Ellyn Oaksmith's Blog - Posts Tagged "goats"
Adios Montana
After circling the parking lot in Logan's Pass in Glacier National Park for a half an hour with 4 bikes sticking off the back of my car, I spotted a man fooling around with a cooler in the back of his truck. He filled sippy cups, water bottles and all but took an ice bath in the parking lot. No one believed that he would ever leave but I sat there with my turn indicator on for 10 minutes, waiting.
Then, a miracle. He got in his car and pulled out. (Seemingly without his family.)A small truck with Oregon plates decided to test me. He pulled toward the parking spot to see what I'd do. I moved my SUV and 4 bikes as close as possible to to the parking spot, ready to slam it into park, run out and tell Oregon in no uncertain terms that I earned that parking spot. I sucked exhaust while everyone restlessly circled. He back off. I got the spot.
I refilled my water bottles, found my family on the slopes over looking the Continental Divide. We were all stunned by the view (not to mention the long windy Going-to-the-Sun Road Drive) and reluctant to hike to the snow fields. My husband and I set off -- telling the kids it was up to them. Come with us or turn around. After about 15 minutes of hiking a 300-ish pound mountain goat sauntered out of nowhere. He walked right up to the wooden boardwalk path, climbed on top and headed towards us.
A man with 2 and 4 year old boys let them run directly to the large horned wild animal. I suggested he might want to stop them. He finally did. I was free to enjoy the sight of this enormously muscled animal stepping delicately through the wildflowers. His feet seemed too small to support that massive frame. Soundlessly he stepped off the boardwalk, wandering off to nibble something in the distance, 2 dozen tourists snapping his photo.
We continued to the snow field, taking pictures of our kids playing in the snow in the 90 degree heat. On the way out we saw a mountain goat, then a bear. We spent that night in East Glacier, watched horses being herded down main street as we ate breakfast, donated money to help the large local population of much loved stray dogs. We'd heard them the night before barking happily. One of them, we learned, had been elected Mayor.
Adios Montana. Hello Seattle. Back to writing. (Except for Chelan. Thank you Tia M.)
Then, a miracle. He got in his car and pulled out. (Seemingly without his family.)A small truck with Oregon plates decided to test me. He pulled toward the parking spot to see what I'd do. I moved my SUV and 4 bikes as close as possible to to the parking spot, ready to slam it into park, run out and tell Oregon in no uncertain terms that I earned that parking spot. I sucked exhaust while everyone restlessly circled. He back off. I got the spot.
I refilled my water bottles, found my family on the slopes over looking the Continental Divide. We were all stunned by the view (not to mention the long windy Going-to-the-Sun Road Drive) and reluctant to hike to the snow fields. My husband and I set off -- telling the kids it was up to them. Come with us or turn around. After about 15 minutes of hiking a 300-ish pound mountain goat sauntered out of nowhere. He walked right up to the wooden boardwalk path, climbed on top and headed towards us.
A man with 2 and 4 year old boys let them run directly to the large horned wild animal. I suggested he might want to stop them. He finally did. I was free to enjoy the sight of this enormously muscled animal stepping delicately through the wildflowers. His feet seemed too small to support that massive frame. Soundlessly he stepped off the boardwalk, wandering off to nibble something in the distance, 2 dozen tourists snapping his photo.
We continued to the snow field, taking pictures of our kids playing in the snow in the 90 degree heat. On the way out we saw a mountain goat, then a bear. We spent that night in East Glacier, watched horses being herded down main street as we ate breakfast, donated money to help the large local population of much loved stray dogs. We'd heard them the night before barking happily. One of them, we learned, had been elected Mayor.
Adios Montana. Hello Seattle. Back to writing. (Except for Chelan. Thank you Tia M.)
