What is "snafflehound"

Snafflehound is a term used to describe any of various rodents that inhabit the alpine zone. Snafflehounds are notorious for gnawing on gear left at the base of an alpine climb; primarily boots because of the sodium left by the wearer's sweat, as well as backpacks to get at any food left inside. Numerous cases have also been reported of snafflehounds gnawing holes in sleeping bags while climbers slept inside them. The term may have been first popularized by Fred Beckey. The eponymous "Snafflehound Spire" is in The Bugaboos, and a "Snafflehound Ledge" is on the Beckey-Davis Route of Prusik Peak in The Enchantments.