Mount Evans- Mountain Goats

[Traveler2014]

HI,

I am going to be visiting Mt Evans early next week to photograph with the hopes of photographing mountain goats as well as the landsscape. I know they close the last five miles to the summit, so I am planning on going to Summit Lake, and hiking a bit up the road. I am hoping to come across some goats- but I am not sure how far or close to the summit they stay. I doubt I will be able to make it to the top- living at sea-level and with only a few days to acclimate myself, I am thinking the hike will tire me out sooner rather than later. Just wanted to get an idea of what to expect. Thanks for any replies.

[Cruiser]

There are often goats in that neck of the woods but it's impossible to say exactly where they might be at any given time. If you happen to miss them when you're up there then it might be worth driving a little farther down I70 to see if they are hanging out around Georgetown on the slopes near the lake. I have seen quite a few of them along the Guanella Pass road as well. Other folks on the board here probably can give you some more tips about likely places to find them so that you have a bunch of good spots to check out. That ought to increase your chances a bit.

[highpilgrim]

If you're set on Evans, I can't speak to the pattern of the goats up there.

But if you're open to other goat options, there is a persistent herd of them near the Blue Lake Trailhead near Quandary. They hang out there and in the steep slope from there to the summit. I've seen them every time I'm up there without fail.

The hike up to the hanging basin on the way to the west ridge of Quandary gets you a nice reasonable walkabout and you likely will see the goats in a beautiful setting without too much distance covered. If you don't, just pee near the parking lot and they'll be there shortly.

Good luck.

[Traveler2014]

Thanks for the responses! I am not hard set on Mt Evans, I just thought that was the easiest place to see them. I'll be staying in Breckenridge, so Blue Lakes sounds like an easier option to check out first. Quick question- the hike to the hanging basin- are you referring to the trail that goes to Quandary Peak from the Blue Lakes Trailhead? Looks like there are multiple trails from the trailhead- and want to make sure I head off in the correct direction. Thanks for the tips!

If you're set on Evans, I can't speak to the pattern of the goats up there.

But if you're open to other goat options, there is a persistent herd of them near the Blue Lake Trailhead near Quandary. They hang out there and in the steep slope from there to the summit. I've seen them every time I'm up there without fail.

The hike up to the hanging basin on the way to the west ridge of Quandary gets you a nice reasonable walkabout and you likely will see the goats in a beautiful setting without too much distance covered. If you don't, just pee near the parking lot and they'll be there shortly.

Good luck.

[highpilgrim]

and want to make sure I head off in the correct direction.

Yes, it's the approach for the West Ridge of Quandary. You can also climb Fletcher Mountain from that route which is much easier than Quandary from that side. If you're feeling up to going up.

Watch above the parking area in the steep cliffy slabs. They hang there a lot. It's a nice hike into the basin. Gerry Roach calls it something poetic, like a "temporal paradise". Probably not quite that, but you get the idea.

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[cpb145]

HI,

I am going to be visiting Mt Evans early next week to photograph with the hopes of photographing mountain goats as well as the landsscape. I know they close the last five miles to the summit, so I am planning on going to Summit Lake, and hiking a bit up the road. I am hoping to come across some goats- but I am not sure how far or close to the summit they stay. I doubt I will be able to make it to the top- living at sea-level and with only a few days to acclimate myself, I am thinking the hike will tire me out sooner rather than later. Just wanted to get an idea of what to expect. Thanks for any replies.

When I was up there yesterday, the ranger at the booth told me that they would most likely be closing the road entirely for the winter this weekend, maybe Monday at the latest. The top 5 miles has been closed for about a week and a half now, but sounds like if you wait till next week you may not even get to Summit Lake. Evans has a website if I recall with updated road conditions I would check first before making the trip. Otherwise, seems the goats on Evans like to hang by the bathrooms for whatever reason...so if you're lucky, there will be some at the bathrooms at Summit Lake (there were a bunch there yesterday after I descended), or the bathrooms at the top parking lot which would require you making the climb. Good luck!

[Alpineair]

At Evans you may see them at Summit Lake, or hike up the road a bit and look west. They like hanging out next to the outhouses.

[Tortoise1]

Thanks for the responses! I am not hard set on Mt Evans, I just thought that was the easiest place to see them. I'll be staying in Breckenridge, so Blue Lakes sounds like an easier option to check out first. Quick question- the hike to the hanging basin- are you referring to the trail that goes to Quandary Peak from the Blue Lakes Trailhead? Looks like there are multiple trails from the trailhead- and want to make sure I head off in the correct direction. Thanks for the tips!

There's a good chance they will be waiting for you when you get out of your car, or if not that you'll be able to see them from the parking lot. They're pretty much domesticated, even more so than the Quandary goats.

[Usher73]

Quandary goats from a few years back. They came up the west ridge, wandered around the summit for a while, then went down the east ridge.