ROSEBUD LLAMAS UTAH

 

Shirley Weathers & Bill Walsh

 

P. O. Box 270090      Fruitland  UT      84027-0090             Phone: (435) 548-2630             FAX: (435) 548-2438

wrw@ubtanet.com             www.rosebudllamasutah.com

 

GUEST INFORMATION

 

WHERE WE GO

            Rosebud Llamas Utah offers llama pack trips in three areas of the state: the San Rafael Swell, the South Unit of the Ashley National Forest, and Browns Park.

 

The San Rafael Swell

            The San Rafael Swell is a one million acre uplift slightly southeast of the center of Utah, approximately 4 ½ hours by car from Salt Lake City to our meeting place at a car campsite. Part of the Colorado Plateau, the Swell is an inverted, kidney-shaped bowl 80 miles long and 35 miles wide. Over time, wind and water have carved out the interior, leaving deep canyons, enormous rock walls, arches, and pinnacles, many of them exhibiting dramatic layers. Three rivers cut through the Swell–the Price, San Rafael and Muddy. Traveling from the eastern, nearly vertical Reef, reaching 7900 feet to the San Rafael River at 4200 feet, is a journey through vast expanses of geologic time. Formations in the Swell span the Permian through the Cretaceous periods.

 

            Human use of the San Rafael Swell has been varied and evidence of its broad outlines can be found sporadically. Rock art of both the Fremont Culture (400 A.D. to 1300 A.D.) and Barrier Canyon Style (perhaps somewhat older) suggest the area was a trade route, as well as a homeland. The Old Spanish Trail, through a portion of the Swell, served Spanish slave traders (1780's to 1850's) and more legitimate trade between New Mexico and California. It was considered as a potential route for the Transcontinental Railroad and construction was actually begun in 1880, but was abandoned three years later. The Buckhorn Draw route was made famous by outlaws–most notably Butch Cassidy and members of his gang. Later endeavors involving the area included oil prospecting, cattle and sheep grazing (primarily for winter range), wild horse roundups and mining (sulphur, gypsum, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, and uranium). Recent modern-day interest involves recreational use and cattle grazing. Several areas are protected as Wilderness Study Areas (WSA’s).

 

The South Unit of the Ashley National Forest

            The South Unit of the Ashley National Forest lies south of US Highway 40 primarily in Duchesne County, Utah. Compared to the North Unit–which contains a portion of the High Uintas Wilderness–its beauty and recreational value are largely undiscovered. The South Unit includes over 200,000 aces of high desert mountainous areas offering camping, hiking, biking, bird and wildlife watching, wildflower viewing, a Research Natural Area, stands of bristlecone pine and quaking aspen among other species of conifers, and acres of solitude.

 

            The century since this area was set aside as a National Forest has seen its lands used primarily for logging, livestock grazing, and hunting. These days, cattle and sheep still graze in some areas, but logging has subsided and hunting is largely confined to the month of October. What this means is that a llama pack trip along the routes we have selected will generally bring you into contact with no other visitors besides those in your party.

 

            Because of the close proximity of the South Unit to our farm, we have spent countless hours exploring, hiking, cross-country skiing, fishing, and camping there. We also have more options for trip routes than currently are available in our other permit areas and are developing additional ones all the time. Some of our treks are relatively easy and are enjoyed by families with children, as well as adults who want to get away and find some quiet time in the backcountry without great exertion. Others are more strenuous. Some involve a layover day for day hikes or relaxation. Others involve hiking and moving camp every day. Guests on our South Unit trips can tell us what kind of an experience they would like and we can suggest which one(s) might best fit what they are looking for.

                                                                 

Browns Park

            Browns Park is a deep mountain valley, approximately 35 miles long and six miles wide, lying on a long bend in the Green River where Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming meet, about 3 ½ hours from Salt Lake City. Archaic Indian Tribes inhabited the area at least 13,000 years ago. When White fur trappers first entered the area in the 1820s and 1830s, they found Ute, Paiute, and Shoshone Indians. From 1837 to 1840, Fort Davy Crockett served as a trading post and center for the fur trade. Meanwhile, the mighty Green River attracted exploration. William Henry Ashley traveled down it in 1825 in buffalo hide boats. Three more parties floated the river during the 1840s, including John C. Fremont. John Wesley Powell made his first trip down the Green River in 1869. Some solitary types gravitated to Browns Park to prospect for minerals.

