Tour of the Gore

[Jackson]

Great trip report! Besides hearing about a place I had never been to I learned there are mountain goats in Colorado. I always thought of them as a Canadian Rockies thing.

They're actually not native to Colorado, as the southern extent of their natural range ends in northern Idaho, Montana, and Washington. They were introduced to places like Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. They compete for the same food sources as bighorn sheep, so they have a negative impact on bighorn populations in those places.

Introduced mountain goats have colonized much of the land above the trees

Is that good or bad? Depends on your perspective, but there is a cost to native plant and animal communities.

www.colorado.edu

 

[Outdoor_Fool]

Great trip report! Besides hearing about a place I had never been to I learned there are mountain goats in Colorado. I always thought of them as a Canadian Rockies thing.

Goats were introduced to CO in the late 40's, back when wildlife managers thought that moving wildlife into previously unoccupied areas was a good idea. That thought has changed dramatically as it has been discovered that non-native species can have serious deleterious effects on native species of animals and plants.

They are native to Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and the western Canada.

 

[Outdoor_Fool]

Yeah, part of me worries that I put too much up there already. Maybe it's best just not to post any info at all... if anyone thinks I should just remove the post, I definitely would consider doing so.

Maybe you should rename the TR as: Worst trip ever in the least scenic place in America.

I struggle with that same issue, there are places I refuse to mention even to friends. I'm sure many people here have the same issue.

 

[fossana]

Goatravaganza. <3 the ptarmigan photo game.

 

[Bob]

Ask and I'll tell places ....it's all public land

 

[Wanderlust073]

I have long wanted to go hiking,but I can not find the company, my wife does not like going on trips to the countryside, with colleagues somehow do not want more and vacation to spend.Where do you find a friend?

You should hit up ForestDweller