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RIM COUNTRY LLAMA HIKES
Pine-Strawberry
 |
| The llamas of the Ranch at Fossil Creek |
Several years ago after an alpine (4 a.m.) start and 15
miles of hiking 5000 feet up a Colorado 14er peak, I hauled my self up those
last breathless few hundred feet to claim my victory moment, and encountered---llamas.
A tour company that employs the llamas to do the heavy lifting, taking the load
off the backs and feet of the climbers, had escorted a group of hikers to the
mountaintop sherpa-style. This--I
learned--was the smart way to hike. Outfitted in rough-wove woolens and bell
garlands that pinged in the brisk 14,000' winds, the rugged beasts (and a minor
case of hypoxia) colored this Rocky Mountain wilderness in shades of Andes. That was the day I added, "hike
with llamas" to my bucket list.
As with most of the items on my list, this one mellowed into
invisibility while I toodled around the state systematically working through an
assortment of hiking objectives both epic and mundane. Finally through a serendipitous
interest in day hikes offered in conjunction Arizona Trail Trek 2014, I was
able to walk with the llamas of The Ranch at Fossil Creek. The convergence of
Pine-Strawberry Trails Day and Arizona Trail hiker Sirena Dufault passing
through the town on her 817-mile trans-state trek was the perfect recipe for an
outdoor celebration. On Sunday,
May 4, 2014, llama wrangler, Joyce Bittner conducted a short loop hike as part
of the festivities, which serve as a party style shout out to all the wonderful
hiking opportunities in the area and also to support Sirena's goal to raise
$20,000 for the maintenance and promotion of the Arizona Trail. In addition to
miles of trails on the cool forests of the Mogollon Rim, there are plenty of
other reasons to pay a visit to the twin hamlets of Pine and Strawberry. Craft
events, races, historical tours, proximity to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
and local business like The Honey Stand (try the Pine Wildflower honey) and
That Brewery (yummy Arizona Trail Ale) complement the perfect summer escape.
GETTING THERE:
Pine-Strawberry is located roughly 110 miles north of
Phoenix on AZ87 (Beeline Hwy).
THE RANCH AT FOSSIL CREEK LLAMA HIKES
Half-day tours cost $65 per person ($40 for children under
12 years). Reservations are required.
928-476-5178
RIM COUNTRY INFO:
CONTRIBUTE TO ARIZONA TRAIL TREK:
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