Boulder River Mt Goat

[zoorda]

[7mmfan]

uhhhh huhhhh.....

[zoorda]

As if drawing a Mt Goat tag isn't cool enough, it was the only tag in an area that hadn't been open before. I knew nothing about the area, but that would change over the next few months. I started researching the area using maps, hiking guide books, goggle earth, hiking web sites, the Forest service, Fish and Game and the most helpful was other hunters here on huntwa. Thanks you to all that offered help. The first day of scouting was spent driving to all of the trail heads, eventually I would hike in for 2 to 3 day trips on most of the established trails. I also tried to access some areas by heading up in random places looking to get into a basin or cliff face. The two trails I didn't try were the Boulder River trail because it is mostly is in the lowlands and the Three Fingers trail because I didn't want to have a lot of contact with hikers. Three Fingers trail is the most popular trail in the area, and from what I'm told probably the easiest way to hike into an area that holds goats. That being said its a 9 mile bike ride from the road block to the trail head and then 5 or 6 mile hike in.

This is going to be a very long story with lots of pics. I will post more over the next few days. Hope you all enjoy

Kevin

 

[grundy53]

Tagging along

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[luvmystang67]

I am very envious of your position as previous tag holder.  Tagging along to see what this was like.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Tagging along

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[zoorda]

This was from the first scouting trip. We went in on Squire Creek trail and then up towards Squire Creek pass. Saw a few goats in the basin, but didn't get any really good pics of them.

[zoorda]

Almost seemed wrong to run this water through a purifier. Another pic from the Squire creek scouting trip.

[zoorda]

From Squire Creek trail looking up at Mt Bullion. There are few lakes on the other side of the ridge, never saw any billies up there just nannies and kids. Takes all day to get there and its all off trail.

[Ridgerunner]

Cant wait for the full report.

[Gringo31]

 

[zoorda]

Second scouting trip. Up the Eight Mile Creek trail.
The guy in this pic is actually having a pretty good time. Next to having good gear, having good friends that don't get grumpy when the rain, thunder and lightning hit is essential for a good trip. We just barely got our hammocks hung before the rain came. We did manage to get down a few hundred feet from the top, but the lightning was a bit scary that high up. It had taken all day to hike in and hiking out a fairly rough trail in the dark was not a good option. For one of the driest summers ever in Washington it sure rained a lot in the Boulder River Wilderness. I think it rain on over 50% of my trips. Good news is I now own a really nice set of Sitka rain gear. Worth every penny! The scouting trip was mostly a bust as far as seeing goats. Too socked in to do any glassing. I didn't sleep much this night, I kept waiting for the wind to take my tarp and getting soaked  instantly. Makes you really realize how fast a guy can get in trouble in the mountains if your not prepared. We made it through ok, but more gear upgrades were prompted from this trip.

[180-GRAIN]

Man keep it coming! This was my first choice this year and last.

[chester]

Good story so far 👍


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[RB]

Man keep it coming! This was my first choice this year and last.