HIKING WITH LAMAS : Hiking the Continental Divide With Lucky and Lester: The Backcountry Pro Series

by Jean Vives

What is it like to hike with Llamas? Especially two great llamas who had lots of personality? This book describes the adventures of Chris and John as they hiked the 750 mile Continental Trail through Colorado. Accompanying them were two llamas by the names of Lucky and Lester. We quickly grew a bound with these two wonderful animals.These Llamas worked hard and were so easy to get along with. We went through snow storms and rain storms. Up steep mountains, over hard passes and along unending ridges on the adventure of a life time. These beasts became almost like fellow humans. But they were better than humans. They were nimble footed and climbed up rocky faces and even over snowy passes without a complaint. How lucky we were to have found such wonderful animals! Not only does the book talk about hiking the Colorado segment of the Continental Trail, it is also a good primer for those thinking about using llamas on similiar trips. There are several technical sections on how to organize such a trip including: trail navigation, what maps to get, what guide books to look for, what everyday gear to bring, the food we ate, and the clothing we used. It also goes over what GPS and rescue satellite strobe devices that are available. There is even a technical appendix listing all the equipment taken, plus outfitters, organizations involved with the use of llamas. Mountain emergency medical books are listed along with books covering the feeding and caring for llamas. This book was written by the former head of Aspen Alpine Guides and now a writer and guide based in Boulder, Colorado. In addition, Jean has written over 40 articles and three how to books on backcountry travel and techniques. He and his wife Chrystiane have hiked all over the world including Nepal (Everest Base Camp), The Tour du Mount Blanc, France; Bhutan, Mexico and China just to name a few. Jean has doctorate in Exercise Physiology from the University of Northern Colorado and was an professor at the University of Kathmandu. Chrystiane has her Masters in Health Care Administration and is now working Home Health Care in Boulder, Colorado.

84 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 9, 2014