MEET OUR GUIDES

BILL REDWOOD

Redwood Llamas backcountry excursions are a culmination of 38 years of experience and exploration. Bill Redwood came to the area in 1978 and immersed himself in the mountains. The result is an unparalleled expertise in hiking, llama packing, and the Southwest Colorado Wilderness. Due to his contributions to the National Forest Service, Colorado Trail, and numerous relevant organizations he’s obtained permits to guide in some of the most beautiful country in the world. The guide permits are rare and unique and are currently held only by Redwood Llamas. This is part of what sets Redwood Llamas apart from other guide companies.

The main attribute that sets Redwood Llamas apart is the team itself. Lead by Bill, and his vison, there is passion inherent to the experience that is evident. After 8 years of enjoying the Colorado wilderness Bill decided to use his platform in 1985 to help others partake in these one of a kind pack trips. Everything from the clever names of the llamas to the delicious gourmet menus have taken meticulous thought and careful preparation. This venture was not a business first, so it truly feels like a personalized friendly experience.

Pete Redwood

Born and raised in Southwest Colorado Pete has always enjoyed the outdoors and still feels right at home in the mountains. A childhood filled with llamas, mountains and sports he took to being his Dad’s assistant on the trail like skis to snow. Guiding llama trips was Pete’s first official job and eventually it will also be his last.

Although he enjoys getting out on the trail as much as possible he is also focused on the long-term development of our operations. Including expansion of ranch activities, custom VIP trips, and international excursions. Expanding the boundaries of where and how we operate raises the awareness of how special, unique, and inherently critical llamas (and all animals) are for enjoying the outdoors.

Mark Pommier

Mark Pommier, a former professional mountain biker, first became involved with performance llamas when he ran for Buckhorn Llamas in the early Llamathon races. It was at these events that he met Bill Redwood, owner of the llama Clancy and promoter of the original Llamathon events, who recruited him to train and race llamas for a variety of high-profile endurance events. Pommier and Redwood gained a considerable amount of knowledge about the athletic potential of llamas during Clancy’s racing years.

When Clancy retired from racing in 1995, Pommier, along with his wife Angie, began building a successful packing and guide service called Walk on the Wild Side Llama Company from Clancy offspring. In addition to the commercial packing service, Pommier offered services such as llama training, llama leasing and educational clinics.

After ten years, Pommier rejoined Redwood in 2005 to work as trainer, head guide and consultant for Redwood Llamas. Together, Pommier and Redwood are continuing to develop a line of pack llamas with personality and athletic ability that will be hard to match.

Amber Schell

Amber Schell started at a very young age cross country skiing, running, mountain bike racing, and llama trekking with her family while growing up in the Four Corners area. She attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado obtaining a degree in exercise science. Bringing these experiences to Redwood Llamas, she decided to get back into the beautiful wilderness of Southwest Colorado which has led her back to her passion of working with llamas. Besides guiding, she is also in charge of caring, conditioning, and training the llamas for Redwood Llamas.

Brandi Atene

Brandi grew up in Navajo Mountain, Utah herding sheep on the weekends and during school breaks. The landscape at Navajo Mountain paved the way for her love for the outdoors; rock climbing, sleeping outside with cousins, hiking down to Lake Powell to cool off and trying to catch some fish.

She attended high school in Tuba City, AZ and majored in Architecture, Planning and Design at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Brandi ran cross country in high school and played basketball both high school and walk on at university. Brandi coaches girls basketball at the junior high and high school level and donates her time as an official at local youth basketball tournaments.

Her Grandparents kept Brandi involved with caring for the numerous animals and livestock at the family home. So after her introduction to llamas, training and handling them fit like a glove. Her love for the outdoors and animals blended into one.

Paul Ludgate

Paul is a native of New Zealand, currently residing in sunny Southern California. First introduced to the outdoors through the Boy Scouts; he delights in all things outdoors whether it’s hiking, climbing, or camping. Outdoor adventure has always been a passion for Paul who enjoys exploring the mountains, desert, or in, and even under, the water. Traveling extensively to pursue his interests has taken him all over the world and he loves to share his enthusiasm for the outdoors with family, friends, clients, and associates. Paul is certified as an OutdoorEducator, and Wilderness First responder, has graduated Sierra Club WTC, Advanced mountaineering 1 and 2, snow travel and crevasse rescue, is a certified level 1 ISA surf coach, and RYA certified International pleasure craft operator.

Andy Hackbarth

Andy is a talented singer/songwriter, multi instrumentalist, comedian and adventurer. The adventurer label is what draws him to the mountains with the Redwood Llamas crew. Andy’s family has been an intricate part of the Redwood operation going back to the very beginning. Sopris Unlimited founded by the Hackbarth family was established in the early 80s and offers a superior line of pack equipment uniquely designed for llamas. We still rely on Sopris for our pack gear and rely on Andy for his everlasting love for the outdoors, positive outlook, and of course fireside entertainment!

Andy is humbly ambitious having spent the last decade performing in Nashville and Denver, on tour, and gigging on cruise ships that has taken him to over 50 countries. His most recent project is maybe the most ambitious of all; renovating the historic Saguache Hotel. This endeavor will breathe new life into the community with a venue for live music, coffee shop, and cocktail lounge in the main hotel lobby. He is also actively trying to figure out how to have a few llamas on property. Andy and his family remain close personal friends with RL and he gets out on the trial as often as he can.