On August 23, we went on a llama trek to Jordan Lake in the Uinta mountains. This was the second year we had made this same trip on the same weekend. It was a nice day, but I was late to the trailhead again. (Not as late as last year!) Stan and Gail Sjol and Dan and Judy Hendrickson were there and had already loaded their llamas. They all jumped into action to help me get my llamas (Carmello, Buckwheat, Sonny and Roy) out of the truck and trailer so we could all get on the trail together. With all those hands, it didn't take long. Soon, we got the "LLAMAS-UP" call from Dan and we were off on the Highline trail - 5 people and 11 llamas.

The hike to the lake was largely uneventful, but pleasant. We didn't see very many people on the trail and that was nice. Dan and Judy had a few "first-time" llamas with them and they did pretty well. One of them had great fun for the first few miles and then decided he was finished. He kushed on the trail and was a little difficult to get up and going again. When Dan did get him up, they put him behind "Big Fritz". He then decided it was much better to walk than to be dragged up the trail and he did fine from then on.

At the Jordan lake, we found that the campsite we used last year, where Dan, Stan, and the Millers "Saved my Life" (never let the truth get in the way of a good story) was already occupied. We passed by and came to another site that we found to be even better accommodations. It was very flat and had good grass for the llamas. After setting up we had several good meals (No Vi-anna Sausages or canned Ravioli's this year) including steak, fajitas, scrambled eggs, etc. At one particular meal, we learned that Stan has a particular affinity for seafood and noodles.

On the next day, Stan and I caught some nice little brook trout. Not too many and not too big, but enough to make it interesting. Later, Dan invited us all to go on a little1-mile hike to another nearby lake. 4 miles or so later, we made it back to camp. For some reason, between the GPS and all of our fine map reading skills, we never did find that lake. We did however see some beautiful mountain views. In the evenings, the 5 of us had good conversation huddled around a gas lantern in Stan and Gail's tent before retiring to our own tents for the night.

The hike back to the trailhead was just as pleasant as the hike to the lake and we were able to make it out almost as quickly as we made it in. Back at the trailhead, we found that a flat tire on my truck awaited me. Again, everyone pitched in to help me out and get me back on the road. In no time at all, we were loading llamas in the truck and trailer and were headed home. The 2nd annual August Pack Trip was another great success.

The end.

-- Tracy Otterness

Photos by Stan Sjol