Catered llama trip, Upper Sand Creek, October 15-20, 2026

BJ Orozco, our long-time llama packer, has transitioned his llama business over to a new owner, Eric Sheffield. We have met Eric while he has supported BJ on a couple of previous trips, and enjoyed his company. BJ had a good long run, but Eric offers some new energy and ideas for the business. I look forward to more years of trips with Eric.

For a first trip with Eric, I propose a fully catered trip to a region of upper Sand Creek that several of us visited in spring 2012.  A full trip report can be found at https://lamountaineers.org/node/201#comments. The trip allowed for exploration into and around multiple canyon systems, including the massive Death Hollow complex. The only downside of the 2012 trip, in late May-June, was unpleasant heat, but we are likely to be fine in mid-October.

We will head to a single campsite on Sand Creek for the duration of the trip. Our route is likely to take us in on the Boulder Mail Trail starting from Boulder airstrip, then heading north when we near Sand Creek. Eric and his guides will provide all meals, cooking, purified water, and toilet facilities, and perhaps more (e.g. chairs). We will spend 5 nights in the canyon country, with 4 full days to explore from our base camp. Although fully catered trips are not our usual choice, they make for a simpler trip for the participants.

The trip is viable with 5 to 7 participants, and the per person fee will range from $3000 to $2500 to $2400 per person, depending on whether we have 5, 6, or 7 participants. To secure a spot, please send me a deposit of $1500 per person. Once we get an idea of our numbers, I will collect the rest of the fee. Refunds are possible if we can find a suitable replacement for your spot. I can arrange for you to contract directly with the llama packer, rather than me, if you need to do so in order to purchase trip insurance.

Schedule:

(optional) Tuesday, October 13. Leave Los Alamos, drive to Bluff, Utah (5 1/2 hours).

Wednesday, October 14: drive to Torrey or Boulder, Utah from home or Bluff, overnight in a motel. Let’s carpool as much as possible.

Thursday, October 15: meet llama packer Eric, head into the canyon. It is helpful if some of us share the llama leading on the way to and from camp.

Friday-Monday: four full days in the canyon wilderness, with explorations every day

Tuesday, October 20 hike out, end of trip. Some participants will drive to Hanksville to begin a second house-based canyon trip. Others can arrange a motel where they would like, and continue home the next day.

I will explore lodging possibilities for October 14 as the trip comes closer.

We’ve never had a bad llama trip, and this should be a great one. Sincerely, Bill