Quality
Connection
&
to the altiplano
Excellence
Connection
&
to the altiplano
Excellence
&
to the altiplano
Excellence
to the altiplano
Excellence
Excellence
Quality & Excellence
Having extensive experience with llamas and their fiber, a lifetime of dressing for life lived outdoors, an appreciation of the Aymara culture and its tie to the environment of the altiplano region, and the connections and relationships with the many people necessary to collaborate on such a multifaceted venture; we occupy a position no one else shares.
5 decades of llama experience
Our Journey & Legacy
1977
Started acquiring llamas from around the U.S. and Canada as the foundation for our newly formed breeding enterprise, Great Divide Llamas, focused on producing and training pack llamas for wilderness packing in the Rocky Mountains.
1978
Designed the first Great Divide Llama Chute for vetting our brood females
1979
Conducted our first family pack trip with two llamas to Brown’s Lake in the Roosevelt National Forest, CO. Experienced the potential of pack llamas,
1980
Designed the first CO Pivot Pack
1980
Put out our first government leases with a 4 animal lease to RMNP, a two animal lease to the Red Feather Ranger District, and a 2 animal lease to USGS
1982
Moved the family and llamas to Fort Collins CO.
1983
Became a cooperating research herd with CSU under the leadership of Dr LaRue Johnson.
1983
Organized the Fairplay Llama Race.
1983
Exhibited the first llamas at the NWSS in Denver, CO.
1984
Started conducting guided llama pack trips in CO and UT under permits from USFS and BLM.
1985
Formed Buckhorn Llama Co., Inc. as an entity separate from our breeding enterprise, Great Divide Llamas, to train pack llamas and offer llama packing services for guided trips, leases, drop camps, and back country business support.
1988
Began building trails under contract with the USFS and BLM.
1988
Began making and selling Christmas wreathes from boughs hauled by llamas.
1989
Began offering trips in Southern UT and Northern AZ from headquarters in Bluff UT.
1994
Paired with Trek for Light to lease to blind hikers paired with sighted guides to do 5 day pack trips into the Rawah Wilderness.
1995
Began building our new headquarters facility.
1995
Member of Canyonlands Task Force that successfully rescinded a disease-based ban on llamas in Canyonlands National Park.
1996
Produced professional model of the Great Divide restraint chute for veterinary teaching hospitals and vet clinics.
1997
Conducted a 4 day Tactical Weapons pack animal training course for 101st Airborne Special Forces Mountaineering Group.
1997
Began providing pack lamas for annual CSU South American Land Managers summer course.
1999
Formed Altiplano Insulation, Inc. to produce 100% llama fiber garments.
2000
Conducted testing and designed llama fiber clothing for outdoor and casual wear. Began marketing though retailers and online.
2001
Began producing llama fiber garments in Peru and Bolivia. These countries had the necessary fiber volume and technical expertise to produce our clothing.
2006
Began providing pack llama support for trail building NGO’s and conservation nonprofits.
2007
Conducted a second 5 day Special Forces pack animal instruction.
2010
Began increasing our brood herd and lease string in response to increased demand for pack llamas.
2015
Hauled steel and supplies to build exploders for avalanche control on Loveland Pass.
2015
Formed Ad Hoc Committee for Llama Access to Public Lands with Scott Woodruff and Phil Nuechterlein in response to Wild Sheep Foundation initiatives to ban llamas from wild sheep ranges in Canada and the U.S. based on false disease threats. www.packllamas.org was created to aggregate research information and give researchers and owners necessary information to counter WSF efforts. Put in screen shot of Home page: www.packllamas.org
History & Heritage
Altiplano
&
Aymara
The Aymara have weathered years of marginal subsistence with their llamas and are being forced from this existence as the global economy encroaches. Our hope is to link the Aymara to a viable economy through the fiber they expertly produce and ultimately see their traditional culture endure.
