Goats in the Enchantments (pic heavy!)

[javman]

I just spent 3 days marching through the Enchantments for the first time. The goats are insane and not afraid of humans at all since it's an extremely popular hiking and backpacking destination (and they want the salt in your urine).

First morning we woke up to seven in camp (all nannies and kids), and a few more came later. We moved a few miles and the next morning there were at least ten in camp (with a couple billies), and I woke up to a goat shadow on my tent. The scenery was awesome. I think I took over 800 goat pics! Here's a few of the better ones...

I think this state could support more than 16 goat tags a year 

[javman]

And some more...

I had to sprint a couple hundred yards over boulders to get these shots of the goat on top of the waterfall...










My favorite of the bunch...




And my tent guardians:

[gasman]

Absolutly awsome pic. 

Where is the place, i have not heard of it before.

[popeshawnpaul]

Great photos Javman.  I love the enchantments and there are tons of goats there.  Yet no tags...  That place always reminds me of Logan Pass in Glacier Natl. Park.  Tame goats.  Even in Glacier they don't lick your urine though...   

[ButcherBoy]

SWWWWWEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!! Man I have to do that!!!!! Thee best pic's of goat's I've seen in a long long time! Thank you very much.

[javman]

Where is the place, i have not heard of it before.

In the Alpine Lakes Wilderness out of Leavenworth. Pretty decent trek to get to the upper basin (over 5k elevation gain), and around 18 miles if you start on one side and come out on the other. It's so popular they only let 15 people camp up there per night, and there's a lottery system to get permits. Lottery was back in March or April I think. It is well worth the effort though!

[RyanD]

Those pics are AWESOME!!!!!!!  Thanks for sharin.

[swanny]

Great pictures! I really need to get up there sometime, beautiful looking country.

[Huntbear]

Amazing pictures, of the goats and the scenery... That would make me want to get in REAL good shape and go hiking up there...

[Tree Killer]

My favorite of the bunch...

Very nice photos, thanks for sharing!  The only thing that would make that photo better would be a long winter coat on the billy.

[zackmioli]

best pictures ive seen in a long time! stunning country!

[MuleySniper]

Those are so cool they almost look fake. That's Gods country for sure. Thanks for sharing.
MS

[alecvg]

Awsome!  I want to go there!   

[Ray]

Fantastic area and photos. It is just below Prusik Pass. About 9.5-10 miles from the road.

There are goats much closer to the road in that area. One place is up on "Snow Creek Wall". Go up the Snow Creek trailhead a few miles and then look right and across the drainage uphill to the wall across the way. You have to leave the trail and cross Snow Creek (usually wading or on blow downs) and head up the climbers path to the base of the wall.

The goats roam up above below and around that wall which is about 1/4 mile long or so. You can obtain the area above the wall by scrambling the gulley way out left. They will come right up to you. I am guessing Snow Creek Wall is about 3.5 miles from the road. There are raptors nesting there so a closure to the area may or may not be in effect.

[javman]

Thanks for the compliments everyone! Like pope said, they're pretty tame. But it'll freak ya out when you're trying to take a whiz and three goats surround you with their sharp horns and all

Somewhere along the trip I lost a 1 gig memory card that had another 100 plus shots on it  Luckily that was my smallest card...

Here's a couple more for the goat nuts out there.