It's Saturday Night, here in Llama Farm Cabin D, and I'm relaxing in my jammies with my itunes jamming. I arrived here at Highline Trail Llamas just nearly about 1 week ago, and man has it been a fun week.
It started off with a rainy drive from Big Piney to Boulder. Lacking an exact address for the ranch, I just plugged in randomly to my GPS, hoping it would lead me somewhere close. By the time I arrived at the closest spot my GPS could pick, I had not yet seen a sign for Pinedale, let alone Boulder (Pinedale is the next closest town... about 20-25 minutes awayish) While driving down the dark road with no signs or streetlights, it began to rain. Great. Then, an electric warning sign alerted me to the fact that Elk might be on the road... for the next 10 miles. Little Nissan Altima vs. Elk/Moose/Llama any other large mammal was not a fight I wanted to pick, and so I drove eyes wide and knuckles white. Finally, after a couple phone calls and some wrong turns, I arrived.
I spent the first couple nights in Al and Sondie's (the llama ranch owners) BEAUTIFUL custom built log house, where I was treated to exquisite meals as I became acclimated and slept soundly. Having driven across the country in a little under a week, crossed 2 time zones, and risen over 7,000 feet in elevation, those first couple days were pretty rough. I slept a lot. And ate a lot. Times were good.
Work on the ranch included daily feedings of the nearly 200 llamas (OMGSOMANYLLAMAS!), as well as cleaning up after them. Haha. "Sure, llamas have communal dung piles, but sometimes there are several communities." There was a lot of poop to be shoveled, and after several hours of shoveling wet poop, hay, dirt, and snow into the back of the wagon, I sure was feeling it.
But of course, I did not come to Wyoming just to scoop poop! (Though that certainly is a factor- hey, if you wanna work with llamas, or any livestock, you need to be versed in ALL aspects of husbandry and management, ye?) I have gotten to brush out several llamas, teasing out their undercoats with special combs. Depending on their wool type, this could take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour! Some appreciate the brushing/back scratching more than others. I have also gotten the chance to learn some handling techniques and giving directions, gotten to practice putting on halters (a face-harness specifically made for llamas, attached to a rope to allow you to lead them around), and de-worming.
And of course, llamas are smart, and so me, being the new guy, would sometimes test my constitution. Fortunately, most of the llamas have been kind, and not too difficult to deal with. I have YET to be spit on! Hah! I also have two excellent teachers at the ranch who have been very helpful. Today, actually, Karen took me on a tour of two of the paddocks with the pregnant moms (whom we had brushed out earlier) and tested me on their names. With several hints, and a near aneurysm, I was able to remember most of the ladies, who are due to start having crias (babies) in just a couple weeks! Very exciting!
I also got the chance to head into town with Karen and Cathy (the other farm worker). For future reference, when I say "town," I am refering to Pinedale. The "town" of Boulder is made up of a gas station/bar/restaurant, and a post office... there you have it. While in Pinedale, we took a scenic mountain drive to examine the amazing, snowy view from 8,000 feet up in the mountains. We then got dinner at the local brewery, where I got to meet some of the locals, who were good-natured in their ribbing of the Connecticut boy wearing a North Carolina shirt lost in Wyoming. I also picked up some kitchen essentials from the local grocer, and would like to venture into town more often to do some more exploring.
I have set up camp in Llama Farm Cabin D, and have created a rough, loosely applied daily schedule for myself. From my kitchen window I can see the Wind Peak Mountains (when the view isn't obscured by snow or clouds!) I also am on the lookout for a family of moose, who inhabit the area and apparently like to chillax by my place, haha. I've read several books/plays already, and begun writing again! I also get to ride an ATV (4 wheeler/quad) to work every day- how many people get to say that! In my meantime, I'm also doing research- reading up on camelid management and articles on llama health. The work is rough, but not killer, and allows me time in the evenings to myself :-) I am very happy thusfar, and cannot wait for the weather to clear up (we've gotten snow the past 3 days), so that we may begin conditioning the llamas in the surrounding desert areas for the pack season.
ta ta (for now)
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