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Llama Treks

Waterville, Vermont - July 2, 2009

Smuggler's Notch: It's rugged country for those with little legs, but the perfect terrain for guys like Moe. Moe is a 14-year-old llama; a llama with an appetite for both food and adventure.

"They all like to hike and walk. The best thing to do with a llama is take it for a walk," explained Lindsay Chandler.

Chandler has been taking her llamas for walks the last 22 years. She owns Northern Vermont llama company, one of a handful of businesses in the state that offer this fluffy alternative to traditional hiking.

"With the little kids, they're walking a big animal, so it's really something for them to be able to lead a large animal like that and the llama just follows them everywhere," Chandler said.

"Randy was kind of turny... he was turning so much," said Owen Ferguson, of Massachusetts. Owen said the llama was hard to keep in a straight line and wouldn't listen to him.

Llamas have long been used as pack animal in places like South America, although they're still relatively new to Vermont. They started showing up on farms here in the early 1980s, and while they're popularity has waned some, there are still close to 700 of them in the state of Vermont.

"I like their peace of mind," Chandler explained. "They're just peaceful, quiet animals, not really demanding, but real companionable animals."

Susan Ferguson of Massachusetts said, "It's a great little trip for kids, just to get them out and enjoying nature and seeing these animals and seeing how nice and docile they are."

These three-hour treks include a brook-side brunch of fruits, cookies, and ice cream... and some tasty leaves if you're a llama.

But the meal is well deserved.

By the end of the trek these kids had forgotten all about their little legs, distracted instead by their long necked friends. Friends they were all plotting to somehow fit in the car and bring home.

Animals perhaps better suited for the trail and the mountains of Vermont.

And if you want to take one of these guys on a hike through Smuggler's Notch. They're more than ready to go. Click here for more information.

Keagan Harsha - WCAX News

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