On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
lashonharangue
After camping at Lake Abundance I didn’t think the scenery could get much better. So I hoped the hike over the pass was worth the effort.
Tired from hiking, we all rested before unpacking the llamas and setting up camp.
There was great pasture behind the camp where the llamas were picketed. A tiny creek ran through the pasture so it was easy to water the animals. After eating his fill and a good nights’ sleep, Gypsum was a happy llama.
The ridge at the end of the lake was lit by alpine glow at the end of the first day.
Here is a view in the opposite direction early in the morning.
The next afternoon I had a pleasant surprise. Three llamas arrived carrying gear that was being pre-positioned for another group due in to this lake in a few days. One of the llamas was my old acquaintance Trek. He is now semi-retired. No longer able to handle the load for our trip, but okay for a day trip where all he had to carry was some gear in and some of our trash out. For reasons that were never made clear to me they had renamed him Rocky.
Note: That black thing hanging from my belt is bear spray. Everyone was required to carry it but we saw no bears on the trip.
After two nights we had to leave beautiful Lake Tahepia. Gypsum, as usual, was ready to get on the trail.
There was one more pass we had to climb. This is looking back at Lake Tahepia. Our camp was on the right.
On the other side of the pass we stopped for lunch at Waukena Lake. It was beautiful but very windy.
After lunch it was a long hike back along Rock Creek, mostly on a forest road. We finally arrived at Brownes Lake where the vehicles were waiting. After a flat tire was fixed, I got a ride back to Butte where I stayed at a hotel across the street from the airport so I could catch a 6 am flight the next morning. A very satisfying trip which I hope to do again next year, especially if Gypsum is still able to accompany me.
MagdaInBlack
I’ve always thought it would be grand to take a pack trip with llamas. I see that I am right. Love these trip pictures, thank you !
Kristine
Stunning photos! And I never knew that llamas were used as pack animals for tours like that here in the states.
Trivia Man
I’ve heard they are an excellent defense against wolves, are they used to guard livestock?
eclare
Love the photos and commentary. And Gypsum!
scribbler
How lovely for you to travel with Gypsum again. Must be a bit hard for Trek to adjust to a new name so late in life.
Trivia Man
My favorite science regarding animal names is about cats. With brain scans they proved that cats do recognize their own name… they just don’t care. “I do what I want, when I want.”
Anyway
Nice pictures! Love the details of the hike and Gypsum and all the other llamas. Very cool.
WaterGirl
Llamas!!!
Gorgeous photos, also. :-)
Andrew Abshier
I imagine you need some language skill to work with llamas. First, you have to ask their name: “¿Como se llama?” 🤣
stinger
I am now convinced that a landscape photo — any photo at all, really — is improved by the inclusion of llamas.
@Andrew Abshier:
😂
lashonharangue
@Andrew Abshier: You may be closer than you think. This story may be apocryphal but is what I was told.
When the Spanish discovered South America they asked the indigenous people for the name of this animal using the phrase ¿Cómo se llama? What do you call this? The indigenous people didn’t understand and repeated the last word llama, llama. So the Spanish finally thought the animal’s name is llama.
MelissaM
@Andrew Abshier: If only I could like your post.
This looks like fun and I’m researching for future dream trips. Any good sources or trusted companies?
lashonharangue
@MelissaM: Most outfitters operate on public lands with an agreement to go to certain areas. So you might want to first figure out where you would like to go and then see what outfitters have the permits.
I can only speak to this outfitter. They are very competent and conscientious about how they treat the animals and the environment.
lashonharangue
@Trivia Man: Llamas are used to guard livestock (mostly sheep) from dogs, coyotes, foxes. Usually just a single llama is used that bonds with the herd. I don’t know if they can take on a wolf.
pat
I was wondering about the bears. In 1991 I went on a horse-back camping trip in Bob Marshall Wilderness, in Montana. All went well until the next-to-last night, when a bear came into camp. “Young griz” according to our guide. The guys stayed up all night and kept a campfire going. I heard later that the bear had to be removed.
way2blue
I’d been wondering whether you needed to pack feed for the llamas. Evidently they’re fine with grazing. Streamlines the journey I’d think. (On the horse / mule pack trip I did in the Sierras in 2020, the wrangler let the horses loose in the afternoon, then would collect them in the morning with grain bags as the lure. The mules had returned to Kennedy Meadows pack station as soon as the gear was unpacked.)
lashonharangue
@way2blue: Llamas both graze and browse. I have seen them eat pine needles and nibble on tree bark. The only time you need to pack feed is if there is nothing available.