Page from Whistlers on the mountains. Hoary marmot with our capital city in the distance.
Hoary marmots by Armstrong & Hermans
In 2006, inspired by the amazing photo library Bob Armstrong had been accumulating, mostly around the Mount Roberts Tram, he and longtime collaborator Marge Hermans self-published a delightful childrens’ book on Marmota caligata.
Young marmots in particular are adorable, and can be easily watched at burrow entries along subalpine reaches of Wooshkeenax Deiyí, trails above each other (Mt R-word Trail). Selecting ‘mascot animals’ for each of our elementary schools, Elizabeth Kent (JSD) and Kelly Sorensen (DSE) nominated marmot for Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx, (Glacier Valley), largely on the strength of resources in this wonderful book. Granted, we can’t observe s’aax, marmot, in the immediate school vicinity, but lucky teams on longer, higher excursions with Mr. Merli can gaze down on sights like this one, only with Áak’w Táak, inland from little lake (M-word Valley) in the background.