It was a great day to take off work and go hiking. Went up and down the old trail. The trail conditions are great (as far as the old trail goes) and there is no snow anywhere. There are a couple of trees to either step over or duck under but not really worth mentioning other than there were trees that used to be there for years that either required a quick step over or a slight duck under that have been removed so they've been replaced now.
As a previous poster had mentioned, one of the plaques has writing and scratching all over it to announce that so and so was there. That's obnoxious.
On a happy note, we had a unexpected visitor at the top. This was my thiry-sixth time to the summit of Mailbox Peak over the last five years and I've never seen a mountain goat there so that was new. The poor creature was tagged (ear) and was wearing a tracking device (neck) and missing a horn. Life is rough...
Comments
hikingwithlittledogs on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
I’ve seen a lot of pictures of that mailbox. Yours takes the cake! Great shot!🐐
Posted by:
hikingwithlittledogs on Nov 01, 2019 06:12 AM
Bill on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
Thanks! Right place at the right time.
Posted by:
Bill on Nov 01, 2019 07:26 PM
Gabep on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
That's really cool! I wonder if this is one of the goats transplanted from ONP.
Posted by:
Gabep on Nov 01, 2019 10:05 AM
Bill on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
I was wondering the same thing since it's tagged and being tracked. I thought they were transplanting them further north but maybe not.
Posted by:
Bill on Nov 01, 2019 07:27 PM
Gabep on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
I checked the release sites today on the national Park site and some were released on Preacher Mountain which is just a few peaks away from there. Not too far to travel for a mountain goat.
Posted by:
Gabep on Nov 01, 2019 07:42 PM
Gpkalisz on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
I can confirm that this is indeed one of the translocated goats from ONP.
Posted by:
Gpkalisz on Nov 04, 2019 07:08 AM
Bill on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
Thanks!
Posted by:
Bill on Nov 11, 2019 12:02 PM
nuntheless on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
Oh, wow! You saw a unicorn!
Posted by:
nuntheless on Nov 01, 2019 12:03 PM
Bill on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
Haha! Yes!
Posted by:
Bill on Nov 01, 2019 07:27 PM
TheMule on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
WOW ! I am sooooo jealous of your experience seeing this awesome goat ! thanks for the picture.
Posted by:
TheMule on Nov 01, 2019 07:50 PM
Bill on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
Thanks!
Posted by:
Bill on Nov 11, 2019 12:02 PM
Mare on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
Fantastic photos of the goat! May I share it to a FB hiking group with photo credit to you?
Posted by:
Mare on Nov 05, 2019 02:34 PM
bigtex1 on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
A hunter here from Texas for the season. Does anyone know the local game regulations for this land? I would like to take down such an animal for my ranch, seems like the park service wants rid of them for hacking up the land so perhaps I can help out with some pest control. Thanks folks.
Posted by:
bigtex1 on Nov 05, 2019 10:23 PM
Gabep on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
This is obvious trolling but in the small chance that it’s not this isn’t the place to look for those answers. I suggest you check the Department of Fish and wildlife.
Posted by:
Gabep on Nov 06, 2019 06:46 AM
bigtex1 on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
Not at all but thanks Gabep. Seems its open season for Goats although id rather not this one with a busted horn and ear missing in my collection.
Posted by:
bigtex1 on Nov 06, 2019 09:43 PM
Gabep on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
Whatever you say “Bigtex”
Posted by:
Gabep on Nov 07, 2019 05:54 AM
Gpkalisz on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
Can't hunt mountain goats anywhere near where this photo was taken. And I'd imagine, as a hunter, you'd know that you can't hunt anything in the national parks, so I doubt they'd take you up on your offer to help out the park service. You'd have to go pretty far north or SE to hunt goats in this state. Besides, I think you need a special permit awarded by random drawing to hunt a mountain goat here, so if you don't already have one, I think you're outta luck for the season.
Posted by:
Gpkalisz on Nov 07, 2019 07:08 PM
mvanderbilt on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
Goats with a big radio collar are most likely ones relocated from the Olympics.
Seattle Times article: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/mountain-goat-relocation-begins-in-olympic-national-park/
All you'd ever want to know from WDFW: https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/02036
Posted by:
mvanderbilt on Nov 08, 2019 07:01 PM
Bill on Mailbox Peak - Old Trail, Mailbox Peak
Thanks for articles!
Posted by:
Bill on Nov 11, 2019 12:02 PM