Eps 1: Mountain climbing with a goat in a boat
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Tyler Hunter Finally Closes Chapter On Mountain Goat Hunt
It only took Gary Howell 15 years to successfully complete a mountain goat hunt.
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Crystal Barnes
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If you look at the coast from the southeast, you can forget the more direct sunlight on the east side of the island for a few minutes.
The Northern Highline Trail begins with a fairly steep ascent to the north, which takes 2.5 hours to climb about 3 miles, with about 2 miles to cover. The snow often remains dormant during this time of August and can be an extremely dangerous situation. Again, we recommend wearing traction devices in your boots to overcome drifting snow and make sure you talk to a ranger before you start.
Mountain goat hunters should bring some climbing equipment, but only what is comfortable to use and what you might need. Ropes and carabiners are useful for rescuing fallen animals from difficult places and securing animals that may have gone over the edge during the slaughter process.
Crampons and ice axes make travel to the mountains easier if the ice is icy, but they can also lead to a dangerous situation if they are not in perfect condition.
Shortly after the Ahern Pass Trail Junction, the trail winds around the west side of A Chern Peak and begins to drop 600 feet as it approaches Cattle Queen Creek. Once you reach C Cattle Queen Creek, which is about 1,000 feet above sea level, you will be at the top of the steepest path in the area.
For glacier park hikers coming from Fifty Mountain, this trail is a shortcut, but don't forget, the view is fantastic. The good news is that anything that goes up has to go down, so watch out for a few more steep climbs on the way down to C Cattle Queen Creek, and your glacier adventure gets a little more strenuous.
Heavens Peak is the highest peak in the remote Livingston Range, which dominates the western skyline up to Fifty Mountain. There are still some steep climbs, but nothing too strenuous, and it is one of the most beautiful peaks in Glacier Park, with a great view.
This is particularly common in the coastal regions of British Columbia and Southeast Alaska, where goats inhabit much of the same terrain as in Glacier Park, and in winter - as conditions in the highlands drive goats down to seek shelter and less snow. The exception is when mountain goats are at lower altitudes below the tree line. Even goats bedded in wood have to keep up with their backs against the steep cliffs in order to escape and cover themselves.
In the morning and evening-hours, they climb up the rock-wall and climb to the summit, where they find its preferred food.
If you have enough time for a full day of hiking, you can make it a wonderful adventure, but bring a backpack, a torch, some food and water and a good pair of shoes. If the trail comes through with a squeak, it can continue to the top of the mountain and down again to the other side.
If you're under time pressure, skip Merchant's Cove and the start of the Goat Trail and head straight for the Barred Harbor start. The Redfish Lake Inlet Trail cuts a path through the rugged Sawtooth Peaks, with a few short climbs along the way, but not much more than that.
Get ready to wander further into the wilderness and watch the mountains unfold around you, keeping your eyes open. Finally, you will catch a glimpse of the Redfish Lake Inlet Trail, where climbers can climb more than 1,000 feet in less than an hour.
You meet the Sue Lake Overlook Trail Junction, and that's the view. Forget for a moment the Fifty Mountain Area, a huge green meadow in the background.
We reach the Ahern Pass Trail Junction and talk about the status of the "Ahern Drift," before heading to the next trail, the Sue Lake Overlook Trail, which is about half a mile away. We take the glacier park hikers on a short hike to the south side of Lake Sue and then back to the north side.
The hike is quite easy, but if you feel you have time, I strongly recommend the short spur hike. We take the Ahern Pass Trail Junction, which provides access to the south side of Lake Sue and the Sue Lake Overlook Trail, and then start on the north side, where we have a great view of the glacier park from the top of A Chern Pass, the highest point of the park.