Sunday, September 5, 2010

Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)

Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)

Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)
Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)
These mountain goats were spotted near and at the summit of Mount Evans yesterday afternoon.  Even though the trip up the mountain was mostly driven, I did hike up to the 14,264 feet summit with my sister.  I've always thought mountain goats have such noble faces, but they can't be bothered to show them because apparently they are hungry sorts also.  An interesting side note: after having spent over an hour above 14.000 feet my mind was a little loopy and I spotted some sort of raptor bird on the trip down.  I struggled to get my camera in time to take a picture, and missed the opportunity.  At which point I said, "Man!  I really wanted a picture of that bird but I don't have my homework."  Altitude is fun.  I will have more posts later featuring the vegetation up above the tree line, and really I could do a whole blog dedicated to subalpine tundra vegetation alone, it is so fascinating.  You can read more about mountain goats here.

2 comments:

  1. I'm looking for the like button.
    Very cool and great photos! What are those fuzzy things hanging from them? Shedding/getting winter coats?
    I hear you about the high elevation. I didn't go nearly as high as 14,000 but it certainly starts to affect your brain. Rocky Mountain High I believe they call it. ;p

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  2. I swear I already responded to this...but it is not here. Anyway, pretend I said something witty about them being dreds because they are in Colorado and into that hippie mountain thing.

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