It’s that time of year again – when the high alpine country finally melts out, and hikers, campers and weekend daytrippers hoof it to the mountaintops.  When you’re there, a common critter you may encounter is the beloved mountain goat.  We came across this little fella’ on a recent trip up Ingall’s Pass near Cle Elem, WA.

Like many mountain goats on popular hiking trails, he didn’t seem the least bit bothered by our presence.  We even saw signs at the trailhead warning us about the habituated inhabitants near the summit.  But there’s one very important thing to remember when you’re in mountain goat country: they love your pee.

Mountain goats crave salt.  And since human urine is filled with the stuff, they’ll do almost anything they can to eat it.   If you want to see something fascinating and disgusting, take a leak near a family of mountain goats and watch them lap it up like cats at a bowl of milk.  But just remember, if you must go when you’re in the backcountry, do it on a rock, and never on loose soil.  Mountain goats will absolutely destroy the ground for some of your yellow goodness – bad for the environment, and even worse for the goat!