Good boots are the foundation for Backpackers, and a good saddle is the foundation for a llama packer. There are two types, soft and hard framed.

Soft framed saddle- Soft framed saddles are about 8-10 pounds including panniers. The padding is built into the saddle. Soft saddles are good for loads up to 50 lbs. More weight and top loading tends to make these saddles slip and slide. All of the soft saddle systems I have seen have high quality workmanship and will last a lifetime. Soft saddle systems tend to be lower in cost.

Hard framed saddle-Hard framed saddle systems are heavier, usually 12-15 lbs. Some Hard frame saddles have attached padding, and others require a separate pad. Hard frame saddles are very stable, and I have loaded over 90 lbs. Top loading capability is excellent. The commercial hard frame saddles are more expensive but also have high quality workmanship. I have seen many homemade Hard Frame saddle systems. Some were light, some were heavy. The rigging systems were flimsy. I would not recommend a handy man special.

Suggestion: When buying a saddle system, request a few extra buckles and snaps per system. There is no standard design for plastic buckles. You need to get the plastic buckles from the manufacturer. Otherwise you will have a buckle break, and you cannot find that brand in a hardware store.

Picket lines- There are two types of picket lines, high lines and ground lines. High lines require trees and high alpine has few or no trees. I do not use this them. Ground lines are two styles, one dog screw with 15’ to 20’ of rope or strap. Some people attach a shock cord to the screw end in case the llama lunges. I use 2 dog screws and 50’ to 100’ of 1200 lb. test climbing strap. I tie loops every 10’ or so as anchor points. Separately, I cut 6’ to 7’ pieces of climbing strap and attach a buckle to each end.

Caution: Any spring style clip will work for the end that attaches to the loop on the ground line. My llamas over the years have defeated every type of spring style clip attached to their halter. A locking carbineer or a D-clip are the only hardware my llamas have not defeated.

When choosing a campsite, first choice is near a green meadow with firm soil that the dog screws can screw into and be stable. Sometimes the ground is too hard, or too sandy for dog screws to work. A sack of rocks is my backup. The feed store or Tractor Supply have nylon feed sacks. You want 1” to 2” nylon squares. Bigger squares do not work well. You put 35 to 50 lbs. of rock in the sack, and that is your anchor. Do not under fill the sack as your llama will pull it around at night rubbing the ground and the rocks fall out.

Learning to untangle themselves on a picket line is one of the most important things llamas must learn. They must learn it at home, not on the trail. Llamas can hogtie themselves quite severely. The best place to learn to untangle themselves is in the front or backyard. When you have yard work, house painting, or whatever to do, put your rookie llamas on the picket line where you can watch. A grazing technique I use is free range browsing. I let a few llamas go at a time with a 20’ cord attached to their halter. Browsing lessens the impact and is a real treat for your llamas. They will also find a dust bath and be a very happy llama. My rule is to let less than half browse at a time. The majority must be on the picket line to keep the minority near camp.

Caution: Active Breeding males have been known to escape and run miles and miles back to the trailhead. They want to return home to their females. You must be sure to have no knots or loops tied on the 20’ cord as these can snag.

Water Buckets– Llama packing requires more water than backpacking. I use collapsible vinyl, 1 ½ to 2 gallon buckets to fill the 2 to 3 quart soft dog bowls for the llamas. After watering the llamas I hang a bucket from a tree with a lead rope. I use this water for cooking and washing hands. Also you can fill a bucket and let it hang for 20 to 30 minutes, letting the sediment settle to the bottom. Then pump your filter water off the top half, or pour the top half into your gravity feed filter bag. It reduces filter cleaning or replacement tremendously.

Poop Rake– I bring a wood handled 8” plastic rake. Its primary purpose is scattering dung piles in camp and on the trail. It is required in National Parks. It can be handy in the National Forest if a barky dog comes too close. A smack on the nose works well. It is nice to rake the debris away from where I want to set up my tent. I have had wilderness rangers express their gratitude toward the low impact ethic of llamas.

Tip: Offer to haul out any garbage the rangers may have collected.