Slough Creek - Llama Trek

• Elevation Gain/Loss: 1280 Feet
• Quality of Trails: Good trails, we may encounter some dead fall and other small obstacles
• Physical Requirements: Frequent exercise and good health km
• Duration of Trip: 3 day option
• Distance of Hike: 16.36mi/26.31 km
• Daily Hiking Distance: 3-10.5 miles
• Backpack Weight: 10-20 pounds
• Most Elevation Lost: 679 feet
• Most Elevation Gain: 679 feet
• Additional: We'll be traveling off trails at time due to some obstacles.

What’s Included

• Industry leading guide that is medically trained, energetic, knowledgeable and friendly
• Well trained llama companions to join us on our adventure
• First class meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and organic trail snacks
• Trekking poles to hike with (if desired)
• Use of technical backpack
• Industry leading tents, sleeping bags and sleeping pad
• Bear spray, and bear hanging gear
• Emergency equipment and first aid kit including a satellite device
• Our effort to fulfill our mission statement to each guest to make the trip informational, exciting, informative and memorable. This is your trip, we will do our best to make it special.
• Water filters and purification tablets

What’s Not Included

• Personal items, rain gear, and clothes
• Bug spray, sunscreen, toiletries
• Headlamp, Water bottle
• Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 15-20% of trip cost)

Meals

You can expect the highest quality. Expect high-quality meals on our trips. Since llamas do the carrying, we can bring fresh and quality foods. We provide a diversity of foods with the necessary nutrition for sustained energy output including an assortment of proteins, carbohydrates, and fat. Meals are made from staples that travel well in the backcountry - rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, oatmeal, granola, etc. Meals are also supplemented with trail foods such as crackers, cheese, granola, energy bars, fresh and/or dried fruit, and electrolyte powder. Fresh fruits and vegetables are available for snacks and meals; a snack selection (protein bars, trail mix, candy bars, etc.) is provided at the beginning of each day.

Please be sure to let us know of any dietary needs. We accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. Special dietary requests may require an additional fee or other arrangements. Important note: It’s critical that you specify dietary needs with registration - it’s too late once we are at the trailhead.

Gear We Provide

We provide all group gear which includes the following:

• Industry leading backpacks
• Kelty Or Sierra Design sleeping bags
• Big Agnus sleeping pads
• Kelty or Leki trekking poles
• Mountain Safety Research cooking stoves
• GSI Outdoors cookware
• Bear spray canisters and food-hanging gear
• Company-issued first-aid kit
• Satellite device

What Gear To Bring

• Water bottles or bladder, 2 liters total capacity
• A lightweight, high quality stuff sac for your clothes and belongings to fit in while in the llama panniers
• Lightweight, packable camp pillow.
• Contact lenses and glasses if you wear contact lenses please also bring a pair of glasses - your contacts are likely to become dirty and may be difficult to clean
• Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm
• Bug repellent, preferably a product containing at least 25% “DEET” (some people are sensitive to this product)
• Toiletries, and a small washcloth in stuff sack (bandana can serve as a washcloth)
• Headlamp, spare batteries (preferably an L.E.D. type that works with AA or AAA batteries)
• Camera, spare batteries (optional)
• Notebook or paperback book, (optional)
• Knee braces, if needed
• Prescription medicine, please inform your trip leader of any medications you are taking
• Vitamins, (optional)
• Fly fishing gear, if you want to fish
• Money, for tipping your trip leader (optional but appreciated, generally 15-20% of your trip cost based upon the quality of your experience)

What Clothes To Bring

• Sturdy Hiking boots, mid weight, lug-soled, above the ankle, waterproof and ideally well broken in. Important note: Buy your boots 1/2 size to 1 size larger than your street shoes to allow for feet swelling and thicker socks
• Lightweight tennis shoes or Crocs®, for camp
• Hiking socks, one pair for every two days of your trip, plus an extra pair to sleep in. Recommended brands include Bridgedale®, Smartwool®, or similar padded socks (wearing thin liner socks under your hiking socks is highly recommended). No cotton socks!!
• Gaiters
• Sunhat or baseball cap and bandana
• Mosquito head net

Where do we meet

We will meet you at the Slough Creek Trailhead 2K5 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming

Your guide will be there with the llamas waiting for you at a predetermined time.

If you pre-booked in advance your trip your guide will reach out to one week prior to your arrival to confirm your trip and go over any questions you may have. They will also give you a weather update and verify and food allergies you may have. Your guide will request that you meet at 6:00 pm the evening before your trip to go over the trip details and itinerary. If you have any questions or need help with travel resources please just let us know.

Day 1

Hiking Distance: 4.85 miles
Elevation Gain: 679 feet

Departing the Slough Creek trailhead, a well-marked trail over an old wagon road takes us up to our first meadow with some effort where an incredible view and a collection of songbirds reward us. After a moderate hike, our pretty campsite is tucked away from the main trail and will be our own slice of Eden for two days and nights. While we are off the beaten path, don’t expect complete solitude. Slough Creek is popular, and no secret. We will see others on the trail and even horses and horse-drawn wagons.

Day 2

Hiking Distance: 6.72 miles
Elevation Gain: 230 feet

Today we explore our little slice of paradise. Our day is an out-and-back hike with no definitive destination nor set schedule. It’s up to us what our excursion will be, and there’s much to see and do. An easy trail north through beautiful meadows along the banks of Slough Creek leads us to Yellowstone's northern border passing Elk Tongue Patrol Cabin. We’ll rest when we want, connecting with this special landscape and learning about our wild neighbors on land and in water. Bring comfortable hiking boots, a camera, your fly rod (fly fishing only here), bear spray, and an adventurous spirit. Grizzly bears, bison and elk are often seen along the trail and if you're lucky you may catch a glimpse of the elusive wolves. We’ll keep our distance to ensure wild animals stay wild, staying at least 100 yards from wolves and bears, and at least 25 yards from other animals. Fortunately, we can get our close-to-nature fix with our llamas! You set the pace, and your guides will help you have the experiences you came for.

Day 3

Hiking Distance: 4.85 miles
Elevation Gain: 381 feet

The possible encounters with animals make this trip suspenseful, and our second day helps increase the odds. We are in company of elk, bison, bears, and wolves and may spot one at any time. In this valley, you can spend a few hours or a few days, but no matter what you'll leave with memories that last much longer. Before we head back, you’ll have time to reconnect with the things you enjoy the most. If fishing is your thing, then cast to very smart cutthroat trout, local inhabitants with eons of experience. Fish right from camp or hike up the creek to find your perfect spot. Explore the beauty of the spectacular landscape, soak in views, and breathe in fresh air. Slowly we gather our belongings and begin our trek back to civilization, reflecting on what it means to be at home in the wild. We’ll make it back in time for you to enjoy your drive home.

Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary park restrictions, campsite availability, weather, road closures, guest ability/injury, and natural events like fires and flooding.