Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion To leave gear at trail camp or not?

I am planning on camping at trail camp on Oct 1st and heading to the summit on the 2nd. I am curious what you all think about leaving equipment at trail camp while attempting to summit. Do you have any suggestions how to keep gear safe from the destructive marmots?

I've done it two years in a row ... tent set up, stuff inside it (sleeping bag, extra gear, etc.) ... with no problems. Food, of course, goes in a bear container, sealed, away from the campsite.

Did you leave your tent open?

I did the same as akichow....and I didn't leave my tent open. And I had no issues with varmint getting into my gear or tent.

I leave a six inch or so opening but at least one critter didn't find it and ate a hole through the end of my tent. No food was inside. I guess some find it easier to just barge in rather than look for an opening.

I left the zipper open about 6 inches, but no sign that anything went in my tent either time. I was very careful to leave nothing with scent at all in the tent, though I don't think that is a guarantee as you'll see from other responses.

Make sure your tent is tied down TIGHT! Otherwise you will come back to a granite-thrashed tent like we did a few weeks ago. It gets windy up there.

But, we had no problem with the animals while we were gone. Threw everything in the tent except the bear canister.

No.