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ADVENTURE WRITER John Moore (that's him on the left) unties his hiking partner during their
“resent eagle-viewing hike along the Chekamus River near Squamish.

ul

“] LOVE to go a-wandering,
“My knapsack on my llama,
‘ Valderee! Valderah!”

By John Moore
“> Contributing Writer -

That's right, I said “lama.” If
_ your eyebrows shot up because you
:_ know the llama is a South American
.beast of burden, domesticated thou-
sands of years ago by the native

Inca, go to the head of the class. If .

“you also know the llama and the
.'smaller alpaca ‘and. vicuna are
“descended from the larger guanaco
‘and: that they're, all cousins of the
‘camel, call the makers of Jeopardy.

Sure, you can visit a tama in a
petting zoo, but.if you: want to see
‘them doing what they do best, (i.e.
: Carrying your pack), go no further
than Squamish. Cloudraker. Llamas
, Offers guided eagle-viewing hikes
“ dlong the Chekamus River in win-

. ter, and picnic trips in summer, with

. “Hamas doing all the heavy work.
=. [knew T was fated to go nose-to-
“nose. .with these woolly expatriates
; “when I discovered them almost: in

my.own backyard. I've been seeing

“them with increasing frequency in’
the: last few - years. Driving to
Chilliwack recently, counting cows
“out of childhood habit, found

a mye enumerating a herd of Ila-
mas trotting across a Fraser Valley ;

‘fields’ 5

“” Since then, Hamas, on account of
their intelligence, sensitivity and
“low. maintenance, . have ‘become
trendy: livestock/pets. Likewise,
* Jlama-trekking is becoming a popu-

KE A SAILING “SIES)
~. INBAJA
Sail Mexico's Wondrous Sea o Canter.

LIVEABOARD COURSES .
© BAREBOAT CHARTERS

f ‘The Moorings

et Eo eee

FR ee ee Ee EEL

lar, and environmentally correct,
expedition alternative.
check it out. Ignoring taunts that 1
was “going hiking with the Dalai
Lama, | set off in the snow. with
Bruce. Farrell of Cloudraker
Llamas, an assortment of Japanese
students and Farrell’s five ilamas:
Barney, Bart, Cadillac, Pepper and
Prince Charles. (No offense to
HRH, but there is a distinct resem-
blance.) All five are an interesting
bunch, each with a distinct person-
ality, yet possessed of a special sol-
idarity: Barey, the pinta leader and
his brown, even-tempered buddy

. Bart; the phlegmatic Prince Charles

and his spit-prone pal Pepper (who
let me hand-feed him and didn’t spit
in my eye); and the skittish Cadillac
who always brings up the rear.
Farrell has a comfortable wood-

‘ stove-heated camp/blind on private
_Jand on the stretch of the Chekamus

River most favored by the 3,000
plus bald eagles who: winter in
Brackendale. I counted more than

60 in‘a short stroll, but I was, more -#

interested in the Hamas.
Farrel], who used to keep horses
until his daughter outgrew them,

switched to llamas because they're: §

less work and more fun. He admits
he got a few strange looks from his
vet when he began acquiring Hamas
six years ago, but he sees a lot less
of him, since Hamas don’t suffer
from fleas or lice and adjust very
well to the Coast Range climate.

A 250-pound (112.5-kg) Hama
can easily carry over 100 pounds

1 had to.

lama trekking a great
ok for ea:

ies

(45 kg) in balanced pack saddles.

Cloudraker Llamas eagle-watch- - }

ing/picnic tours take about three
hours, Stout waterproof footwear
and sensible outdoor gear is essen-
tial for winter eagle spotting and
binoculars and telephoto lenses are
obvious fashion accessories. Cost is
$44 for adults, $30 for seniors and
students and kids under 12 are free.

Cloudraker Llamas will also cus-
tom tailor expeditions/drop camps,
etc. to your personal requirements
at negotiable rates. (I keep thinking

how great it would be to take a -%

Hama up to Black Tusk next sum-
mer.) For details and reservations,
call (604) 898-4249, Write P.O. Box
50, Brackendale, B.C. VON THO.

RETRACE THE {th
CENTURY CRUSADES

i (France - Germany - Hungary - }

‘Turkey - The Holy Land)
Documentary Film -
. narrated liva on stage
by Frank Klicar

4 North Van. Centennial Theatre fj
H Tue. Jan. 31, 6:00 & 8:30 pm §

Reserved Seats 12.75

E plus service charge, includes GST FF

TicketMaster 280-4444

Join us at ¢ our special presentation on ¥

Scandinavia
& Russia

_.and the world of
(EZ PRINCESS CRUISES §

Tuesday, Jan. 31, 1995
Westin Bayshore

6:30 pm

Door Prizes, Refreshments,
Plus a Cruise Night Bonus!

RSVP to Wendy in Vancouver :

279-4705 |

7 May 21 and May 28 Sailings on

y Reservations are subject to

Sunday, January 29, 1995 - North Shore Naws ~ 39
vt

Royat Caribbean
Cruise Line
SUN VIKING
7 Nights
May 07 to 14 / May 14 to 21

can$1040™pprabi

Best available inside or
outside standard cabin,

14 NIGHTS

daily departures
Up to May 12

Gun $1233 per adulvdbl
can$533™ per child 2-17 yrs.

, Inclusive of:
i * Round trip alrtare from Vancouver
via Detts Airtines

* 4 nights in Anaheim at the Anahelm
Hilton

© 10 nights in Waltdki at the Walkixl
Beach Hotel :

i Reservations are subject to availability.
{Airport transfers ate available for an

M oxtra charge, Taxes are extra. Maximum
Room capacity is 4 persons, Call us for. 9
fy details,

speciat at Cdn $1120™pp/dbl.

Svallability - Port taxes are extra.

Winter Garden)

Whistler, B.C. Bed and Breakfast
European Breakfast .
Bright fresh rooms in a brand new home
From $55 Can. pp. double occupancy 2 nights minimum
' Call for Reservations

Tel 926-9967 or 938-0546.

i

Monday, January 30, 7:30pm
West Vancouver. Public Library
- 1950 Marine Drive —°
admission free

Spring and fall departures for-small groups to walk.

among the world’s highest peaks. Choose from a variety

of full service guided treks to Everest and Annapurna f
plus jungle safaris and river rafting. A

Phone 731- 7650 1 to reserve |
Sl QS] 7. York Ave., Vancouver
».. Adventure Travel since 1987

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fo* Rovadhip airfares from Vancozver
from CAD |. All ineasfers
+ 13 alghts bonckfreat hotel

~ THE SOUTH PACIFIC SPECIALISTS.

ee

409 Granville ‘Street, Suite 452, Vancouver

1-800-663-5115 687-3083 _