Northwest Llama Adventures

10/03/2024

Hello Friends,
With female packers off on indefinite maternity leave, I've been getting some questions about the best alternative option for guided llama trips in Western Washington. For that, we can strongly can recommend our longtime friends at 'Wa llamas"; we've worked with every member of their team, human and camelid. I'm looking forward to be guiding for them for a few weeks in 2025 myself. Details on their trips can be found here:

It’s not too late to book your backcountry trip for the 2025 season! Take a look at our trips below and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. We can’t wait to introduce you to the world o…

09/25/2024

Our lovely, hardworking female packers have been 'promoted' to status as mama llamas to create next generation of ccara pack llamas. These 10 wonderful animals now reside in greener pastures in Idaho, Wyoming and West Central Washington. Each relocated with their best friend(s) is in the care great llama packers with lots of experience. Those who have gotten to know them find some photos of them their work this September.

07/23/2024

Just back from our latest trip with a wonderful group into the very middle of Olympic National Park and the Enchanted Valley. The images below show the herd bedded down outside my tent, a comparison of mule and llama panniers and a herd of elk that came in to visit us at dusk.

07/10/2024

OPTION: Looks like we have TWO openings (due to illness) on our upcoming Enchanted Valley trip July 16th -19th. This is very rare; check out our website and drop us an email if you are interested. This is a special opportunity for at least two reasons: 1) This trip looks to be really special, in part because of the guests you would be joining and in part because we'll working alongside the always fun and excellent Washington llama pack string. That's right folks; two working pack strings (~15 llamas) on trail. 2) Most of our trips book up by Feb, most or all backpacking permits have been unavailable for months to protect the wilderness character of the place.

Guided Wilderness Trips, Drop Camps, Ecotourism, Camping, Hiking, Glamping, Organic Fertilizer, Weddings, North Cascades, Llama, Llamas, Fishing, Wildlife

07/03/2024

As usual, we've been out doing cardio and hill work to prep for the our high country trips. It's super amusing when all other neighborhood stock keeping trying to "join the pack train" as we pass...

04/09/2024

Good to know the first responders are sharpening up their skills. We haven't needed them yet, but gravity happens...

04/04/2024

Llamas have strong feelings about their historic nemesis, the Puma, but here at Northwest Llama Adventures, we feel there's got to be room for all species, and we are glad to know the Puma is well on the Olympic Peninsula. (Especially the ones who dislike being spat on and know to keep their distance...)

04/02/2024

Being a Professional Guide means year round conditioning, especially for your guide(s) who work longer days than the llamas. When I'm on the Pelaton Tread sometimes I 'go to Patagonia' and guanacos (wild llamas) sometimes appear on screen. Here's Ruthie is keeping an eye on the 'trail ahead of me' and is on lookout for those guanacos. (Or maybe she's assessing my workout performance and is unimpressed....I certainly can't do 25-30mph like a motivated llama) ;-)

04/02/2024

Great information about two of our partners...The Us Gov't and the NW Tribes. Two really great governments we have worked with and for.

The Pacific Northwest Region has published an interactive story map highlighting co-stewardship work occurring between American Indian Tribes and National Forests across Oregon and Washington.

“The Pacific Northwest is home to many Indigenous peoples and their cultures, traditions, and knowledge continue to define the Pacific Northwest today,” said Kristine Harper, Tribal Relations Specialist for the Pacific Northwest Region of the Forest Service and enrolled member of the Tlingit and Haida Indians of Alaska. “This story map displays how we are working with Tribal governments to incorporate this knowledge into our projects and activities across the region.”

The Tribal Relations Interactive Story Map is available at: https://arcg.is/1HTyDm0

03/28/2024

We just added some new dates for 2024, including trips including weekends, late August and September trips!

Guided Wilderness Trips, Drop Camps, Ecotourism, Camping, Hiking, Glamping, Organic Fertilizer, Weddings, North Cascades, Llama, Llamas, Fishing, Wildlife

03/05/2024

We still have openings, but trips are booking up for 2024!
Come join us
https://northwestllamaadventures.com/our-trips

02/14/2024

Notice anything missing? If you said "several feet of snow" then you're right 😕.

The Olympic mountains are currently at only 29% of normal snowpack, and if you visit Hurricane Ridge this will impact your visit. We'll keep hoping for more snow, but be prepared to skip the sledding and stick to trails instead of walking or skiing across meadows.

One great way to check conditions if you do decide to go to Hurricane Ridge is our webcams. They'll give you a real time look at the weather and snow conditions. https://www.nps.gov/olym/learn/photosmultimedia/hurricane-ridge-webcam.htm

Photo: NPS/S. Siemens-Luthy

02/01/2024

"Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children."
- Theodore Roosevelt.

🎂On this day in 1905, President Roosevelt signed The Transfer Act of 1905 placing management of forest reserves into the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Forestry, now known as the U.S. Forest Service. We hope you celebrate this anniversary by enjoying the beauty of your National Forests.

USDA Forest Service photo by Keith Alholm.

01/23/2024

01/18/2024

Today was 6 month old Greta's first snow!

Booking are coming in openings remain most weeks:
https://northwestllamaadventures.com/our-trips
(Typically we fill before the snow melts in the mountains...)

01/16/2024

The Llama pack project. A really great nonprofit based in Peru that promotes ecotourism led by the natives there.

12/20/2023

Two great sites: Friends of Olympic National Park and Friends of Olympic National Forest

12/18/2023

Research...plenty on dogs and chapters on sea lions and sea otters....but as for the mind of a llama, still a mystery. But they are without question, a brainy animal. Show them something 3x and the have it for life.

12/07/2023

https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2023/12/05/a-llama-inspired-way-to-protect-crops/?fbclid=IwAR0r04uUXQ_rqqVH7wxNmCzcda7Ql6Zb1RYw8ujK16WpzGhYXhWnXs8bMfg

Most of us will never see a live llama except at a zoo unless we have an opportunity to travel to the South American Andes where they are used as pack animals or they have been adopted as farm animals. They are quite a sight and have become favorites at zoos around the world. With their docile demea...

12/01/2023

Our llamas share the trails with horses and mules, so we make sure they get to know equines early. Here 4 month old Greta pauses to give nose kisses to a new friend encountered on her first training walk.
2024 trips now open at https://northwestllamaadventures.com/our-trips

11/23/2023

A family hiking trip to Zion National Park back in June with two of the original founding 'assistant guides'. They were with me on every trip for years and still try to fit at least one trip into their busy calendars.