packing question...

I've been wondering about renting a pack animal to carry my gear on long hikes. packing my own gear limits me to about a 2-3 mile round trip because of severe OA in both knees. however, if I didn't have to pack my own gear I could probably double or even tripple that distance for a day trip (a long day, but still...)

Anyway, can anyone point me toward resources for renting some sort of pack animal? I know they aren't allowed on a lot of trails, but there are a lot of places in GPNF that allow horses and other pack animals.

I'll be getting knee replacements on both sides over the next 3 years, but my distance will still be limited for about the nest 5 years while I rebuild my strength.

Thanks in advance,

-CK

Llamas are supposedly the most enduring and least demanding pack animals. They also have minimal impact on trails with two-toed hooves and leathery pads on their feet. They walk at a slower pace, and it's easier to keep up.
The animals were domesticated in South America 6,000 years ago by the Incas.
They are used on steep slopes and narrow trails in the Andes Mountains.
There's an Oregon company called Hurricane Creek Llama Treks (wwww.hcltrek.com) that offers llama trek trips June - September in the Eagle Cap Wilderness and Hells Canyon.
(no affiliation - just read about them.)
Every time I see some pet llamas in a field, I think how they could carry all my photo gear up a mountain. Apparently it's not quite that easy. I once had a conversation with a llama breeder, and he told me the llamas need to be specially trained and cared for to be used as pack animals.
Harald

Curtis,
Sorry to hear about your knees. I know someone who just had two knee replacements. It didn't look like alot fun. As for packing, I know you can rent horses with a guide in the Wallowa Mts. Another option would be by brother.

ya know, I actually thought about loading Rick up with my gear, but someone said it might require a lot of legal paper work... :(

One other consideration is to confirm prior to going to the effort of securing a pack animal is whether or not you can bring said Rick Lundh I mean Llama into the area you want to hike in. National parks might be restrictive on this...

So using Rick Lundh again might be your only solution. I'm sure he could schlepp at least 75lbs!! More than enough to provide a very sumptuous campsite!!! LOL

lol...I know I may smell like a mule sometimes, but have never been directly paid to be one Considering smells...you may just be better off with a Llama or mule...
Sorry about the knees thing...I thought I couldn't hike much anymore a little over a year ago, because I was limping pretty hard while coming back down trails, even 2 mile'rs. Ever since I replaced the insouls in my hiking boots, well...I just did over 40 miles in 4 days, and on some VERY steep trails, and my knees are just fine. You probably already have followed those measures...but as your working back into it...go to the Walking Store in one of the malls and stand on that machine that measures your weight distribution on your feet. They'll give you the correct insouls for your stance, and it's about $60. not bad...

Thanks Rick! I'll check out the walking store. I've done some things with my shoes/insoles, and the surgeoun has tried several non-invasive/non-narcotic methods to reduce the knee pain so I can get the excersize I need to lose weight, but none of them have worked. But for $60 I'll give the walking store a try. it can't hurt!

BTW: how long will you last packing my stuff without being fed?

Curits, get some hiking poles also.