CLARK FORK — This summer, Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness partnered with the Sandpoint Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest on a trail ambassador program to address the mountain goat/human interactions on Scotchman Peak.

The negative interactions peaked last summer when a hiker was bit by a goat which forced closure of the trail for both the safety of the hikers and the mountain goats. The focus of the joint program was on the education of visitors and was very successful in reaching a large number of hikers (and non-hikers) of Scotchman Peak.

Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, Idaho Department of Fish & Game and the Forest Service trained 21 volunteers to act as Trail Ambassadors over the course of the hiking season.

The volunteers each hiked the Scotchman Peak trail twice while wearing Friends of Scotchman Peaks volunteer hats and Forest Service shirts. When all was said and done, the volunteers hiked the trail a total of 33 times and logged an impressive 209 hours of hiking. The focus was on weekends and holidays when the highest number of hikers were likely to be encountered.

The program had a positive reception overall. Almost everyone the trail ambassadors met expressed not only a desire to learn more about mountain goats but also a willingness to “do their part” in keeping the goats at a safe distance and the trail open. Later in the summer, an increased number of hikers reported being aware of the goat issue prior to arriving at the trailhead. Some hikers were hesitant to shoo the goats very aggressively, but with education regarding the safety of the goats and themselves, most seemed willing to do so.

“While most folks understood the risks to both the goats and people, we had a few that didn’t want to shoo the goats away until after they got a picture,” said Mary Franzel, Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness goat education coordinator. “We continue to encourage safety first and to use your camera’s zoom or even a telephoto lens.” A recommended safe distance from the mountain goats is about 150 feet, much farther than the 15 feet many hikers assume to be safe.

Hikers liked knowing someone was on the trail that had knowledge of the area, especially as it seemed the majority of hikers were first-timers. Most visitors were happy to stop and speak with the Ambassadors, particularly if it meant getting a chance to take a breather.

The program started June 19 and ended Oct. 10. Over the 4-month season, the average number of hikers on the trail in one day was 30 with a peak of 80 people on Sept. 4. There were up to 13 goats at the summit of Scotchman this summer with 11 seen in one day.