Hiking with Llamas in Vermont

**auggie** · 07-24-2005, 09:09 PM

I’ve always been fascinated with Llamas and Alpacas.
Hiking with Llamas was definitely one of the highlights of my recent Vermont vacation.
Meeting the Llamas

Harry, my beautiful hiking buddy:

**auggie** · 07-24-2005, 09:24 PM

Hiking thru the forest:

With some breaks for grazing

I think he likes me

What a sweety, he put his head in my lap

**Cookiebaker** · 07-24-2005, 09:26 PM

That's so cool!! Where abouts in Vermont were you?? (We live on the VT border)

**auggie** · 07-24-2005, 09:36 PM

Cookiebaker, I was in Essex Junction.
The hike was at Smugglers Notch, north of Stowe.
The scenery was absolutely beautiful.

**Cookiebaker** · 07-24-2005, 09:41 PM

It IS gorgeous up there!! I've been up (by car, not hike) Mount Mansfield and stayed in Waterbury (next to Stowe). The general area is about 2 hours from us.

Glad to hear that you had a nice time and had a cool vacation!

**auggie** · 07-24-2005, 09:57 PM

I went to Waterbury as well. After all Ben and Jerry's is my favorite Ice cream.
One other great thing about Vermont is – Duncan Doughnuts everywhere. You can't find them here anymore.

**RobiLee** · 07-25-2005, 01:00 AM

Those are great pictures. Looks like a great time.

**Barbara** · 07-25-2005, 02:49 AM

That looks so great. What a cutie- I would never have expected that they really start to like you

**auggie** · 07-25-2005, 06:46 AM

Barbara, we were told not to pet around the eyes or face. Llamas are prey animals with monocular vision and get easily spooked. If you want to pet you should pet the neck or go up in the back of the neck and scratch between the ears.
Never the less because of their gentle nature many are used for therapy, visiting nursing homes etc.

**moosmom** · 07-25-2005, 09:54 AM

Auggie,

What a great vacation! Harry is precious looking!! I love his eyes!

Vermont is a GREAT state to hike in. I used to go hiking in East Dorset, VT. God how I miss it!!

**Logan** · 07-25-2005, 01:56 PM

Angie, that is so neat! Did you guys camp out overnight?

Once, I did quite a long hike up to the top of Mt. LeConte in Tennesse (well, of course, my ex had to pick the longest route). Hiking was the only way to get up there, and they used Llamas to bring in supplies because they had cabins and provided 2 meals for those that had reservations to stay in the cabins. Must admit it was fun, but I sure was sore and tired! I thought the Llamas were one of the neatest things about the experience, though. I remember that we passed them when we were on our way back down.

Logan

**Vermontcat** · 08-01-2005, 02:49 PM

Auggie, I'm sorry it took me so long to find this thread.
I got an e-mail notice that you tried to PM me but my box was full.
I have been so busy since we got back from our vacation and I still haven't caught up with all the threads here.

It looks like you had a great time here in Vermont and you had nice weather too.

I always thought that you rode the llamas when you went llama trekking, shows what I know!

Smuggler's Notch is beautiful! That is where my husband proposed to me on horseback.

Yum! Ben & Jerry's and Dunkin Donuts too!
When I was in North Carolina, we got to try Krispy Kreme Donuts since we don't have them up here.
It also took us a week to find a decent ice cream place in town because we didn't find any Ben & Jerry's down there.

So what else did you do in Vermont? Any more photos?
I really wish that I could have met you, you better come back to visit another time so we can meet.

Did you get in touch with Sallyanne while you were there?
I did get to meet Logan, I'm working on the photos now and hope to post them by tomorrow.

**popcornbird** · 08-01-2005, 03:22 PM

CUTE! Looks like fun! I would love to hike with a llama.

**auggie** · 08-01-2005, 06:48 PM

Vermontcat, the weather was hot and awfully humid the first couple of days.
Went to Stowe day one to take the gondola up to Mt. Mansfield but the storm clouds were rolling in and it started to rain. Next was the Von Trapp Lodge. The alpine like scenery there was beautiful. After that Ben and Jerry’s in Waterbury.
Day two the Wildflower farm, Teddy bear factory and Shelburne farm.
The humidity finally went down on my last day at smugglers Notch.
I wish I could have stayed and I definitely want to go back.
I’ve been very busy myself since I got back and haven’t uploaded all my pictures, but here are some:

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2123380416