This young male has been awake all winter, living on the food reserves he built up last year.

For him, summer can't come soon enough.

As the sun's warmth returns for just a few weeks, this harsh world is transformed into a rich, high-altitude meadow.

It's what all the pikers here have been waiting for, for almost ten months.

There's no time to waste.

Ready?

Steady?

Eek!

Now they must collect as much food as quickly as they possibly can.

But some of them seem in less of a hurry.

Clearly, biding their time.

The others are gathering leaves non-stop.

They build haystacks, and that takes a lot of work.

They build haystacks, and that takes a lot of work.

Each mouthful has to be carefully placed to allow the sunlight to dry it.

They also add a few leaves of other plants that contain chemicals, which will help preserve the hay during the winter.

As many as 11,000 return journeys may be needed...

to build a reasonably large haystack.

And then it has to be guarded against opportunistic neighbors.

The weather is showing signs of changing.

It's time to make a move.

This piker specializes in stealing from its neighbors.

PIKER SPECIAL

Got away with it.

Again.

PIKER SPECIAL