Snafflehounds are any of various
rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are na ...
s that inhabit the
alpine zone, so called for gnawing on gear left at the base of an alpine climb. The sodium left on boots by the wearers' perspiration is their primary goal, but backpacks containing food detectable by smell may be raided, and numerous cases have also been reported of them gnawing holes in sleeping bags while climbers slept inside them. The term may have been first popularized by
Fred Beckey.
"Snafflehound Spire" in
The Bugaboos
The Bugaboos are a mountain range in the Purcell Mountains of eastern British Columbia, Canada. The granite spires of the group are a popular mountaineering destination. The Bugaboos are protected within Bugaboo Provincial Park.
Geography
The ...
, and "Snafflehound Ledge" on the Beckey-Davis Route of
Prusik Peak
Prusik Peak
is an 8000+ ft granite summit located at the west end of The Temple in Chelan County of Washington state. Prusik Peak is part of The Enchantments within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and is often the iconic photographic image of ...
in
The Enchantments refer to these animals.
[Fred Beckey, Cascade Alpine Guide Vol 1, 3rd Ed, p.259]
References
Rodents by common name
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