 

            The economic mainstay and main human use of Browns Park for decades, though, centered on cattle, brought in for the first time during the 1850s to graze and wander in this protected area of ample grass and water. More cattle were moved in throughout the next several  decades–as part of legitimate ventures, but also by cattle rustlers who found the tri-border location of Browns Park to be a relatively safe place to keep their cattle, and offering a ready escape from lawmen of whichever of the three states might pursue them. Butch Cassidy and  others not so well known, passed through, tarried in cabins and hideouts, and traded favors, whiskey, tall tales, and horses with local residents who lived the same type of challenging life as thousands of others who settled the western United States.

 

            The days of the Old West are gone, but Browns Park continues to offer a solitude and wildness that is difficult to find in modern times. Granted, from your campsite, you will probably see an occasional small boat float by as people enjoy some of Utah’s best fly-fishing. But you will walk alone on the trails of Indians, trappers, settlers, and outlaws. Browns Park is a perfect environment for wildlife, both historically and today. You may want to either precede or follow a llama pack trip with some time at the Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge just a few miles away. The Refuge serves as a nesting and resting area for around 200 species of birds, including migratory waterfowl, bald and golden eagles and peregrine falcons, and provides habitat for elk, deer, pronghorn antelope, moose, and an occasional bighorn sheep.

 

ABOUT ROSEBUD LLAMAS UTAH PACK TRIPS

            Rosebud Llamas Utah’s pack trips provide a chance to hike in some of Utah’s most beautiful and little used, high desert and mountain backcountry. You will leave behind the city, then the pavement and finally your car and, walking with the amiable, able llama, you’ll see the beauty of the backcountry, hear its sounds . . . and its silence . . . and feel at peace. The llamas– doing what llamas have been doing for thousands of years–carry all the food, the kitchen and other common gear provided by Rosebud Llamas Utah, and up to 20 pounds of your personal gear and clothing–tent, sleeping bag and pad, clothing, and other items. We will send you a list of suggested gear, clothing, and other items; weight limits; and packing suggestions when you book a trip.

 

            We offer three day/two night pack trips in the San Rafael Swell and Browns Park under special recreation use permits by the Bureau of Land Management and in the South Unit of the Ashley National Forest under a special use permit by the National Forest Service. Longer trips may also be able to be arranged in some areas. The maximum group size is four guests.

 

ABOUT LLAMAS

            Llamas have been the helpful companions of man and woman for over 5,000 years and are believed to be one of the oldest domesticated animals. They played a critical role in the economy and religion of the Inca Empire and, over the centuries, mountain peasant communities have relied on and revered them as their sole resource for transport, as well as source of wool for clothing.

 

            They are intelligent, curious, and have a naturally gentle nature. Pack llamas generally weigh from 300-400 pounds and, once lead trained, are responsive enough to be handled by a child. Although “flight” animals like other herbivores, when startled they tend to keep their heads, adding to their reliability on the trail. Having evolved in the Andes Mountains, they are sure-footed and agile enough to go almost anywhere humans can go without the use of their hands. Their soft, padded feet make them easy on the environment.

 

            Besides their historic use as pack animals, llamas are also used as sheep guards against coyotes and many llamas have fine wool used for spinning and weaving. They can be taught to pull carts and to negotiate stairs, elevators, and other indoor obstacles to visit and bring joy to school children, hospital patients, nursing home residents, and so on. Our llamas host visits every summer from people with disabilities, as well as groups of children and seniors.

 

LOGISTICS

            Guests will be expected to arrange their own transportation to our meeting place in any of the three areas. We meet at a car camp the night before a trip’s Day One in most cases for San Rafael Swell and Browns Park treks; guests on South Unit trips can elect to spend the night before a trip at our farm. However, if it works better for you to meet us on your Day One, we can rendezvous at the trailhead. Detailed instructions on how to get to the appropriate meeting place will be sent out when reservations have been booked. All trips require some driving on primarily well-maintained dirt roads. Except in bad weather, 2WD vehicles can negotiate any of the routes satisfactorily.

