In early July, the loud whirring of a helicopter punctured the quiet of Washington’s Olympic National Park as wildlife specialists scoured meadows, forests, ridgelines and mountaintops for flashes of white fuzz: mountain goats. The cherry-red aircraft kicked up dirt and debris as it lowered two goats, dangling in slings, toward a waiting truck, their feet bound and their vision obscured by blue blindfolds. During a brief landing, one of the specialists — commonly known as “muggers” — stepped out, with a kid no more than 6 weeks old calmly cradled in his arms.

It sounds like a dramatic scene from a wilderness reality show, but it’s not: It was just another day in an extensive effort to eliminate mountain goats from the Olympics — where they are not native, damage endemic plants and even killed a person — and hand some over to Washington state to boost populations in the North Cascades Range, where mountain goats have declined after decades of overhunting. The project illustrates the lengths to which national and state agencies are willing to go to restore a single strand in the complex web of these human-altered ecosystems.

Mountain goats are not native to Olympic National Park: Hunters from Alaska introduced about a dozen of them in the 1920s. At one point, the population ballooned to over 1,000, causing “ecological mayhem,” as they grazed on rare alpine plants and eroded the landscape, said Patti Happe, the wildlife branch chief for the park. Before the translocations began, there were about 725 goats still on the Olympic Peninsula.

To keep humans safe and restore balance in mountain goat populations, wildlife biologists decided to physically relocate the Olympic Peninsula goats, starting with 115 translocations last year. The animals were all radio-collared and ear-tagged so they can be identified and tracked in their new environs. Approximately 70% of adults and half the children survived the first year — which is within the natural range of survival.

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  It might be time to start saying your goodbyes to Olympic National Park’s mountain goats. Some could be removed from the park as early as this summer.

The National Park Service released its final goat-management plan, and the agency’s preferred plan — to remove as many goats as possible for relocation to the North Cascades and then kill the remaining animals — remains largely unchanged from a previous draft.

For decades, officials have sought to eradicate mountain goats from the park only to be thwarted by activists or politicians unconvinced that the charismatic megafauna needed to be moved or killed.

Park officials argue that the nonnative goats have harmed species unique to Olympic National Park. They believe the park’s ecology should be restored to its original state.

Over five years, the Park Service estimates, about half of an estimated 725 goats would be transported to new homes in the North Cascades, according to the plan. Helicopters could be used to capture goats.

Goats moved to the North Cascades would boost a population diminished by years of overhunting, biologists say. Mountain goats are native to the Cascade range. Extra goats — and genetic diversity — could be the boost needed to see those populations grow with consistency.

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This trail follows the McCullough Creek drainage up the gulch beneath the massive summit of 14,225′ Quandary Peak. It starts on an old mining road south of Breckenridge, CO, then changes to single track trail as it climbs the gulch. You’ll pass through pine and fir forest, get splashed by White Falls, marvel at the colorful granite, and count the variety of summer wildflowers along the way. Watch too for mountain goats among the talus, a common sighting. Picturesque Upper Blue Reservoir sits at the top of the drainage offering a refreshing respite and a great spot for lunch and pictures. My brother Dave and I hiked McCullough Gulch Trail on Tuesday, July 18, 2017 beginning at 7:30AM and ending about 12:30PM. Our plan was to hike to Upper Blue Reservoir, then return. Depending upon energy reserve you can go farther.

It is my understanding that the trailhead for McCullough Gulch used to be at the dead end of Forest Service Road 851, then was moved back to the gate for awhile, and is now posted all the way back at the forest road fork. We were the first ones to arrive, so we just picked a place to park on the side of the FSR.

As we discovered through the morning, based upon the popularity of this trail, I can see why this was done. By the time we had completed hiking and returned to our car, there were more than a hundred vehicles parked for the next quarter mile on the service road. That would be totally unmanageable with the original trailhead. It would be a traffic nightmare. So I strongly recommend you arrive early to secure parking, even on a weekday.

As you walk the forest road, look to your left to see the ridge climbed by those hikers who are tackling one of Colorado’s fourteeners: Quandary Peak. The massive crest stands tall above McCullough Gulch and is never out of sight along this trail.

Now that the Forest Service has added an additional half mile to the length of this hike, walk the forest road until you reach the original trailhead, marked with a now dilapidated kiosk. Veer left at the kiosk and begin the climb that won’t abet until you reach Upper Blue Reservoir. Through a series of switchbacks, the old mining road crosses McCullough Creek providing an opportunity for pictures or a refreshing splash.

