Llamas are a wonderful asset for JMT hikers. Plan early to ensure you can reserve llamas for the full length of your trip (see note below).

• Fewer Resupplies: Llamas allow you to extend the number of days between resupplies.
• Nimble & Surefooted: Llamas can easily negotiate the trail conditions along the JMT - even the big steps around Forester and other passes.
• Great Companions: For solo hikers, llamas provide a welcome buddy for times when the trail gets too quiet.

The entire JMT is open to stock animals. As in all wilderness areas, some lakes have stock restrictions. Llamas are browsers and feed on all types of vegetation (compare to horses or mules which are grazers and need meadow pasteurage and supplemental feed in the back country). Our JMT clients report plentiful feed all along the JMT.

Llamas are herd animals and need a buddy. However, for solo JMT hikers or small groups who need only one pack llama, we offer a limited number of "companion" llamas at $15 per day. Rental of companion llamas requires an 8-day minimum and allows no weight to be carried on the companion llama.

NOTE: It is best to start planning a JMT trip six to twelve months before your departure. To ensure you can reserve llamas for the entire span of your trip, call us at least six months before you plan to leave. A north to south trip is often more enjoyable than the opposite as your physical conditioning will improve along with the elevations of the mountain passes which increase as you travel from north to south.

PERMITS: Wilderness permits may be booked up to six months ahead of your planned departure date. It is very difficult to get a stock permit for Yosemite Valley so consider starting your trek at Tuolumne Meadows. Also, as of this writing, stock is not allowed to exit the trail at Whitney Portal, so consider Army Pass or Cottonwood Pass farther south as an exit trailhead.

Meadow Restrictions: For those traveling the JMT through Sequoia Kings Canyon, you must check the park service website proior to departure for guidelines and restrictions on private pack animal usage.