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FAQ'S FOR LLAMA RENTAL
[ TRAVEL | THE WILDERNESS | LLAMAS | POLICIES ]
Travel
- Where is Lander, WY?.....Lander, Wyoming is located at the base of the eastern side of the Wind River Range in the northern most Rocky Mountains in west central Wyoming.
- How do we get to Lander, WY?.....You can fly or drive a vehicle. Trains and buses do not serve Lander, WY. The closest airport is Riverton, WY which is 30 miles N.E. of Lander. Also, Casper, WY is 120 miles east of Lander, Jackson Hole, WY is 150 miles north west of Lander, Rock Springs, WY is 120 miles south of Lander, and Denver, CO is 350 miles (6 hours), Salt lake City, UT is 280 miles (4 1/2 hours) from Lander. All of the airports have car rentals.
- Where can we stay when we arrive in Lander?.....We have "THE BUNK HOUSE" at our ranch or we have many fine Bed & Breakfasts, Motels, and Campgrounds.
- How do we get around in Lander to shop and eat?.....You can walk from one end of Lander to the other in about 15 minutes. All motels and some bed & breakfasts are in the city limits. There are numerous restaurants and shops for most anything you may have forgotten or need. Stores in Lander have limited hours on Sundays and some restaurants are closed. If you are staying in "THE BUNK HOUSE" we provide you with a tandem bike with shopping baskets, or it is a 15 minute walk from Main Street in Lander.
The Wilderness Trips
[ TRAVEL | LLAMAS | POLICIES ]
- When is your operating season?..... Our high country Wind River & Absaroka range trips run late June through mid September.
- What is the weather like?.....Typical summer weather in the high country is sunny with very little rain. Temperatures range in the highs of 85 F and lows of 40 F. The air is dry with very little humidity. For the most part, our summer high country is very comfortable and we are usually in shorts and t-shirts in the day with a sweater or light jacket in the evening. Check out todaysLander Weather Report
- What should we bring for clothes?.....We can send you a recommended clothing list once you have booked a trip or you can look at or print out our Recommended Clothing List
- How far can we expect to hike in a day?.....Typically people hike between 5 and 8 miles per day depending on the group. Some people like to do a little more, but usually not much more than 10 miles per day.
- If we want to hike over 10 miles per day can the llamas do this?.....Some llamas can, and some can't. If you need to hike over 10 miles per day with full loads on the llamas we will need to match your group up with the appropriate llamas.
- What are the elevations?.....We start out at about 8,800 ft. and peak out at about 10,800 ft. Camping is usually in the 10,000 ft. elevation.
- How much water is there?.....Water is plentiful!
- Can we bring our dog?....We do not recommend it! Sorry we love dogs too, but we recommend they stay with a loved one at home where they will be safe and out of trouble. You will be responsible for at least two llamas and you never know how any dog will react to llamas or other wild animals and livestock you might encounter.
- Can we ride with you to the trailhead so we can leave our car at home?....Sorry we do not have the capacity to haul your group and your gear along with the llamas to the trailhead. You must provide your own transportation to the trailhead and back. If you will be flying, and plan on not having transportation you will need advanced arrangements with Lander Llama Company to get you to the trailhead and back. Sorry we can not accommodate last minute transportation to the trailhead. Trailhead transportation is also provided by these Transportation providers.
- Can we plan a one way route rather than a round trip route in the wilderness?....Yes, but you will need to provide drivers and vehicles to the other trailheads. We can not drive your vehicles or persons to the alternate trailheads.
- Do you rent or provide camping equipment?....No, we only provide the llamas pack systems and their essential gear. You are responsible for your own camping gear. NOLS Outfitting leases some backpacking equipment in Lander, WY at 307-335-2269.
- Will you help us out with a route and logistics?....Yes, we can help you out with general routes and make suggestions. This must be done well in advance and not at your required first time training session the day before departure. Your llama training instructor may not be able to help out with routes.
- Can we call you from a cellular phone from the wilderness and change our llama pickup dates?....No. Once a trip has been established you will be responsible to deliver the llamas at the predetermined trailhead and predetermined time. If you should need to come out early, you should plan on staying at the trailhead until your llama pickup has arrived.
Llamas
[ TRAVEL | THE WILDERNESS | POLICIES ]
- How big and what size are the packs/panniers for the llamas and how much can we take?....Each llama has two sacks, or panniers. Each pannier has the volume capacity of a large backpack. The llamas total weight restriction will be 75 pounds. This means each pannier should not weigh much over 35 pounds. The panniers measure approximately 18" wide by 22" tall by 11" deep each. It approximately represents 4,345 cu. inches per pannier. They are made of heavy duty fabric and are flexible. They are open at the top. You receive two panniers per llama. Most16-24 qt coolers (Igloo,Coleman, Gott, with flip handles) will fit in one pannier.
