Mountain Goats

[Bean Counter]

Some mountain goats in The Enchantments.  Too bad there's no hunting season there--you can get so close you could actually spear them   

A group of four incl. me backpacked through there this month.  They not only walked through our camp, they surrounded us as we walked out to pee.  Apparently, the salt in urine is like candy to them.    The USFS actually asks campers to pee on as large of a rock as possible so it spreads the urine out over a large area.  The WDFW did an autopsy on a dead goat and found that medication passed through a humans urine and the goat that ate the urinated soil died from it.   

[blessed]

Wow, I never thought of the medication. As the BAby Boomers get older we will be spending more time in the woods and I think we should think about the passing of medication threw our urine! Where did you find that study? I would like to read it. I was one of the Blessed ones who got to hunt goats from the 60's  on, and drew 6 tags over the years. There were lots of goats and they are good to eat.  STB

[bucklucky]

Interesting about the pee.

Smokey, I was wondering if the Mt goat would be good eatin or not.

[archery288]

You and my dad both Smokey!  Between him and his hunting partners they drew 13 goat tags before this new draw system became imposed... Man I wish I could get one of those damn tags!! 

[popeshawnpaul]

I need to get back in there.  Is there anyone here who wants to volunteer to carry 20 lbs of camera equipment up there for me? 

I was there 10+ years ago.  My goal was huge golden trout and I saw a lot of goats as well.  It's just such a long hike and you need the permits now. 

[Ray]

I had been doing walk though day hikes into the area annually. I missed last season but had 6 years in a row before that. So if you go just for a day hike (mind you it is a 20 mile day hike round trip) then there is no need for a permit. Go when the larch trees turn. Usually the first and second weeks of october.

[Bean Counter]

I don't mean to contradict Ray but you'd better be in darned good shape and ready for a race against the clock to make it in a day.  We ran into some one day warriors, but they left the other side at like 3:00am.  You'll be using headlamps on either end.  We took three days to backpack through but I wish my group would have stuck to the four we agreed to. 

20 lbs of camera equipment might be tough, but the fishing pole would be worth it.  I would have given almost anything to have had my trout pole with me.  Someone left trash at the camp we came to the first night (that's bad), but it was just a fishing hook that gave me an idea (that's good!).  I jury-rigged a pole from my trekking pole, both boot laces, and a bacon bit.  It worked!  The water is so clear you can see the fish coming in!!! 

I believe the story of the goat and poison urine was either on the WTA website or the USFS.  I'm not making it up and I just tried to find it. If you get into some research you'll inevitably come across the story.

[popeshawnpaul]

If you want to get to the upper enchantments there is a back way in that is grueling, but shorter...

[Ray]

I agree. You can go up rat creek or any other creek on that side but it isn't really a shortcut because it will probably take you just as long as it will on a good trail. There is no easy way in there.

BTW lots of good goats to be found around Snow Creek Wall. Much shorter of a walk.