Climbing like a mountain goat

Thursday morning: after breakfast a few of us decided to challenge the massive mountain that faced the north side of our camp. The route we chose was steep and the terrain was comprised of soft soil, scrub grasses, a few large trees and rock outcroppings. Seeing no clear trail to the top the three of us bushwhacked our way, often using our hands and feet to scramble up the hillside. A pair of gloves would have been handy. The sky was blue and the sun was bright. The air was already hot. We rested in the shade of a 30 foot pine, taking pause to measure our progress and view our camp some 500 feet below. Continuing our ascent we followed an animal trail likely used by big horn sheep or mountain goats on their way to and from the water. Though this stretch was steeper the sandy soil gave way to rock and the footing was more secure for climbing. From the ridge, some 1500' above the river the view was breathtaking. We sat for a spell, drank water from Nalgene bottles and admired the magnificent panorama of the Main Salmon corridor and the canyon beyond. And to think that this was the view enjoyed nearly every day by the mountain goat or bald eagle who call this place home. I felt privileged to be here.