 

 

CHILDREN

            Children are welcome on our trips. In fact, one way backcountry-loving parents can begin to share that love with their children is by bringing llamas into the picture. There are two general guidelines we believe will ensure that the total experience is a good one, but probably an essential first step for parents is to think carefully and honestly about the skills and tolerances of their children to decide whether the time is really right for llama trekking:

 

DOGS

            We love dogs and our German Shepherd female, Danke, goes on all of our pack trips. She is friendly to both people and other dogs. If your dog is comfortable with other dogs and well behaved around large animals, and you are interested in bringing him or her, please let us know right away. You and we can talk through the pack trip scenario and come to some agreements designed to prevent unsafe or otherwise difficult “animal business.”

 

WHAT IS “LEAVE NO TRACE” BACKCOUNTRY TRAVEL

            The beauty of spending time in the backcountry can and will be spoiled if those who visit leave behind signs of their passing. The Leave No Trace (LNT) Program is a national effort designed to help people know how to be in and enjoy the backcountry and still preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. Rosebud Llamas Utah is a LNT corporate partner. Guests on our pack trips will receive information on how to be a part of this campaign and we will all work together during the trip to live out its basic principles:

 

WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW TO SERVE YOU

            Food is an important part of any trip and llamas make it possible to have real food (not freeze-dried) in the backcountry. We aim for meals that are nutritious and tasty, as well as take

into consideration any dietary needs or food preferences you and members of your group may have. We will seek your input on menus for your trip.

 

            Other special needs, such as health conditions, can be managed wisely, but it is important that you discuss any conditions you may have that could become problematic in a backcountry situation such that we may need to provide assistance or intervention. For example, if you have serious allergies, a heart condition, we need to know about that and how an episode can be managed; the high altitude in Utah can cause some problems for “flatlanders.” A mishap in remote areas can mar your experience or, worse still, precipitate a medical emergency.

 

            We are asked about the level of difficulty of our llama treks. Many guests on Rosebud Llamas Utah pack trips will be in excellent health and physically fit, but we know there are also many people with physical limitations who nonetheless have the interest, will, and ability to enjoy the backcountry. For them, llamas can make the backcountry accessible. Please feel free to discuss your hiking abilities with us so we can help you select a trip that will match them.

 

RESERVATIONS, DEPOSITS, PAYMENTS, CANCELLATIONS, AND REFUNDS

            Our three day/two night pack trips are priced as follows:

 

            San Rafael Swell           $390 per adult, $310 per child 8-12

            South Unit                    $370 per adult, $295 per child 8-12

            Browns Park                $390 per adult, $310 per child 8-12

           

Please ask us if you would like to consider a longer trip. The above rates are for fully catered trips. They include three meals on all but the final day, when breakfast and lunch are served. If you would like to bring your own food and prepare your own meals, prices vary depending on the weight of your gear, starting at $85/adult/day and $70/child under 13/day. We can also do drop camps in the South Unit.

 

            Reservations and a deposit of $150 per person are necessary to book a trip. The balance, along with a signed Waiver and Release Agreement for each member of your party, must be received 30 days prior to the start-date of your trip (your Day One). Please complete the reservation form included in this packet and send it with your check or money order to:

 

            Rosebud Llamas Utah

            P. O. Box 270090

            Fruitland, UT 84027-0090

 

            Guest-originated cancellations received over 30 days prior to your scheduled trip’s Day One will receive a full refund. Cancellations received 14 to 30 days before your trip’s Day One will be fully refunded, less $50. We are unable to give refunds for cancellations made less than 14 days before the scheduled Day One. There will be no refunds for “no shows” or if you withdraw during a trip in progress.

 

            If we deem it necessary to call off a trip because of conditions we believe may make arrival at the trail head impossible or make the trip dangerous--e.g., weather conditions or high fire danger--we will work with you to reschedule the trip. If an alternative is not possible or acceptable, all prepaid fees will be fully refunded. We also reserve the right to change a trip itinerary at any time, including during a trip in progress, for reasons of safety or the well-being of guests or animals.

 

Thank you so much for your interest--

We hope to meet you soon for a llama pack trip!