Frequently Asked Questions
Do llamas spit?
Of course they do, but only on people that deserve it. When llamas get very scared, or highly irritated they will spit. Rarely does a llama spit on a person (on purpose). What can happen is llamas get excited about me bringing out some grain and they jockey for position to get that nose in the bucket and spit at each other and I’ll get caught in the crossfire. Llamas are very comfortable around people. If they have been worked with and cared for, they trust. A llama that has not been worked with and that is not well cared for will not trust a person. The un trusting llama is far more likely to spit on you.
Who can go on a llama trek?
Becusase we offer a wide variety of adventure levels, just about anyone who can walk on a trail can go on a llama trek. Some of our treks are on very flat ground. Some treks require you to hike up steep grades. Some treks are short and some are long. No matter which trek you choose, you will be walking on trails which means dirt, rocks, the occasional log across the trail etc. You will need to be able to trek at a rate of about 2.5 MPH which is the very low end of the average human.
What about the weather?
Because we are on the eastern flank of the Cascade Mountains, we are in a rain shawdow. Its a great place to be. However, weather can turn cloudy or even rainy especially in the month of May. So, we just dress for it. A light rain jacket, proper footwear and synthetic pants are always a good idea. You can even bring layers of clothing if you like as we have plenty of capacity on the llamas to carry anything you desire.
When is the best time to go llama trekking?
Oh, boy. Is there a bad time? Early in the trekking season we utilize lower elevations and you just might get treated to wildflower blooms. As the snow melts off of the upper elevation trails we get to experience the high lakes and alpine settings. There is always something wonderful about llama trekking no matter what time of year.
Is your place hard to find?
Nope, in fact, because out here in the sticks we have very few roads and our llama ranch is on the two-lane highway that runs up the middle of the valley. Ever since Google maps and phone GPS came out, its a snap. For some of our treks we have you meet us at the trailhead. Your confirmation will inform you exactly where to meet us.
Our address is 1917 Hwy 141 Trout Lake, WA 98650
Where are the bathrooms?
Restrooms are available at each of our meet up locations or very near the meet up location. After that, its the woods!
What do I need to bring?
Its all about dressing for the weather. My personal favorite hiking gear are sturdy shoes (like a light weight, low top boot) synthetic breathable pants (jeans are tough to hike in), and a non cotton shirt. If you sweat, cotton will hold the moisture on your body so anything synthetic is great. Its always nice to have layers for your upper body so you can peel down are add a layer if desired. I love to have an upper layer to put on when we stop trekking or take a long break as I tend to cool down fast. You dress according to your needs. Brining a bottle of water and a snack on the 1/2 treks are important and including a lunch on the full day treks is even more important. The llamas will carry all of our goods for the trek so don’t be shy about bringing that jacket or extra PBJ.
What about emergencies?
Your tour guide will be First Aid / CPR trained and will carry an emergency communication device. With new phone technology people can now text via satellite and its making our old school emergency communcations obsolete, but we still carry the old school stuff as well. On some of our treks, we actually get cell service. For each of our treks, EMS services are not only available, but stationed surprisingly nearby.
Will our trek get cancelled if there is a disaster?
Yep! If there were a flood, fire, windstorm or something in nature that we can’t do a thing about we simply have to cancell. In those cases, we simply refund all payments for the trek, or let you re-schedule if you desire. Becuase there is diversity in our trekking locations we have the option to avoid one area that has some natural disaster going on and trek in another area.
How large of a group can we bring?
In general we prefer to have no more than eight trekkers plus the guide on each adventure.
Can I book as a single passenger?
Yes! We’ll merge you into a date with folks that are already booked and we’ll all make some new friends.
What do llama like to eat?
Llama will browse and graze making them very easy to feed while in the back country. We always have hay on hand at the ranch to suppliment their natural feeds and they absolutely love grain. In the late 90s I had an awesome pack llama named Gorgeous George and we’d share snacks. I’d carry apples with me and I’d take a bite then hold the apple over my shoulder and he’d take a bite. That would have made a great video.
Do you have baby llamas?
Fuzzy, playful, cute, full of life babies! A baby llama is called a cria. We have a couple of them born on the llama ranch each year. If one is born while you are here, maybe you can help pick out a name? Sitting on a bale of hay watching a group of cria play is more entertaining than any TV show.