The First Ram

We were a little over 2  miles into the hike from Logan Pass when we came upon a group of hikers stopped in the middle of the narrow trail.  As we got closer, we could see there was a large big horn sheep blocking the trail in front of them. 

The hikers were shaken as they told us how the ram had just charged at them when they tried to pass it, sending them scrambling in the opposite direction.  After hearing this, we decided to turn around and head back to the trail head.  We had no intentions of trying to pass that ram on the edge of a cliff.   Our nerves were heightened after hearing it had charged the other hikers. 

As my daughters and I were heading back on the trail,  my son and my husband lingered a bit longer with the other hikers and ram.  Shortly after, they headed back towards us. 

The Next Pair of Rams

A few minutes after we had turned back, we came upon a different group of hikers stopped on the trail in the opposite direction. 

As we approached, we saw two  more big horn sheep on the trail in front of the hikers.  They told us one of the rams had charged at them as well. 

Now, we were sandwiched between rams blocking the very narrow trail in both directions.  Between the narrow trail and  the steep drop-off, there was no where to go to get out of their way.   We hoped they would turn around or go up and down the mountain side.  Instead, they began to walk towards us.   

My daughters and I turned around and began to walk swiftly back in the direction of the first ram, as I knew we had passed a rock ledge along the way that we could climb up onto.   By then my husband and son had almost reached the spot where we were. 

Close Encounter

As we climbed up on the rocks, the other group of hikers also scrambled back and joined us on the ledge.  My son, Carson, climbed up on a ledge a little further down the trail.   

We obviously knew the sheep could climb the ledge but there was no where else to go and we just wanted to let them pass.

When the first ram came galloping towards us, it was both awe inspiring and nerve wracking.   Shortly after, the second one  came around the corner, looked at us and cocked his head to the side, and seemed to be taking us in.   Then he, too galloped off.  The speed and power of these animals was really amazing to witness.  You could feel them run by as much as you could hear it.

At the end of the video you can hear my husband calling my son Carson, who was down the trail a couple yards.  The video cuts off before Carson’s response.  This led to some very funny comments and speculation from viewers about Carson’s well being.  

My favorite comment from Tik Tok came from the Los Angeles Rams NFL team “Sorry, just passing through!”