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Mount Ellinor

Jul 03, 2012

by Washington Trails Association — last modified Aug 16, 2012 03:28 PM
Type of Outing
Day hike
Read More in our Hiking Guide
Hike: Mount Ellinor
Region: Olympics -- East
Agency: Hood Canal Ranger District
Trails: Mount Ellinor (#812)
Avg Rating: 4.25
Mount Ellinor Trail Closed Because of Aggressive Mountain Goat

Press Release from Olympic National Forest - July 3, 2012:

Olympia, WA – To ensure public safety, an emergency closure has been implemented on the Mount Ellinor Trail #812, located on the Hood Canal District of Olympic National Forest, approximately 18 miles northwest of Hoodsport, on Forest Road 2419. Several aggressive mountain goat encounters have occurred in the past two days, prompting this action.

“Mountain goats are powerful, inquisitive, wild animals, but they are not generally aggressive by nature,” said Wildlife Biologist Kurt Aluzas. “We believe their recent behavior is because this year’s deep snowpack has confined the goats to trailside areas in combination with a seasonally high demand for minerals (salts) and their habituation to people. There is also the potential that the Nanny goats are being protective of their young.”

Both the upper and lower portions of Mount Ellinor Trail #812 will remain closed for at least two weeks. The Upper Big Creek and Mount Rose trails remain open. “The Mount Ellinor Trail rises above timberline, providing extensive views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound, making it a popular destination for many summer visitors,” said Acting Forest Supervisor Amanda McAdams. “But public safety must remain our utmost concern and the public’s cooperation will be appreciated for the duration of this closure.” At this time, no lethal actions are planned; the situation will be monitored and the closure will be re-evaluated again in two weeks to determine if it should continue.

For additional information, please contact the Quilcene Ranger District at 360-765-2200. A copy of the Closure Order (Subpart B Closure # 06-09-02-12-02) can be found on the Olympic National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/olympic; information about alternative recreational opportunities can also be found at that location.
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Trail still closed?

Posted by ciroque at Aug 20, 2012 10:42 AM
Just wanted to check and see...

Thanks!

Closed indefinitely

Posted by Susan Elderkin at Aug 20, 2012 10:42 AM
The Mount Ellinor trail is still closed, and could remain that way the rest of the season. Wildlife biologists had hoped the herd of 20 goats would move to higher country as the summer progressed, but they have remained near the trail. The goats had become too accustomed to people, and had sought salt and hand-outs - all too often successfully. When the trail closed in July, the goats weren't willing to hear no and back off. We'll have an article about the goats in our September Washington Trails magazine about this.

Here's where you can find trail status about Mount Ellinor and other Olympic National Forest hikes: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/olympic/recreation#cond

Two questions

Posted by ciroque at Aug 26, 2012 12:58 AM
What is the status of this closure?

What is the recommended means of dealing with a goat, either aggressive, or not...? Pepper Spray? Noise?

removal

Posted by ciroque at Jul 27, 2012 10:07 PM
Also, why have the goats not been removed as was deemed necessary by the park service?

http://rdpayne.drizzlehosting.com/opa-mtngoat.html

Mount Ellinor trail remains closed

Posted by Susan Elderkin at Aug 02, 2012 11:04 AM
As of August 1, the Mount Ellinor trail remains closed to hikers. The Olympic National Forest is hoping that without hikers in the area and with snowpack melting that the goat moves off the trail.

Last year, WTA ran an article detailing mountain goat etiquette (http://www.wta.org/[…]/what-to-do-about-aggressive-mountain-goats). In goat country, hikers should urinate at least 50 feet from the trail (they are after the salt).

Most goats are not aggressive, but it is a good rule of thumb to stay at least 50 yards away from them. Give them the right-of-way. If one approaches anyway, rangers recommend chasing the animal away by yelling, waving arms and coats, or even throwing rocks. Then reporting it to the nearest ranger station immediately.

Hope this helps. We'll post an announcement on this entry when the trail reopens.

- Washington Trails Association

Any other routes affected by this?

Posted by ciroque at Aug 06, 2012 09:51 AM
Cool, thanks for the update :-)

I was planning on hiking up to Lake of the Angels tomorrow (Aug 3). While that trail is somewhat distant from Ellinor, should I be any more concerned than usual?

Thanks again!

Goatses

Posted by ciroque at Aug 06, 2012 09:51 AM
By way of keeping this in one place, I encountered a family of four goats at the Lake of the Angels on Friday. They got within fifty feet of me before I heard them. Fortunately there was a large rock between us. I simply waved hiking poles and a jacket while speaking loudly telling them to keep going, and move along. One of them kept looking back at me. While I was a little nervous about how close they got before I realized they were there, I did not feel any of their actions were aggressive.

Eventually they moved off and I went back the way they had come and was able to keep the lake between me and them for the rest of my time at the lake.

Aggressive Goats

Posted by Shan at Aug 26, 2012 12:58 AM
Mt. Ellinor is still closed as of 8/26. Several additional areas may be closed as well in the future if there are reports of the same goat behavior. The park asks, "that anything that smells of sweat, including clothes, boots, and packs be stored inside your tent, food be properly stored, and to urinate on large rocks or areas free of vegetation, urinating 50 ft away from the trail is even recommended." Thus reducing the chances of the mountain goats seeking out the salt in urine and sweat. Should one attack fight back with whatever you can.