Throwback Thursday: Hiker talks encounter with ‘goat man’ on Ben Lomond Peak
This story is part of the Standard-Examiner’s Throwback Thursday series, where each Thursday, we explore our archives to bring you interesting articles from the past. These articles will range from the quirky to the historic.
Scotland has the Loch Ness Monster, Latin America has the Chupacabra and for a while, Ogden had the “goat man.”
Much like the famous, fuzzy photos of Nessie and Bigfoot, in 2012 an image circulated online of what looked like a man-shaped goat on the side of Ben Lomond Peak fraternizing with other mountain goats.
For at least a few days, this sighting had Ogden-ites wondering, who is the Goat Man?
Hiker talks about encounter with ‘goat man’ on Ben Lomond Peak
July 20, 2012
By SCOTT SCHWEBKE, Standard-Examiner staff
OGDEN — The photographer who says he took pictures of a man in a fur-covered goat suit crawling on his hands and knees near a wild goat herd in the hills near Ben Lomond Peak has come forward.
Coty Creighton, who is the design director for JDHgroup based in Ogden, told the Standard-Examiner on Thursday that he took the photos on the morning of July 15 while on a hike about a half-mile north of Ben Lomond Peak.
Phil Douglass, conservation outreach manager for the Division of Wildlife Resources, said he has been in communication with Creighton and believes the photos are authentic.
“I feel confident Coty did take those photos,” he said.
The man in the goat suit has not been identified, apparently hasn’t done anything illegal and may be an innovative photographer or hunter, Douglass said.
“My concern was for the safety of the individual (from being injured by goats or hunters), and if he understands the risk, he’s free to make those choices,” he said.
The DWR received two anonymous phone calls Thursday morning from a man agitated about media coverage of the individual in the goat suit.
“The man repeatedly stated, ‘Leave goat man alone, he’s done nothing wrong,'” Douglass said.
Creighton said he was alone on his hike when he spotted a herd of goats. He then saw what appeared to be a larger goat having trouble making it down the hill.
Original story continues below photo.
AP, Cody Creighton
In this Sunday, July 15, 2012 photo, a person is seen in a goat suit in the Wasatch Mountains on Ben lomond peak outside of Ogden, Utah. Wildlife officials are worried he could be in danger as goat hunting season approaches. Phil Douglass of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources said Friday the person is doing nothing illegal, but he worries the so-called “goat man” is unaware of the dangers. “My very first concern is the person doesn’t understand the risks,” Douglass said. “Who’s to say what could happen.” (AP Photo/Cody Creighton)
“I thought it was a deformed goat,” he said. “It was clumsy, not nimble.”
Creighton used binoculars to get a closer look and was stunned by what he saw. The figure, about 200 yards away, wasn’t a goat after all but a man dressed in a furry goat suit, he said.
In addition to the goat suit, the man was wearing a cloth mask with eye holes cut out, what appeared to be black papier-mache horns and leather gloves, Creighton said.
“He was on his hands and knees, crawling along the mountainside,” said Creighton, adding the man didn’t have a backpack or photo gear but may have been taking pictures with a small cellphone.
Creighton took photographs for about 20 minutes before the man in the goat suit spotted him.
“He stayed on his hands and knees and stared back,” Creighton said.
Creighton said the encounter was odd and frightening. He decided not to confront the man and continued his hike to Ben Lomond Peak.
On the way back down a trail from the peak, Creighton encountered Frank Howe, a Utah State University liaison for the Utah DWR, and told him about the man in the goat suit.
“Something was definitely off with that guy (in the goat suit),” Creighton said in an email to the Standard-Examiner.
A photo of what appears to be a man dressed as a mountain goat at the top of Ben lomond Peak above Ogden, Utah. (Contributed by: Coty Creighton)
The baffling story was picked up by scores of local, national and even international media outlets. “Goat Man” made worldwide headlines and put the world’s eye on Ogden.
Alas, the intrigue and speculation only lasted a few days longer after Douglass confirmed the goat man contacted him and explained he was only a humble hunter, testing out his goat disguise in preparation for an archery hunt in Canada.
Creighton said in a later article he enjoyed the suspense that surrounded goat man’s identity.
“I thought I wanted answers, but I was naive. I should have left well enough alone. Now I just want the mystery back,” he said.
The goat man’s name was never disclosed, but he’s still out there, living among us. If you happen to be hiking Ben Lomond Peak on a warm, spring afternoon, take a closer look at that oddly-shaped mountain goat.
Contact reporter Andreas Rivera at 801-625-4227 or arivera@standard.net. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter at @SE_Andreas.
