packing with llamas BY LAURA HIGGINS SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS LLAMA TREKS, CORTEZ CO We often meet folks who ask, “What can you do with a llama?” Of course packing is at the top of my list. What better way to enjoy and preserve the beauty of the backcountry wilderness than by having your personal llama be your “backpack”? Llamas are among the oldest domesticated animals in the world. They were used as pack stock by the Inca’s in South America over 4000 years ago and basically helped build their civilization. Today llamas still carry heavy loads, but in North America, they’re carrying our camping equipment. Luxury is not an option for the average backpacker where every ounce is counted and deliberated over before it goes into the pack. Adding a llama to the equation changes things since one llama can easily carry 80-90 pounds of gear. I like to think of it as a way to enjoy the backcountry and still have the luxuries of “car camping”.
overweight and could not escape the handler quickly! He had absolutely no interest in carrying a pack and was perfectly content spending the rest of his days lying around the barn and hay manger. So yes, I think athletic ability and good physical condition are important features in the pack llama. Then there was Cherokee who would go to the stock trailer as soon as he saw me arranging pack saddles and panniers for the trip. He loved trekking and was a delight to children and adults we met along the trail.
After spending 9 years trekking around the Blue Ridge Mountains we closed English Mountain Llama Treks and relocated to southwest Colorado. The Rocky Mountains brought llama trekking to a new level, perhaps more challenging for the handler than the llama! In 2010, we developed San Juan Mountains Llama Treks. Since moving to Colorado, I first began packing with we have discovered Ccara llamas in 1997. When a llamas which are bred as knee injury would no longer working llamas, and were the permit me to comfortably breed of llama used by the carry a backpack, I began Incas in South America. They looking for environmentally are bred for characteristics friendly pack stock. With that support working on the their soft padded feet and trail. The pack llama needs gentle disposition, llamas to have a balance of strength, fit the bill perfectly. They endurance, and agility. The leave no more impact on the Ccara breed certainly meets environment than the native these criteria. While large deer or elk. size and ideal conformation All photos provided by Laura Higgins & David Bray. are excellent characteristics in Initially, I purchased two “green” llamas just to have for the Ccara pack llama, I feel that the close bond of trust with personal llama treks. The herd quickly grew to twenty three llama and handler and the llamas willingness to work are llamas, and the “hobby” became a part-time business, known equally important. as English Mountain Llama Treks. I got to experience first hand what is involved with training llamas to become good Well trained llamas are easily handled and make excellent packers. I have found llamas are a lot like humans in that hiking companions for seniors, physically challenged not all are meant to be packers and enjoy the backcountry. individuals, or children. They are rarely spooked and usually My mind goes back to the day I purchased Wendell. I was do not become panicky under unusual circumstances. particularly attracted to him because he was easily haltered and appeared to have a gentle disposition. I didn’t take into It certainly is not for financial reasons that we operate a consideration this was most likely because he was very llama trekking business. It is for the love of the llama! I am 20 • Discover Llamas
