Marmot in Grand Teton National Park

A marmot peers over boulders in Glacier Gulch of Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.

On my way back down from Delta Lake last week, I was on the lookout for some new pika shots since the route back takes you through a large boulder field in Glacier Gulch of Grand Teton National Park. It’s the perfect place to find both pika and marmots thriving. While I wasn’t able to come away with any pika shots like I was hoping, I did catch this curious little marmot scrambling around nearby. He went through a number of different poses, and this was the one that I enjoyed the most.

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Posted on August 3, 2010.
Posted in Wildlife. Tags: Grand Teton National Park, Mountains, Wildlife, Wyoming.
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http://blog.hankchristensen.com Hank Christensen

Mike – great shot. What length of lens did you use for this one? I’m always struggling to decide if I should lug my longer lenses around while hiking/backpacking, or just stick to my wide angles. Keep up the great shooting!
http://www.cavaroc.com Mike Cavaroc

Thanks, Hank! This was taken with my 70-300mm. I tend to just put myself through a bit of torture whenever I go hiking/backpacking and bring both my 17-40mm and my 70-300mm. I’ve thought about investing in something like an 18-250mm that I’ve seen from Sigma which would eliminate switching lenses, and truthfully is probably a better way to go, but for now that’s what I’ve been doing.
http://blog.hankchristensen.com Hank Christensen

Thanks for the info Mike. For backpacking, I usually take my 24-70 and sometimes my 17-40 (mainly for use at and around camp, or on day hikes when I can switch out lenses more easily). I’ve been contemplating hauling my 100-400 along, but I haven’t been able to justify it yet! A super zoom like the 18-250 seems ideal, but I have yet to find one that is compatible with full frame sensors. With a lens multiplier, 18 x 1.6 = 28.8, which just isn’t wide enough.
http://www.cavaroc.com Mike Cavaroc

The 100-400 seems like it might be heavy, but at the same time I did see one guy last week with one. You’re right about that 18-250 lens though. I suppose in the end I’d still have to lug around two which puts me right back where I am now. I’d love to find a solution so that I wouldn’t have to keep switching out lenses though – especially out in the open!

Free Roaming Photography, Photography by Mike Cavaroc, is my portfolio and vision of the natural world. As a nature and wildlife photographer, I am striving to reach the angles of landscapes that haven't been documented before as well as finding the dramatic nature of wildlife in its natural state. As a result, every animal photographed on this website was done so in its wild and natural habitat.

Based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, I thoroughly explore the wonders of Grand Teton National Park and its surrounding areas, including the Gros Ventre Wilderness, Yellowstone National Park and much more.

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