The Mountain Goats we see today are not native to Colorado. They disappeared 11,000 years ago along with many other species when the region endured a Megafaunal Extinction incident. It was not until 1947 when around 50 goats were reintroduced for the purpose of hunting that they would be seen again in the state. Between 1600 and 2000 makeup the herd population today. As luck would have it Mount Evans was one of the initial locations that would release the goats. This was a great stroke of luck for me as I had the opportunity to work for a few seasons at the Echo Lake Lodge. While working at Echo Lake the employees generally are billeted at the lodge. Staying at the lodge saved me 14 miles of riding as I was climbing the mountain, while on WaltAbout. In my first season with a combination of camping and billeting in the lodge for about 2 months I biked to the top of the mountain 3 times. The second season I made it up a dozen times in 5 months.
Because goats live where they do thermoregulation is more important than most wild animals. Living at altitudes of 11,000 feet or above the tree line provides the goats with an additional layer of protection as most predators will not prowl at that elevation. There is simply not enough prey for them and the terrain is too sketchy for them to hunt in with the notable exceptions being mountain lions and golden eagles which will take small kids. The average daily temperature at the top of Mount Evans is 19 degrees, combined with winds that rarely go below 20 miles an hour it is a very hostile environment. Mother Nature provides the goats with with warm coats that do not shed until late July or August like the Billy you see above.
Goat Kid On Tundra 
Adult Goat Sunning 
Adult With Kid 
Goat Making Its Way Through Mountain Rocks 
Goat Looking At June Snow 
August And The Goat Still Has Parts Of Its Coat
Goat Doe Perched On Rock 
Goat Relaxing And Saving Energy 
Kid Looking For Salt At Bathroom 
Kid Standing On Rock 
Nannies And Kids On Overlook 
Two Goats On Route 5
The goats can often be found at the remnants of the Mount Evans Crest House, located at the summit parking lot. Crest House was built by a man who wanted to give his girlfriend who eventually married him a home at the top of the world. It took two years to build and eventually became a restaurant and gift shop. In 1979 it was destroyed by a fire and was deemed to costly to rebuild and so all that is left is what we see today. The roadway to the top of the mountain where Crest House is located closes after Labor day until Memorial day and becomes a prime area for WaltAbout as hiking and biking are still allowed. Being on top of the mountain alone is both good and bad. People being people all to often bring their behavior with them to the great outdoors, so less is more in many cases. However being alone with no one within 14 miles on a mountain top can be very dangerous. Rain, snow and never ending winds are all elements of the weather that you can encounter. If you break a leg more than likely help will not be coming any time soon.
Goat Protecting Spotting Scope 
Two Kids Getting Ready To Go Head To Head 
Three Goats On Mountain Top 
Billy Resting On Crest House Stairs 
Goat Exploring Trail 
Goat On Ledge
Goats are one of the premier mountain climbers in the world even more so than the bighorn sheep. Despite having those spiked horns they would be easy prey in areas with a variety of predators. So once again mother nature keeps things in balance by providing them with the skills and unique characteristics to survive in such extreme conditions. Mountain goats have a double layered coat of coarse fur that keeps them warm in the almost daily cold weather on the mountain tops which saves them energy to escape predators when hunted by them. Their coats are white and that helps to camouflage them from potential attack. They have specialized hooves that enable them to grip the rocky terrain they live in as they forage food on the mountainsides while also giving them a highly effective way to avoid or escape the few predators that will venture above the tree line. Goats start honing their climbing skills early as the kids play and romp in the rugged terrain. They were built with strong legs that enable them to travel long distances and can leap from 10 to 12 feet in a single bound.
Mountain goats can be rather aggressive. As always when out in nature have your head on a swivel if you are going into remote areas with wildlife. Goats and their cousins the bighorn sheep are rather stealthy as they roam their range. Their horns are very sharp spikes that could be fatal if you were to be gored by them. By the way you can get a rough estimate of how old a goat is by the age rings on the horns which start to show when they are fully matured at two years of age. To get the age just add two to the number of rings you see.
A Billy Looking Down On His World 
Curious Or Confused 
Two Goats Sunning On Ledge 
A Young Goat Crossing Empty Parking Lot 
A Kid Keeping In Touch With Its Nanny 
Goat Closeup
My WaltAbouts on Mount Evans have been the most challenging and rewarding that I have experienced. The paved roadway to the top of the mountain is the highest in North America at 14,270 feet. Riding my bike loaded out at 50 pounds with my photo gear and additional clothing to keep warm is one of the hardest things I have ever done and I was able to accomplish it a dozen times in one season.
