A Comprehensive Guide to Llama Packing 2 Contents Forward...................................................................................................................................................... 5 1. About the Llamas ................................................................................................................................... 7 2. Llama Handling ...................................................................................................................................... 9 3. Llama LNT ........................................................................................................................................... 13 4. Prior to Trailhead ................................................................................................................................. 14 5. At the Trailhead ................................................................................................................................... 19 6. On the Trail .......................................................................................................................................... 27 7. At Camp ............................................................................................................................................... 33 8. Llama 1st Aid ....................................................................................................................................... 37 9. Troubleshooting ................................................................................................................................... 38 10. Frequently Asked Questions .............................................................................................................. 40 Rules and Regulations Cheat Sheet ........................................................................................................ 41 3 4 Forward Wilderness Ridge Trail Llamas is a family-owned and operated business, founded in 2010 in Eastern Idaho. Founder, Beau Baty, grew up on a cattle and horse ranch in the Wellsville Mountain Range of Utah, so animal husbandry and a love of the backcountry is in his blood. He was first introduced to llamas in 2006 while serving a 2-year LDS mission in Argentina. There his passion for llamas grew, and the journey towards building a life around llamas began. For Co-Owner, Kirstin Baty, llamas became a part of her life when she married Beau. Upon getting married, Beau and Kirstin threw their life saving into travelling around North America to buy the best working llamas in the country. Through years of hard work, training and selective breeding, Wilderness Ridge Trail Llamas has the largest, most genetically diverse herd of working llamas in North America, and maybe the world. Thanks to WRTL’s hard work and determination, the working llama breed has been revived and these amazing animals can be enjoyed by generations to come. 5 6 1 About the Llamas The llamas you are working with are referred to as Ccara Llamas (also known as the Classica Llama, or Working Llama). It has taken us the better part of 10 years to discover what the Inca had in mind when they selected the Ccara llama as their best of burden. 6,000 years ago the Ccara llama was a symbol of privilege and power. Though other breeds were of great importance to their culture and survival, it was the Ccara llama that was bred for working. They were expected to carry 45 kilos (99 pounds) for many days in a row over some of the most remote and changing elevation profile terrain in the world. These working llamas were so important to the Inca society, that when the Spanish invaded, they tactically killed off nearly all of the Inca’s working llamas, causing the demise of the Incan civilization. Even today, the Ccara llama is near extinction in both South and North America, but we are working hard to revive the breed. Our Ccara llamas work here in the US every season for 120-150 days each year. We expect them to carry loads of 70-80 pounds for 6-12 miles each day of work. The truth is that you can get most llamas (meaning other breeds of llamas) trained to pack, and that you can get most llamas to carry 60 pounds up to 12 miles in one day if conditioned properly. The hard truth is that most llamas that can do this could not repeat this a second day in a row, or a third day or a fourth day in a row, let alone 120 days a season with a heavy pack. The Inca knew this and appreciated the capabilities of the Ccara llama. We have taken lessons from their thousands of years of breeding working llamas and try to emulate that in our program. Nowhere in North America are pack llamas being worked and tested like they are at Wilderness Ridge Trail Llamas. Our team of llamas will all mark up to 700 miles each season with better than half of our llamas hitting 1000 miles each season. 7 Why llamas? Horses and mules have dominated the packing world for decades, however, llamas are becoming more popular due to a variety of reasons. Unlike horses, llamas’ feet have a leather pad similar to that of a dog, and a split toe that allows for larger surface area and gripping ability. When it comes to rocky, steep, and tough to navigate terrain llamas excel where some pack stock might fall short. As an added bonus, llamas’ feet make significantly less impact than the hard hooves of a horse or mule (1 horse will leave about as much impact on a trail as 18 llamas). If you’ve ever had the pleasure of hiking behind horses after muddy conditions, you can understand the importance of this decreased impact. Although llamas can’t carry as much weight as horses, since they are walked rather than ridden, you only need one llama per person, which also helps cut down on impact. Additionally, they are smaller than horses and thus they eat and drink much less in comparison. The gentle, dignified demeanor of llamas is just icing on the cake. Many say that llamas have a personality similar to a dog, and they often do great with children. They are more than just beasts of burden- their unique, endearing personalities make them great trail companions that are loved by many. 8 2 Llama Handling 1. Approaching your llama You should approach your llama like you approach a human. Be vocal as you approach, and have a friendly but confident demeanor. It would be strange if someone you haven’t met walks up to you in complete silence, looking scared. Same goes for llamas! Being vocal as you approach makes the llama aware of your presence and having a confident but friendly demeanor makes the llama more comfortable. Llamas have what can be described as a ‘comfort bubble’. If you’re standing around 30+ feet out from a llama, they don’t really care too much. A llama is most uncomfortable when you’re standing about 10-15 feet from them, since you’re in their space and they’re unsure of what you’re doing. Llamas are most at ease when you’re standing right next to them. Again, like interacting with another human, it’s more comfortable to have a conversation when you’re standing next to each other rather than standing 10 feet off. Left: Llamas feel the least comfortable when you’re standing ~10 feet away. They aren’t quite sure what you’re up to and are a little uneasy at this distance. Right: Once you move within touching distance, they’re way more comfortable. Approaching a llama the right way really comes down to one concept: don’t be awkward! 9 2. Getting to know your llama Llamas sincerely enjoy being in the company of humans. They are very interested and will investigate their surroundings. However, most llamas do not like to be handled excessively. Resist the temptation to hold and hug them like you would a dog or cat. They usually don’t mind if you stroke them on their neck. Their necks and backs are their least sensitive spots when it comes to touching or petting. Make sure to use a flat hand when touching a llama, as a clawed hand comes off as predatory. Some of their MOST sensitive spots are the legs and face. Some tolerate touching better and in more places than others do. They are individuals so each will act a little differently, and it is important that you get to know your llama. Avoid touching your llama’s feet and head. Though there are Left: A clawed hand comes off as predatory. Right: Petting with a exceptions, most llamas aren’t a fan of this. If you’re going to flat hand is much more comfortable for the llama. pet your llama, go for the neck or back. 3. Llama behaviors The llama on the left is happy, relaxed, and at ease. The llama on the right may be a bit agitated or annoyed. Reading a llama’s behavior is all in the ears. An at-ease llama will have his ears forward and upright, whereas a llama with his ears back is saying, “cut it out!”. 10 Spitting: The first question most people will ask is, “Do llamas spit?”. Llamas do indeed spit, but 99% of the time they spit at each other, not humans. Their spit is not harmful, just smelly. A sign they are getting close to a spitting episode is when they put their noses way up in the air and their ears are back. So, this is your warning, that “hey, that llama is going to spit at the other llama- lookout!!” Llamas have varying degrees of spit. They can just spit air, which equals a mild irritation of some sort. If they happen to be eating, they may spit what is in their mouth at the time. This can include pellets, corn, hay, grass, water, etc. This poor llama got spit at by one of his fellow trailer-mates. The last form of spit is regurgitated cud brought up from their first stomach compartment. This means they are extremely peeved! When this one happens you will know it. It’s green and has a foul odor, partially due to the stomach acid that comes up. This final spit causes them to become slack-jawed for about 15 minutes. Don’t be alarmed, that is totally normal. (Llamas also sneeze. It sounds like they are spitting, but after they sneeze they will have a look on their face for a second Butch here got a little too rowdy while waiting to cross a river. saying, “what just happened?”) Slack-jaw won’t stop him from trying to snack though! Snorting: This may happen (especially from males) when they see something strange on the trail or if they see another llama.