To our complete surprise, our climbing party attracted two uninvited guests who accompanied us along most of the rocky ridge scramble - they were Olympic Mountain goats, complete with horns and an onery, territorial, challenging attitude.
At times the goats blocked our climbing route and clearly challenged us, snorting and lowering their horns, ready to ram us rather than run. Patiently, we engaged in stare-downs, then slowly worked our way around the wild creatures.
Soon, the goats were shadowing us up the steep scramble, performing gravity defying jumps between ridge boulders with the greatest of ease. It was very entertaining and I believe the highlight of our trip.
From the Mount Angeles summit, visibility was poor as we were enveloped in the whiteness of a very dense fog. It was snowing on the summit, but there was almost no wind so we had that to be thankful for.
Since the highlight of this trip was our encounter with the mountain goats, you will find their likeness in the pictures below taken at nearly every stage of our scramble to the summit.
Note on picture size: Click on picture for LARGER view.
Mountain Goat - Initial Encounter
Mountain Goat - He looks courious
Mountain Goat Trick #1
Mountain Goat with Attitude
Our Constant Companions
What a Team!
Mountain Goat Trick #2
Mountain Goat Trick #3
Human Mountain Goats
Mount Angeles Summit
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