- What do the llamas eat, and do we need to bring them food?....The llamas are browsers and grazers and will eat a wide range of vegetation in the backcountry. You do not need to bring them any food, but we provide you with a small bag of grain for treats.
- Are there bears, what kinds, and do they bother the llamas?....Yes, mostly black bears are in the Popo Agie and Fitzpatrick wilderness areas, but encounters are rare. Grizzly bears do not roam, for the most part, in the Popo Agie Wilderness. Black bears, for most llama packers, are not a problem, as the bears seem not to want to be around the llamas. You will, however, need to practice common bear country camping techniques. There are new Grizzly Bear Food Storage Orders in effect if you will be traveling in the Bridger-Teton NF OR the Shoshone National Forest northern half and wildernesses. The Grizzly Bear food storage orders are not in effect in the Popo Agie Wilderness of the Shoshone National Forest. You must keep all food hanging from trees or rocks OR in approved bear resistent canisters available from the USFS or retailers. Please go to our new Food Storage Order site.
- Do we need any special recreational pack stock use permits?....Yes, you will need a FREE "Survey of Usage and Information Permit" if your are traveling in the Popo Agie Wilderness and/or you will need a FREE "Bridger Wilderness Recreational Livestock Permit" if you will be traveling in the Bridger Wilderness. You do not currently need a permit in the Fitzpatrick Wilderness or the Washakie Wilderness or the Absaroka Wilderness. It is always recomended you check the agency jurisdiction you will be traveling in for any permits.
- Can we use llamas and travel on the Wind River Indian Reservation lands?....No, if you are not a Shoshone or Arapaho Tribal member you CAN NOT travel with livestock on tribal lands. Also, if you will be departing from the Dickinson Park Trailheads (Smith Lake, North Fork, and Bears Ears) and crossong tribal lands in your vehichle to get to these trailheads you will need to purchase your TRIBAL PERMITS.
- What if a llama gets injured and we can not pack our gear out?....You will be responsible for the llama(s), and you will be responsible to hire or retrieve your gear from the wilderness. This is extremely rare, however you should expect long delays and additional costs.
- Are we responsible for the llamas?....Yes, you will be responsible for the well being of the llamas. You will be required to sign a contract before departure. Basically, if you do not bring the llama(s) back in good health or you loose them, you will be responsible for their agreed upon value in the contract.
- Have you ever had a person loose an animal and/or had to collect for that animal?....No, this has never happened. If you take care of the llamas as you are taught in your training session it is very unlikely you will have any difficulties.
- Can we ride the llamas?.....No, sorry you can't. Children or adults are not allowed to ride. The llamas only pack the heavy gear.
Reservations & Policies
[ TRAVEL | THE WILDERNESS | LLAMAS |
- To reserve llamas with Lander Llama Company you must give a deposit of 50% of the total cost (minimum of $250.00). All balances are due at the mandatory training session or at the trail head for repeat customers. All cancellations received prior to 90 days before the scheduled departure date, will be refunded in full minus a $100.00 handling fee. All cancellations received after the 90 period shall completely forfeit the deposit. Lander Llama Company reserves the right to cancel the rental of llamas for the safety and well being of all participants, and full refunds will occur if the rental of llamas is canceled by Lander Llama Company. Any reduction in the number of llamas rented or the number of trip days, after the 90 day cancellation date has passed, shall cause the entire deposit to be forfeited and the full balance shall be due (cost prior to the reduction) regardless of reductions in number of llamas or number of trip days. Any rental of four (4) or more llamas; or a trip lasting for fourteen (14) days or more, are considered customized and the 90 day cancellation period denoted in paragraph above does not apply and cancellation, regardless of when the cancellation is made, shall forfeit the entire deposit. I also agree, if paying by credit card, that if I fail to cancel the trip prior to 90 days before the scheduled trip, that I will forfeit the complete deposit and I waive my right to charge back the credit card transaction for 50% deposit on the total cost. I also agree, if paying by credit card, that if I fail to appear at the mandatory training session or at the trail head if I am a repeat customer, my credit card can be charged for the remaining balances due. For llama shuttle service fees, there may be a 10% gas surcharge applied.
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[ TRAVEL | THE WILDERNESS | LLAMAS | POLICIES ]