To quote their web page, their mission is: To cherish nature the way it was created......To generate wonderful memories....To value the service and friendship of domestic animals....To share our knowledge of creation; the mountains, the wilderness, and nature, with all it's wildlife and beauty.

1.) How and when did you get started in llama trekking?

I got into llamas as pack animals because I wanted a companion and my kids were to the age "they had better things to do then go hiking with mom!" I bought my first llama in 1984. I signed up as a volunteer in the ONF & ONP in 1984. In 1986, I got my commercial license and permits to work in the Olympics (mountains).

2.) Lots of new llama owners get them because they want to 'pack', can just any llama make a good packer?

I rescue lots of llamas that were supposed to have been packers. The llama needs to have good legs, a good back, and a good attitude.

3.) How do you know what a llama is capable of packing? How do you decide, for instance, packing weight for any given animal - is it by age, size, both, neither?

I weigh my llamas several times during the season. I start about a month before our packing season begins, checking their weights and logging them. I want to know the average weight for that llama in a good, fit condition. I always pack 1/4th or less of the body weight of the animal. Some can carry more, but I save that for emergencies.

I start to work my llamas when they are four years old. They are still growing physically at three years and most are mentally mature at four years.

4.) Is there a different set of criteria in llama choices between the casual day trekker and the serious packer?

Most physically fit llamas can do casual day hikes but it takes some special attitudes and fitness to work day after day after day. Same as for people. Some of it is physical and some of it is mental. A day hiker is not going to need as much equipment, so the pack will be lighter. This is a good place to use some of the small sized and pet llamas. A couple of my most spectacular pack llamas were small and could only carry 50 pounds of equipment. I do not us llamas for commercial trips that cannot carry 50 or more pounds of supplies.

5.) Can just anyone successfully train a pack llama?

A person has to understand the emotional, physical and personality of their llama. A llama can be put into a string and worked, some will kill themselves trying to please you, and others will make things miserable for every one. Not every person wants to go hiking either.

6.) When and how should the training start with a llama for packing, and when or how would you know a llama was ready for their first outing?

A llama can start as soon as it is weaned from its mother; you just have to remember that you are working with a child-like mind set and physical ability. You need to make it fun and not tiring or boring.

I let the young ones play at home until they are three years old before I start training for the trail. The more the new things they experience the better adjusted they will be. The more they are gently handled the more trusting they will become and then they will accept what ever you ask of them. If they don't, they will never be safe on the trail.

7.) What should the serious packer look for in a llama and how will they know if the llama they are thinking about will fit their needs?

First, the person needs to know what they want from their llama. Things to consider: temperament, walking speed, how patient they are at standing still, endurance, scrambling ability, desire to please, size of animal, weight it can carry, personal attachments, color, coat, long legs or stocky built, and more. I have some very good pack llamas that my personality and there's do no mesh well. They go on my daughters string and do very well.

8.) Packs, there are tons of types and styles out there, is there really a difference, and what do you use for the criteria in choosing?

There are no perfect packs and I doubt there ever will be. The best I have found in a soft pad that does not put any pressure on the spine when loaded. The llama's health and well-being must come first. I started with several packs that I would not even give away. They were very well touted, but they left hot spots on my llamas. Some packs fit one llama well but not another llama. The pack system I use mostly now is the Flaming Star.

9.) Any favorite styles of packs, or any special custom packs you have designed?

I don't get into designing packs, which is an awesome job.

10.) Do you have a 'must have in case of' list when packing?

I plan on the most horrifying accident I can think of and how to prepare for it. One of the most horrifying accidents to me would be to have a llama injured seriously, in lots of pain, and should be killed to put it out of it's misery. I carry a handgun and a stout 6-inch knife.

11.) Most folks are fair weather packers, even if they are serious trekkers. What sort of pre-season training and conditioning do you consider a must?

If the llama is active at home in the pasture, they only need to work as much as their hiking partner does, getting used to carrying the extra weightt on their back all day, walking for hours with out stopping for a rest. Most people walk at about 3 miles an hour in the first part of the day and slow down to two miles an hour in the later part of the day. Most people stop for some reason for a couple minutes about every two hours. These stops also work well for llamas.

If someone is going to do extreme hiking (not to enjoy the wilderness), they need a special llama. I always carry a pack. When my llamas are loaded to full weight, so am I, that way I know when the hill is steep, the day is hot, or we have been walking too long, pushing too hard or just tired. I believe the llamas are working for me and I need to be aware of how they are feeling.

12.) What about food and water needs for the animals when on the trail? Can anyone just grab a llama and wander into the backcountry or are there permits required?

The llama care will depend on where you are planning to hike. The National Park System requires permits for overnight camping. Most of the NPS require you to pack in all your nonviable stock feed. I pack two to three pounds of mixed grain per llama and feed them morning and night. I pack this feed in quart size Ziploc freeze bags (I reuse the bags over and over again).

We hike in the Olympics where there is always lots of water. I have taught all my llamas to drink out of my water bottle if we are doing a trip into some dry area we may offer them a drink. If we need to give electrolytes to one of the llamas we use the water bottle.

I retire my llamas at 20+ years of age. They want to go when we load up the workers, so now we pasture them on my son's pasture where they cannot see us go. The old llamas are like old people; the body just cannot keep up with the desire any more.

Kit Niemann - Kit's Llamas
P.O.Box 116 -
Olalla, WA 98359
Ph.253-857-5274
kits@kits.seanet.com
http://www.northolympic.com/llamas/


Olympic National Park Trail Reports
http://www.nps.gov/olym/wic/conditions.htm