” at the base of Rock Springs Buttress to protect climbers’ backpacks, shoes, and other gear from marmots and rodents known for chewing through unattended items.
A fourth post was added the following weekend, and all four posts were painted to camouflage them.
The posts—modeled after the gear-hanging structures on the Lower Saddle in Grand Teton National Park—are designed to elevate gear out of reach of curious wildlife, reducing both damage to climbers’ belongings and potential harm to animals.
The newly installed posts are located:
- Near the start of Boxcar Arete
- Near the base of Exum Arete
- Near the start of Swordfish Lipstick
The idea for the posts arose after multiple reports of marmot-related gear damage at Rock Springs Buttress. With approval from the Bridger-Teton National Forest (granted July 2024), TCC developed and fabricated the posts using durable, low-impact materials. Each post was installed with minimal environmental disruption and designed to blend with the natural surroundings. The posts were carried up from the Teton Village parking lot via the climbers’ path in a single, 70-pound load.
“These posts are a simple solution that benefit both climbers and wildlife,” said Christian Beckwith, executive director of the TCC. “By hanging gear, we reduce the chance of marmots becoming more habituated to human contact, while helping climbers protect their equipment.”
TCC encourages all climbers to use the posts, practice Leave No Trace principles, and report any wildlife-related concerns to the coalition.