Goats on Goat Pass ...

 

Only after the sun went down, and before it got up, did we see the goats.  They were about halfway up She Devil, in or above serious terrain.  One nice billy in a spot very difficult to hunt.  Another, light brown, probably from a dust bath, higher up.

The goats were probably up there all day long, but invisible as they laid watching.

Early in the morning they moved up and out to the east, over into Cannon.

 
     
  Mid-day at Sheep pond a nice billy came down for water.  I took some pics across the pond, then decided to see if I could get closer.

I did.

About 10-15 yards away the billy decided to come my way.  At about 8 yd, I had temporary thoughts of being charged - but by his expression I knew I was Okay.
     
  But finding storage in my camera was not Okay.  By the time I erased other `priceless' pics on my camera and was ready, he moved onto a rock outcropping.  I got one poor pic - then he climbed Climbers trail.

After Brian came down, and we got ready for the climb out - we went up to see if we could see him again.
     
  We did.  To our fascination he picked a shady rock shelf under an overhang by the trail - and allowed us to again get within 8 yd.

 
     
  I will never forget this experience - what dreams are made of ... he watched us, and scanned the terrain below ... panting in the heat, dealing with flies.  He was sleek, and beautiful ... white with shades of charcoal grey in his fir.  Contrast with his black eyes nose, and horns.
     
  On the way out a goat followed Scott up the trail, and overtook him just at Goat Pass (pic).  Scott didn't seem to bother him - but he sure bothered Scott.  When he cleared the pass and ran smack into Brian - he spooked and went back into the Sheep Creek drainage. 

Brian said it was a different billy.
     
Dreams come true ...