If your a bit squeamish at the site of blood you may want to stop reading now. . .
So there we were in search of the HUGE billy goats that live in the mountains.
We departed out of Whittier by water taxi and two hours later we arrived on site and leaped from the boat dawned our hiking apparel and trudged on up the mountain into the fog.
Two hours later we emerged from the clouds and above tree line and right there on the cliff top ahead we spotted our first GOAT!! We thought it MUST be a HUGE Billy, all alone.
We stalked that beast and Nathan Robertson (Heidi's brother) put it in his cross hairs and there she be possibly the only goat we would see on our entire adventure so he decided to take the shot.
One shot one kill and the mighty rock hopper fell. We came up on the wild animal and with our first kill came our initiation into the goat club. To our surprise it was indeed a younger female but we were pleased none the less!
Back down to camp on the ocean it was for us hauling our booty and a good nights rest.
The next day we hauled a spike camp up the mountain to stay in the high places with our quarry. That same day we trudged along above the clouds searching for another HUGE BILLY. Not too long after setting out we were creeping along the mountain side and just down below we spotted a fine trophy but to our dismay it only had one horn.
Heidi was next in line for shooting and she surveyed the situation. Deciding that it would be sweet to have a goat with one big horn rather than no goat at all she too squeezed off a round at the animal swiftly ending its life. During the fall after the shot the goat managed to break off its one remaining horn but after a care full search the missing horn was recovered!!
After a nights rest in our tent that is very comfortable for one person we extracted our bodies from our sleeping bags and wiggled out of the tent to find the best weather one could possibly hope for over the Sound. No wind to speak of, wispy clouds resting down in the lower reaches of the valleys and clear blue skies as far as the eye could see.
We set out early that day with an eye toward getting me, Lyle, a goat, preferably a HUGE BILLY.
We rounded the corner past where Heidi had grounded her animal and there in the distance we spotted an honest to goodness HUGE BILLY GOAT!!! We Stalked that goat and circled around the back of the ridge and came up on the back of it and as we went along we peeked out below and there it was . . . only it had turned and right beside it was . . . another goat . . . it was a mystery.
So I set up on that lead goat and waited for some minutes, waiting for it to stand up so we could get a good look. That HUGE beast stood up and to my untrained eye it looked like a shooter and that's what I did. She went down easy and I was thrilled.
In my excitement I stood up and yelled and looked around and there off to my left the HUGE BILLY stood as well and stared in my direction taunting me. Sure enough I too had shot a nanny goat like Heidi and Nathan. I couldn't be happier though, that old girl sure does fill up the ol stomach, the horns don't taste that good any way!!
Next time we'll find those HUGE BILLIES!!! : )
