Pack trials are becoming more and more popular across the country. The Pack Llama Trail Association (PLTA) has almost 200 llamas in their Pack Llama Hall of Fame, certified at the basic, advanced and master levels. Pack trails are springing up all over. And yet I still often hear people asking why they should pay a fee, and do all the paperwork, just to hike with their llama. So let me give you some of the benefits of pack trial, and of the PLTA.

The PLTA was started to promote the pack llama. Llamas have many uses, fiber, showing, guarding, packing, companionship...to name a few. For those interested in packing, a pack trial is a great way to be introduced to packing with llamas. The basic requirements, haltering, putting on the pack, tying on a pick line, loading in a vehicle, are all necessary if you want to take your llama for a hike. In a pack trial, safety is the number one concern. A pack trial simulates the natural conditions you would expect to encounter on the trail. Attending a Pack Trial is a great learning tool.

Pack trails are about you and your llama. You do not compete against others, and you are certified if the event is completed safely. You hike in a group, so you are not alone. And if your llamas will not do an obstacle, others may help. It's about companionship between you and your llama and with the others hiking the trail with you.

So why should you pay money to attend a pack trial? If you pay a fee, you usually will attend. If you say you will just go for a hike that day, will you? We We all have other things to do and,, although we love to walk our llamas, it is not usually a high priority. Generally, if you put out some cash, you will go! (It is human nature!) So it is a great way to make sure you get out with your llama. The fee that goes to the PLTA is to support a newsletter, to maintain a database of certification, and so that you receive a certificate for your llama.

Along with promoting pack llamas, PLTA guarantees that a certified llama has completed the requirements at the level. A marketing line often heard is, "That llama doesn't have any wool, he's a great pack llama" We begin hearing from those who purchased these llamas, "What's so great about packing with llamas? I had to drag him up the trail, he laid down all the time. I couldn't halter him, he spat at me when I tried to put on a pack...etc." Great promotion for the llama world! So, now if someone is interested in buying or leasing a pack llama, you have a certificate to prove that this llama will hike X number of miles, carrying X% of his weight, in a designated time period. So it's a marketing tool. Another aspect of marketing is promoting Pack Trials when you sell to a new owner. It is a noncompetitive way to get out with your new llama, a safe event where a new llama person can feel comfortable and meet other llama people.

SO, Why Pack Trials?

• To promote llamas as pack animals
  
  
• To get out and hike with your llama, and meet other llama folks.
  
  
• To prove that you and your llama can do it and receive a neat certificate with your llama's picture on it!
  
  
• To add a marketing tool to the llama world.
  
  
• To encourage new llama owners
  
  
• To have fun!

So plan to attend a Pack Trial this year. And if you are still nervous about bringing your llama, volunteers are always needed - so come to help, meet other llama people and have fun.