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Backpacking Llamas - Hurst Lake, Uintahs 8/22-23/25

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Itinerary:

Day 1:

7:30 am - Carpool (earlier depending on meet up)

8:00 am - Krishna Temple Llama Training

9:00 am - 9:30 am - Load Up

10:30 am - Heber City Park (distribute gear to llama packs- need all gear present for this).

11:30 am - lunch at Dairy Keen (walk from the park)

1:30 pm - Lofty Lake Trailhead (set up shuttle - Ruth Lake Trailhead)

2:00 pm - Hike into Hurst Lake

5:00 pm - Set up camp at Hurst Lake

6:00 pm - Dinner

7:00 pm - (Optional Hike NO Llamas) to Jewel Lake 0.5 mi or Jewel, Cutthroat & Teal Lakes 2.5 miles.


Day 2:

Backpack to Ruth Lake and then to Ruth Lake Trailhead 2 mi

12:30 pm - Head out

1:30 pm - Lunch in Heber or head home

4:00 pm -  Return llamas

6:00 pm - Home


Cost:

$65/person for llama and trailer rental, gas (Costs $400 overnight for 2 llamas and trailer)

$6 for Forest Entrance Fee or National Parks America the Beautiful Pass gets you in free.


Activity:

Backpacking with llamas - 4.5+ miles total over 2 days. One way hike through Scout Lake, Ruth Lake and surrounding areas. Set up shuttle before backpacking with one vehicle at Ruth Lake Trailhead and one at Lofty Lake Loop Trailhead. Start at Lofty Lake Loop Trailhead. Hike 1.5 miles to Scout Lake (All Trails Trip Report) and then another mile to Hurst Lake for the night. Optional hike 2.5 mi (Jewel Lake, Cutthroat, Teal Lakes back to Hurst Lake - All Trails Trip Report). Hike out is 1 mile to the Ruth Lake Trailhead from Hurst Lake. There is water all along the way so you can bring a purifier to lighten you load. 2 Llamas (each one can carry about 60 lbs). We loved the length of the route.  We liked that is was just 2 short uphills. Got to see the Ice Caves, great pics at Scout Lake and Hurst Lake was perfect for camping at since it is not along a trail we were only ones there on a Saturday in August with our own private lake and the dry lake bed right next it was the perfect dry campsite meadow, soft to sleep on and ample grass for llamas. 


Tips on Llamas -

  • Recommend 16 lbs of your weight onto the llama and rest you carry in a medium hiking pack.

  • You will get trained on llama care just before trip at Krishna Temple

  • Llamas must be rented in pairs

  • Keep them in sight of each other but not too close or they will spit at each other

  • They can be stubborn and lay down on the trail

  • Keep someone walking ahead of the group to keep dogs away or off trail on leash (the llamas will attack dogs)

  • One person needs to lead them the whole time

  • Llamas are nervous crossing water especially bridges

  • Tie up llamas at camp within sight of each other and with water buckets nearby


Gear: Backpack (big enough to hold all gear with waist belt), sleeping bag (rated to 20 degrees), sleeping pad, tent, cooking stove and fuel, camping mess kit, hiking pants, thin synthetic pants (night), synthetic T-shirt, long sleeve synthetic top, long sleeve fleece, light waterproof jacket, medium down coat, thin gloves, winter hat, sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, headlamp, 2 L water, 6-8 snacks, backpacking dinner & breakfast, first aid kit, wool socks, hiking boots or shoes, trekking poles (optional), water purifier (optional, route has enough lakes you don't need to carry much water if use water purification bottle). Small camelback for hike without llamas, bear spray, 50 ft cordage and bag for food bag to hang


Rentals:

  • Llamas - Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork

Vai Bhavi - 

801-919-9933


We rented Kapil (white older male stud. Experienced but does sit down a bunch) & Pada (young stubborn teenager. Easily spooked incline and rock steps).We would rent Kapil again but Pada we would not. 


  • Tents (2 man - $18, 4 man - $30 BYU Outdoors Unlimited; 2 man - $18, 4 man - $22 UVU Outdoor Adventure Center)

  • Sleeping bags (0 degree - $28, 30 degree - $28 BYU Outdoors Unlimited; 0 degree - $18, 30 degree - $16 UVU Outdoor Adventure Center)

  • Sleeping pads (thermarest - $12 BYU Outdoors Unlimited; thermarest - $12 UVU Outdoor Adventure Center)

  • Backpacks (85 liter - $22 BYU Outdoors Unlimited; 65 liter - $18 UVU Outdoor Adventure Center)

  • Stove with fuel ($10 BYU Outdoors Unlimited; $12 UVU Outdoor Adventure Center)

  • Mess kit ($10 BYU Outdoors Unlimited; $8 UVU Outdoor Adventure Center)

  • Water Filter ($10-12 UVU Outdoor Adventure Center)






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