26
votes

It is quite well known that goats are into free solo rock climbing. Is there any evidence (even if anecdotal) of the highest grades they are able to climb?

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  • 12
    Goats are good, really good, at rock climbing. They don't need no stink'n grades! Jun 8, 2015 at 12:18
  • 1
    @Arjun: I have seen goats climbing at amazing places in Sahyadris, Western Ghats, India. Though I can' specify the grades right away, I am so sure that they can climb so well on tough routes for hours.
    – WedaPashi
    Jun 9, 2015 at 7:43
  • More important is about fast they move on the grades they do climb.
    – user5330
    Jun 9, 2015 at 9:15
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    I don't think this question is as unanswerable as some say... route grading is somewhat subjective but there is an upper limit on what a goat can achieve, and one could grade that route. Therefore, it should be possible (albeit difficult) to determine what the most difficult route is that a goat can climb. Sure, they climb it differently from humans, but that isn't the question.
    – nhinkle
    Jun 9, 2015 at 17:15

1 Answer 1

8
votes

Apparently Galen Rowell took a picture of a goat in the Cirque of the Unclimbables mantling past Galen's rappel anchors with a grade (US) of 5.9+.

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    Thank you for tracking this down. Google also pointed me to this relevant rock climbing forum thread. Jun 9, 2015 at 23:18
  • @ArjunShankar so many good goat photos! Jun 11, 2015 at 21:38
  • 1
    I am a huge fan. Jun 11, 2015 at 21:52

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