[bobbi]

peninsula daily news Olympic National Park News Release October 16, 2010 For Immediate Release Barb Maynes 360-565-3005 Man Sustains Fatal Injury While Hiking in Olympic National Park Sixty-three year old Robert H. Boardman of Port Angeles died this afternoon after sustaining injuries while hiking near Olympic National Park’s Klahhane Ridge today. The incident remains under investigation. Early investigations indicate that Boardman’s injuries were sustained after an encounter with a mountain goat. Park staff were on scene shortly after the initial report and provided emergency medical assistance. Boardman was transported by U.S. Coast Guard helicopter to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles, where he was pronounced dead. "I am deeply saddened by this tragedy," said Karen Gustin, Olympic National Park Superintendent. "My thoughts are with his family and friends." Rangers responding to the incident were able to locate the goat, confirm its identity and kill it. The goat will be transported to a veterinary pathologist for full analysis. Klahhane Ridge is located near Hurricane Ridge within Olympic National Park, about 17 miles south of Port Angeles. Additional information will be released as it becomes available. -- NPS --

[KillerCharlie]

Wow... To be honest I've always been a bit scared of some of the large billy goats, especially in the olympics. They're not scared of people and stare you down while on the trail. I always imagined something like this would happen.

[Gil]

I don't think I've ever heard about something like this before, although I can see how it could happen.

[Ancient Ambler]

That is just horrible. My thoughts are with his family.

[bobbi]

i'm an acquaintance of Bob, a wonderful and soft spoken man.

[jenjen]

I just got done reading about this. RIP

[Scrooge]

Sad and disturbing. Human-mountain goat interaction has become awfully common in recent years, without anything similar occurring, as far as I know. I think everybody's satisfied that there wasn't anything wrong with Bob Boardman's behavior, so you have to wonder what it was about that particular goat that made it depart from the norm ....... and whether or not we should worry about similar behavior from other mountain goats in the future.

[mossy mom]

The goats on Mount Ellinor frighten me the way they play chicken with you. I always take my trekking poles with me when I go up there and not just due to the steepness of the trail. My condolences to friends and family.. http://www.mosswalks.blogspot.com

[Hoosierdaddy]

If memory serves me, wasn't there some type of warning sign posted at the Switchback trailhead warning of aggressive goat behavior?

[mossy mom]

[Olympic Hiker]

I was hiking in the Obstruction Point area yesterday and on my way home I saw a fire department pickup truck, a search and rescue pickup truck with a litter in the back, and a law enforcement park ranger talking with hikers at the Switchback Trail trailhead on my way home. I also saw another law enforcement park ranger leaving the Hurricane Ridge parking lot to hike out on the trail towards Mt. Angeles as I was leaving Hurricane Ridge to drive home. I figured something serious must have happened. My condolences to the family and friends.

[AR]

Ah man, again with the damn goats. If there not eating all the damn plants, now its aggressive behavior. There are only about three to four hundred in the range. One afternoon, close the park, bring in this guy and the issue will be solved.

[Grizzy]

[kbatku]

Goats are cute and all, but they are wild animals. Many of them seem to have lost their fear of humans - at least in areas where hunting isn't common. Around these parts your lucky to get within 1000 yards of them, and if it's hunting season, not even that. {edit} The article I read said there are 3000 (!!!) goats in the park. Could that be true??

[Dayhike Mike]

Sad story... May he rest in peace.