You will reach an old homestead on the left at the mile mark where the Forest Service is also doing vegetation remediation in hopes of returning the land to its native condition. Look for a crystal clear tarn another quarter mile beyond that is a captivating reflective pool. Unfortunately dead fall now litters this pond hampering its former beauty. I just caught the white tail of a deer leaping through the forest as we approached the pool.

There is a spur trail on your left that goes downhill to Lower Blue Reservoir. This lake is surrounded by willow thickets and is difficult to approach, so you may want to save yourself the exertion of reclimbing the hundred feet to the primary trail.

At the 1.5 mile mark you cross a talus field, then approach a large granite hillside that signals your arrival at White Falls.

This magnificent view of the pinnacles of Quandary Peak standing high above White Falls is a fine example of what Rocky Mountain scenery is all about.

Besides the rushing cascades of White Falls, this area is also home to an abundance of wildflowers including indian paint brush, bluebells, and the Colorado state flower columbine. You will walk on the light colored granite most of the rest of the way, so keep your eye out for the trail signs that aid with route finding.

For the next 0.4 mile the trail climbs very steeply alongside McCullough Creek. I don’t mind telling you I got quite winded through this stretch. There are, however, many overlooks along the way that provide a moment of rest and marvelous views back down the gulch, or of Quandary Peak high overhead. We reached unmelted snow at this elevation as we also passed through the treeline.

Two miles up you reach the relieving sight of Upper Blue Reservoir, a stunning alpine lake. We paused for a few moments to take in the splendid view, and to catch our breath after the tedious climb. There are a number of great view points along the boundary of the lake, so we walked around searching for a nice spot for lunch. Dave laughed and said it was obvious I wasn’t a skier when I slipped and fell on my keister while crossing a snow field.

Rock outcrops are all around providing ready-made picnic tables as well as great perches for time-lapse video. Dave went to another outcrop a hundred yards away so we could take ICU — UCMe pictures of each other. Upon returning, he told me the story of his near demise crossing a creek on the way to the end of the lake.

You can continue hiking quite a bit farther. To reach the upper valley, follow the narrow trail along the north shore of the lake. It undulates ruggedly over outcrops and several marshy inlet streams to the far west side, where you’ll begin another steep, twisting climb that generally traces the lake’s main inlet falls. You can climb an additional 800 feet to another series of alpine lakes. We saw a few brave souls heading that way, but most of the other hikers seemed to be content with Upper Blue Reservoir.

When we got back to the east end of the lake there was a nice wildlife surprise waiting… two mountains goats, a nanny and her yearling. It was quite apparent they were used to people because there were some getting within 20 feet for that prize selfie. Me, I try to respect the space of wildlife, so I stayed about 75 feet away and used my zoom lens.

By now the sky was beginning to cloud up, so it may have been wise that we didn’t head to the upper lakes several hundred feet farther above. On the descent we took a few short spur trails that offer close viewing of fast cascades along McCullough Creek. The crowds of hikers were really coming non-stop now. We quit counting at 200. Pretty amazing really for a Tuesday.

Judging by the crowd we wondered if our car would be blocked in when we got back. Fortunately, that was not our fate. We were astounded by the number of cars that lined FSR 851 as we drove back toward Breckenridge.

Summarizing, McCullough Gulch is a short, steep climb along a whitewater creek that passes multiple waterfalls and winds through aromatic evergreen forest. The views both above (of Quandary Peak) and below (down gulch) are quite picturesque. Depending on your endurance, you can continue well beyond our destination to make a complete day of it. You may want to consider doing this hike in spring or fall as it is obviously overcrowded in summer.

This post was created by Jeff Clark. Please feel free to use the sharing icons below, or add your thoughts to the comments. Pack it in, pack it out. Preserve the past. Respect other hikers. Let nature prevail. Leave no trace.

The news is no surprise to groups that have been posting signs and trying to educate hikers for several years regarding the consequences of feeding the peak’s mountain goats and letting them lick hikers’ arms and legs for salt.

“The temporary closure is intended to allow time for the goats to find other sources of food beyond the handouts provided by hikers, and to reduce their willingness to approach humans,” said Jason Kirchner, forest spokesman. The Forest Service is working with the Idaho Fish and Game Department to address the situation and improve public safety, he said.

The steep, 3 1/2-mile Trail 65, which just recently reopened after being closed in August by wildfire activity, is known for its expansive views over Lake Pend Oreille and frequent mountain goat sightings.

“However, due to humans often enticing the goats to come close by offering food, or even allowing the goats to eat from their hands, the goats are becoming habituated to humans and occasionally are behaving aggressively in an attempt to obtain human foods,” the announcement said.

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