At least during the summer of 2020, they were cyclist-friendly. To ride up here without cars was an amazing experience. But another benefit of the Mt. Evans road being closed this season to cars has been the encounters cyclists could have with the bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus). With cars on the road, the sheep and the goats keep their distance. This summer, however, they were more relaxed and not only would come near the road; they seemed almost downright willing to pose for pictures. Some of my most memorable encounters with the goats and sheep took place around the Summit Lake area. The goats were a little more approachable than the sheep, though. Even though the herds are tagged and monitored by the wildlife department, they are still wild animals and it’s awesome to see them at this barren and harsh high-altitude environment, surviving at elevations over 4,000 meters / 13,100 feet above sea level.
