Mountain Goat Sculpture Installed on Hudson Bay Mountain
SMITHERS, B.C. — A new steel mountain goat sculpture has been installed along the Round the Mountain trail at Hudson Bay Mountain in Smithers, adding a striking piece of artwork to one of the region’s spectacular mountain settings.
The project was made possible through funding from the Smithers Mountain Bike Association (SMBA), with Bronson Hidber playing a key role in bringing the project together and working with Hudson Bay Mountain to find the right location for the installation.
Created by Terrace-based Great Bear Ironworks, the mountain goat is built in the studio’s distinctive negative-space style, using steel to create the form while allowing the surrounding landscape to remain visible through the sculpture.
The location provides a dramatic backdrop for the sculpture, with expansive views across the mountains and a constantly changing landscape throughout the seasons.
“The location is what really makes this sculpture,” says Great Bear Ironworks. “It’s exciting to think about how it will look in different seasons and how people will photograph it. In summer you’ll have the open mountain views and greenery, while winter will completely transform the setting.”
The sculpture is positioned directly along the trail, providing a natural stopping point for hikers, mountain bikers and photographers exploring Hudson Bay Mountain.
The installation also includes a smaller raven sculpture positioned further along the trail, giving trail users another unexpected piece of wildlife-inspired artwork to discover along the route.
The project continues Great Bear Ironworks’ work creating large-scale steel animal sculptures in outdoor environments throughout Northern British Columbia. The sculptures are designed to interact with their surroundings, using negative space, light and shadow to create forms that change as people move around them.
The mountain goat is particularly suited to its new home at Hudson Bay Mountain. An iconic animal of the alpine environment, it reflects the rugged terrain and mountain landscapes that define the area surrounding Smithers.
For Great Bear Ironworks, projects like this provide an opportunity to bring together art, recreation and the natural environment.
“There’s something special about discovering artwork while you’re out on a trail. You come around a corner and suddenly there’s a mountain goat in the landscape. Hopefully it becomes part of the experience of being on the mountain.”
Great Bear Ironworks would like to thank Bronson Hidber and the Smithers Mountain Bike Association for making the project possible, as well as Hudson Bay Mountain for helping bring the installation together.
The mountain goat now stands along the Round the Mountain trail, ready to become part of the landscape — and hopefully a favourite subject for the many photographers and trail users who visit Hudson Bay Mountain throughout the year.
Mountain Goat Sculpture on Hudson Bay Mountain, Smithers BC.
About Great Bear Ironworks
Great Bear Ironworks is a Northern British Columbia artisan studio creating large-scale steel sculptures inspired by the wildlife and landscapes of the Northwest. The studio specializes in distinctive negative-space animal sculptures designed to interact with their surroundings.