Trip to Idaho & Wyoming

[Susan Gawarecki]

Hi all--or just Dave and Randy--not many folks posting here any more.

I just got back from a business trip to Idaho Falls with a side trip to
Boulder, WY. I did a quick overnight to Highline Trail Llamas (Al &
Sondra Ellis) to see their stock and breeding operation. They have
awesome pack llamas. They breed for tall (up to 50" at withers),
athletic, correct llamas with sturdy legs. His main stud, Commander
Spock, is quite impressive! See him on the herdsire page
http://www.highlinetrailllamas.com/Herdsire.html .

Al is a screener for the new Ccara Registry, and at some point I hope to
get certified to do this also. For what I want to do with llamas, this
style makes much more sense than the woollies.

After spending a night in Boulder (thanks to the Ellis' for their
hospitality), I had a challenging drive back to Idaho Falls in the snow.
Back in Tennessee, I got to enjoy temps in the 80's again and hug on
my herd of comparatively small llamas.

Susan G

[r***@yahoo.com]

Post by Susan Gawarecki
Hi all--or just Dave and Randy--not many folks posting here any more.
I just got back from a business trip to Idaho Falls with a side trip to
Boulder, WY.  I did a quick overnight to Highline Trail Llamas (Al &
Sondra Ellis) to see their stock and breeding operation.  They have
awesome pack llamas.  They breed for tall (up to 50" at withers),
athletic, correct llamas with sturdy legs.  His main stud, Commander
Spock, is quite impressive!  See him on the herdsire pagehttp://www.highlinetrailllamas.com/Herdsire.html.
Al is a screener for the new Ccara Registry, and at some point I hope to
get certified to do this also.  For what I want to do with llamas, this
style makes much more sense than the woollies.
After spending a night in Boulder (thanks to the Ellis' for their
hospitality), I had a challenging drive back to Idaho Falls in the snow.
  Back in Tennessee, I got to enjoy temps in the 80's again and hug on
my herd of comparatively small llamas.
Susan G

Did you get cold while up in the high country ?
Whats Ccara ?

Randy

[Susan Gawarecki]

Actually, I just barely stayed warm. I was in the valley, which at
7,000 ft I still consider "high country" and the wind was blowing. I
had enough layers, but could have used a wool cap.

For a great description of ccaras, see http://www.ccarallama.com/ and
http://www.classicllama.info/

Also from Lost Creek Llamas: "The traditional llamas of South America,
called "ccara" by the native Quechuans (and later, llama pelada by the
Spanish), had fiber that was both short and coarse. They were used as
pack animals, and rarely (if ever) shorn. They were generally larger
than the woolly fiber llamas that were later developed from a rather
fortunate mutation, although mummified remains show that the ccara
llamas were not giants. Their stamina, strength and carrying ability
were held to be vastly superior to the woolly fiber llamas."

Susan G

Post by r***@yahoo.com
Did you get cold while up in the high country ?
Whats Ccara ?
Randy

[David V.]

Those packers look pretty good. A guy not too far from me is
breeding for really tall - and scrawny - packers. They're tall
with skinny legs. Kind of like a ballet dancer. They're probably
great for dancing, but not what I want in a packer. They are not
conformationally correct.

What gets me is that some people, and it doesn't look like
Highline is trying to do this, but they try to "improve" on what
people what the people that invented llamas have done over
thousands of years. Those people packed, lived with, and bred
llamas their whole life. The llama was their life..... well...
along with a few other things.

Post by Susan Gawarecki
Hi all--or just Dave and Randy--not many folks posting here
any more.
I just got back from a business trip to Idaho Falls with a
side trip to Boulder, WY. I did a quick overnight to Highline
Trail Llamas (Al & Sondra Ellis) to see their stock and
breeding operation. They have awesome pack llamas. They
breed for tall (up to 50" at withers), athletic, correct
llamas with sturdy legs. His main stud, Commander Spock, is
quite impressive! See him on the herdsire page
http://www.highlinetrailllamas.com/Herdsire.html .
Al is a screener for the new Ccara Registry, and at some point
I hope to get certified to do this also. For what I want to
do with llamas, this style makes much more sense than the
woollies.
After spending a night in Boulder (thanks to the Ellis' for
their hospitality), I had a challenging drive back to Idaho
Falls in the snow. Back in Tennessee, I got to enjoy temps in
the 80's again and hug on my herd of comparatively small
llamas.
Susan G