Harada treks to the far reaches of Glacier National Park to document its iconic wild animal, the mountain goat. Harada has spent the last eighteen years studying and photographing these agile creatures, capturing rare and awe-inspiring images in each of Glacier's spectacular seasons. Experience the dramas that play out on the Park's knife-edge peaks among the Mountain Goats of Glacier National Park. Biologist and writer Kathleen Yale lends her sensitive and insightful writing to the book, detailing the fascinating behaviors of these unique animals, from the bliss of spring to the challenges of winter.
"In North America there is one large animal that belongs almost entirely to the realm of towering rock and unmelting snow. Pressing hard against the upper limit of life's possibilities, it exists higher and steeper throughout the year than any other big beast on the continent. It is possibly the best and most complete mountaineer that ever existed on any continent. Oreamnos americanus is its scientific name. Its common name is mountain goat." Resourceful, belligerent, and unbelievably sure-footed, the mountain goat is a white-coated survivor from the Ice Age. Oreamnos americanus shares its dizzying alpine world with elk, eagles, bighorn sheep, and grizzlies. This first full-length book on the mountain goat offers a superbly written portrait of its life, habits, and environment. Douglas H. Chadwick tracked mountain goat herds for seven years, and his observations are richly textured and replete with fascinating and dramatic details. We learn of the mountain goats' lives from birth to adulthood, their feeding habits, unique social behavior and courtship rituals, and their long history. Chadwick also makes clear the troubling and escalating impact of the modern world on the mountain goat's wilderness home. This Bison Books edition features a new introduction by the author.
Jemaine is a mountain goat who is adopted by his forever family at Glacier National Park. Interesting facts about Glacier, as well as mountain goats, are included along with a fun story of how Jemaine arrives at his new home.
Moon Travel Guides: Find Your Adventure Lush green parkland, jagged summits, and glacier-carved basins: forge your own path with Moon Glacier National Park. Inside you'll find: Flexible, strategic itineraries, ranging from one day in the park to a week-long road trip, designed for outdoor adventurers, families, road-trippers, and more The top experiences and unique ideas for exploring the park: Hike verdant valleys, meander fields of alpine wildflowers, and walk beneath frigid waterfalls and over scenic high passes. Go whitewater rafting, cast a line for wild trout into the Flathead River, or hop on a guided horseback ride. Drive or bike the Going-to-Sun-Road, take in views of peaks and glaciers, and spot wild moose or grizzlies roaming the mountainside. Spend a night in a historic lakeside lodge, or set up camp after a day of adventurous backcountry exploring Strategies for getting to Glacier and coverage of gateway cities and towns Expert tips for travelers looking to go hiking, biking, backpacking, fishing, rafting, and more, plus detailed hike descriptions with individual trail maps and backpacking options Valuable insight from seasoned explorer and Glacier local Becky Lomax including avoiding crowds, and exploring Glacier's less-visited areas Honest advice on when to go and where to stay inside the park, including hotels, campgrounds, hostels, and RV sites Full-color, vibrant photos and detailed maps throughout Up-to-date information on park fees, passes, and reservations, plus essential packing and health and safety information, including how to avoid encounters with grizzlies, mountain lions, and other common wildlife Recommendations for families, seniors, international visitors, travelers with disabilities, and traveling with pets Thorough background on the terrain, culture, and the park's history With Moon Glacier National Park's expert advice, myriad activities, and insider perspective, you can plan your trip your way. Hitting the surrounding states? Try Moon Montana & Wyoming or Moon Idaho. For full coverage of America's national parks, check out Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 59 National Parks.
"A guide to the best parks in the United States and Canada, including activity and accommodation information; information on nearby attractions; top ten lists; and information on local fare"--
Written by local author Jean Arthur, Top Trails: Glacier National Park leads visitors to secluded trails and unique settings while providing details of current and past human activity, wildlife movement, and geologic changes that altered the landscape and created America’s tenth national park. The unique approach of Top Trails: Glacier National Park reveals the best trails that wind alongside sensitive meadows and climb above crystalline lakes and leads hikers to backcountry respites unique to Glacier. The guide also traces outlaws, poachers, and mining ventures that occurred inside the current park boundary.
The American mountain goat is one of the most elusive and least familiar species of hoofed mammals in North America. Confined to the remote and rugged mountains of the western United States and Canada, these extraordinary mountaineers are seldom seen or encountered, even by those who patiently study them. Life on the Rocks offers an intimate portrayal of this remarkable animal through the eyes and lens of field biologist and photographer Bruce L. Smith. More than 100 color photographs and accounts of Smith’s personal experiences living in Montana’s Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area accompany descriptions of the American mountain goat’s natural history. Smith explores their treacherous habitat, which spans the perilous cliffs and crags of the Rocky, Cascade, and Coast mountain ranges. The physical and behavioral adaptations of these alpine athletes enable them to survive a host of dangers, including six-month-ling winters, scarce food sources, thunderous avalanches, social strife, and predators like wolves, bears, lions, wolverines, and eagles. Smith also details the challenges these animals face as their territory is threatened by expanding motorized access, industrial activities, and a warming climate. Life on the Rocks showcases the elegance and charm of this little-known creature, thriving in some of North America’s harshest wilderness.
"Montana retains much of its wild character, including big, unspoiled landscapes and grizzly bears, wolves, and mountain lions. Montanans themselves can also be wild characters, prone to less than civilized adventures. Perhaps no corner of the Big Sky exemplifies this double quality more than the Middle Fork of the Flathead River drainage. From its headwaters in the Bob Marshall Wilderness to the long run along Glacier National Park’s southern boundary, the Middle Fork defines “wild and scenic.” And its human stories are equally wild and epic. In Wild River Pioneers, you’ll find true stories of outlaw shootouts, grizzly bear attacks, a murder (and a hanging), secret caves, fortunes won and lost, the Cattle Queen of Montana, a wily Josephine Doody bootlegging liquor in Glacier National Park, and an ice cream-eating pet bear. This new second edition features additional photographs and updates on many of the characters and their final resting places. Come along to the top of the Great Bear Wilderness with the ashes of Betty the Trapper. The Bootleg Lady, Josephine Doody, is now a celebrity in Glacier’s folklore; learn the fate of her homestead in Glacier. And after nearly a century, Flathead County’s first sheriff, Big Joe Gangner, finally gets the monument and headstone he deserves. Come learn about Glacier National Park and the Great Bear Wilderness and a lot more." – publisher description.
Includes 99 day hikes in and around the Flathead Valley, notations regarding dog friendly trails, tips on how to make hiking more rewarding, trail distance in both miles and kilometers, and detailed topographic maps.
