North Cascades

McLellan was involved in efforts to restore grizzlies in the North Cascades in Washington state and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area in Montana and Idaho.

In the North Cascades, they teamed up to climb, among others, Forbidden Peak, Sahale Peak and the Inspiration Traverse.

They found the sharpest drop in the North Cascades.

Some researchers also theorize an increase in people hiking through the backcountry in the North Cascades is pushing goats to the brink.

Coast Salish tribes, at the forefront of the North Cascades mountain goat monitoring efforts, have deep cultural ties to the animals.