Bighorn sheep like their solitude. In the summer they are hard to find and want to keep it that way. I have often seen them on the way to Mt Ida, but one of their favorite hangouts is Specimen Crater where they can lick the mineral deposits. However, they have been getting a little agitated by all the human attention over the years, so the trail to the Crater is closed until mid August, and lambing season is long finished. The downside to this is that it's now difficult to find a bighorn in the Crater. But the hike up through the subalpine forest and the view at the top is still worth the trek.
Despite the chill in the air, we settled down on the top of the crater to see if any bighorns would materialize. Lucas found the perfect perch with a soft tundra backing.
You cannot hike into the Crater or up to Specimen Mountain, but you can continue on to Shipler Mountain a little to the south.
Our group at Specimen Crater
We finally found our bighorn sheep when a few of us stopped at the Alpine Visitor Center for some coffee and hot chocolate.
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