MEET OUR LLAMAS
Since 1982
Redwood Llamas Lead Packers
A major factor that differentiates Redwood Llamas from other operations is the quility of llamas in our herd. We pride ourselves on maintaining the best stock of pack animals in the Americas. This didn’t happen overnight; our dedication to responsibly scaling our breeding program, developing and training our llamas, diversifying the herd through proven bloodlines, has been a paramount priority since the early 1980’s.
Bill Redwood originally procured the llamas to aid in exploring the Rocky Mountains when he had twin boys born in 1982. What started with 2 is now well over 100 llamas. We have brought in new bloodlines from all over North America, and have explored Peru, Argentina, and Bolivia as well. We are always on the lookout for animals that can optimize our program and apply a daily focus of maintiaining quaility control by developing all our llamas in-house.
Most notably much of our herd is a decedent of the great Clancy, who remains probably the most famous llama of all time. Aside from his Sport Illustrated accolades he was part of the Redwood family. Traits that have become synonymous with Redwood stock such as athletic, calm, strong, and loving we attribute a good amount of credit to Clancy for inherently passing down characteristics he embodied. He was simply the best, the GOAT of llamas, and his legend lives on through our pack string.
We got Clancy at 6 months old from Catskill Game Farm upper state of New York. Those animals were derived from the llamas from the Hurst Castle in San Simenon, CA. Hurst is renowned for many of the original north American, classic, short wool llama, and help lay the foundation for where we are today with our animals.
An example of how one player can change the organization at an institutional level. We are continuing to raise the bar and strive for greatness from our herd.
Zeus
Zeus is true to his name and a crowd favorite among patrons and guides alike. Even though he’s easily one of our largest llamas in stature, he has a heart of gold, and embodies his namesake. Zeus is 9 years old, born on Redwood Ranch, and is a veteran stalwart of the trail, very mellow, and loves to eat!
Zeus is leaned on heavily as part of our breeding program; his father Super Stretch is full Canadian and his offspring have made our herd significantly stronger. Now his sons and daughters are helping to shape our pack string for the future.
Artemus
Artemus has many fine traits that make him one of our leads. A very even keeled llama: his kind and gentle temperament serves the team both on and off the trail. If motivation is needed, he’s a big treat guy! Born in Wyoming at High Trail Llama Ranch from Al Ellis, a breeder of classic North American Pack stock, he has been an integral part of the pack string for years. He’s very cerebral with ten years of wisdom.
Akin to Zeus, having the same mother (Rosemary), Artemus is also very involved in our breeding program. Rosemary (a true spitfire) and Artemus are from a new bloodline we brought in to diversify the herd.
Wyatt
Wyatt is a half-brother to Artemus/Zeus – (Rosemary baby) and he looks a lot like Artemus. However, Wyatt has developed into an even stronger packer. He was king of the fence for a period; but reigned a bit too aggressive and we were forced to gild him. That transition improved Wyatt’s performance on the trail and in the backcountry. He’s always had a tremendous work ethic and has really come into his own.
Part of a newer bloodline/breeding stock Wyatt is easily one of our favorites. He and his half brother Virgil are named after The Earp Brothers
Jaffe
Jaffe is one of our more spirited guys, great energy, and is considered one of the most dependable llamas we have. His happy place is off on the trail in the middle of the mountains. It’s incredible to see the llama’s demeanor change as they unload the trailer to hit the trail. It is undeniable proof that llamas truly are beasts of burden; Jaffe loves to hike and is our go-to guy for any adventure. Jaffe has been a main stud for the RL herd for 10 years. As the elder Statesmen at 16 years old, Jaffe is a proven packer, loves to eat, and is a total character; he is undoubtably one of our favorite llamas.
Bought in 2008 for enhancing bloodline from Al Ellis of high Trail Llamas who has produced some of the best bloodlines in North America including our old friend and colleague Stan Ebel of Buckhorn Llamas. Stan procured a Canadian bloodline in the 70’s and has run a breeding program for short wool, pack llamas for decades. We continue to see both High Trail and Buckhorn Llama traits in our offspring and now part of our breeding stock.
Grant
Grant is the leader of our pack. As current king of the fence he makes sure the other llamas know he’s in charge; but that doesn’t take away from his undeniable work ethic. He is happy to be the lead and put in a hard day’s work on the trails, his endurance and athletic ability is unmatched.
Grant has balanced medium build, diverse bloodline and is an interracial piece of our breeding program. He’s so valuable that we lease him out to other farms to use Grant for breeding. His mother is our original bloodline from Patterson Ranch – also source of our first studs George and Clancy – and father from Black Thunder bloodline out of Idaho (known for packers that are large stature and short wool).
Naches
Naches is an inquisitive and kind llama who has taken little time to come into his own. Once you earn his trust, he’ll be sweet on you forever. Naches came from a classic bloodline to diversify our herd from Niki and Jeff Kuklenski (JNK Llamas of Northern Washington State) (coupled with bloodlines from Oregon and the front range of Colorado). At 5 years old he’s mellow, calm, proven himself on the trail, and plan on using him existentially in our breeding program. Named after WA State Pass.
Virgil
Virgil is our workhorse llama. You can count on Virgil to stay focused on the trail and carry the heavier packs. He’s also been known to win some of the events at the Llama Olympics (ask your guide what those are)!
Not part of original herd, but was raised on Redwood Ranch, Virgil came from Black Thunder bloodlines of Idaho. Which means he’s very large, muscular, solid, a true worker, no complaining or laying down for Virgil. He’s 6 years old and named after the other Earp Brother like his kin Wyatt.
Houdini
Houdini is an outstanding athlete. When he was younger, he seemed to always find a way out of the fence, hence his namesake. He is a hard worker, gentle, and an asset to our team on any adventure.
Around 7 years old is when we typically see our packers really get comfortable. Houdini is now 6 years and on the cusp of the top tier of packers. A son of Vance (RIP to one of our best), and mother Faith (Hill), which is a Clancy breed, he’s also got George, Black Thunder, and Wyoming blood (our most diverse bloodline). He inherently has the strong but not too aggressive demeanor; we plan to start breeding him this year. Smart money is on him to take the fence next.
Garth
Garth is a very strong, a hard worker, and although has always been a quiet, reserved llama, he is also notoriously willing to try anything. If we had to choose just one word for Garth, it would probably be dependable.
One of our younger llamas 5 years old, has all the bloodlines. Named after Garth Brooks … but go figure he’s as calm and quiet as they come.
Diego
Diego is newer to the pack string is doing an incredible job at learning how to pull his own weight on the trail. When Diego is not in the mountains, he is usually floating around being social and loves a good pet on the neck.
Diego is one of our youngest llamas ever to start packing at 3 years old (4 is typical). He’s proving to be an ultimate packer. Young and promising, Diego is a Barn Stormer — Jaffe/Clancy/George bloodlines.
Blake
Blake is one of our younger packers and has a ton of energy. The trait of being a bit high strung is not abnormal for llamas coming up the pack ranks; these types of llamas many times turn out to be some of our best studs. Named after Blake Shelton, his mother Reba McEntire (another high producing female of the the herd). At 6 years old we have high hopes for Blake as he carves out a role for years to come in the pack hierarchy.