See a mountain goat and an orca whale in the wild but probably not on the same day

I’ve tried to see them on purpose so many times… and when did I actually see them? I saw them while driving to the Canadian Rockies from Vancouver, BC. I saw them along the road of all places—while going over a mountain pass. There were two of them. Big, white, long hair, and grazing around some rocks. Very cool! I was floating on air all day. Now only if I’d see an Orca…

Especially the Orcas – see ‘em before they’re gone! We went out from appropraitely named Orcas Island (no relation to whales) and endured the guilt of all the stalking boat gawkers. It was a beautiful sight.

Saw Mountain Sheep through binoculars, and pronghorn antelopes on the nearby slopes while driving through Montana at sunset.

I saw wild goats and some humpback whales (but not orcas) on the same day in Byron Bay, Australia. I was at the lighthouse, where the goats live around the rocky points near the shore, and the whales were swimming a little out to sea, during migration season.

But saw plenty of both in Alaska. Orcas are actually pretty easy to see. A family of them even swan right under our boat when I went on one of those little tours for my birthday. Touristy, but SO worth it.

The Dahl sheep (mountain goats) are very shy, and I was one of the few people working up there who got to see some up close. I’ll post a picture after I get my scanner to work. I got the bright idea to sneak up close, by getting on my hands and knees, thinking they wouldn’t be as intimidatded. I guess it worked, but I ended up with frostbite on my big toe! Turned black, and toenail fell off, but eventually grew back. The worst pain I’ve ever known-it thawing back in the tent (we’d already missed the last bus that runs on the one road through the park). Still, all-in-all worth it for the experience of getting close and the pictures, wish I’d had a better camera—take a zoom lens!

Okay so everyone I know who likes to hike that lives in the northwest seems to have seen a mountain goat but me. Oh and it is not for wont of trying. Is Wont even a word? Anyway, I have tried. No goats for me ever. And Orcas. I love orcas. I painted a big one in my bathroom to stare out from the wall at me whenever I brush my teeth. But have I seen one in the wild? No. Do I live where people see them in the wild often? Yes. But can I bring myself to go on one of those cruise boats that take you right to them. Not so much. I just can’t quite convince myself that that would be a good idea for karma reasons.