Kamas in Summit County, Utah.
The Kamas Valley is mainly agricultural land with farms both large and small. Deb, a friend who grows alpaca and llama on her piece of land in the beautiful valley, invited us up to help with the shearing her llama and alpaca pack. 
The day before, it had rained in the Salt Lake Valley but, the upper elevations (Deb is at 6400') had several inches of snow. It was all melted by the time we arrived but, it was cold. We were properly dressed for the chill, thank goodness.
The animals were divided by gender and we herded the grrls in to the barn first. I'm not sure this llama (I think her name was "A") would have been so happy had she know what was coming.
Deb had her eye on two fleeces she knew would be fabulous as they were from the two young alpaca. Skye had a golden red coat that was just what Deb expected and this beautiful mottled gray fleece just may turn out to be a show winner, as it held together beautifully. The grrls were quite the sight for the boyz as they paraded around 'in the buff' after their bit of grooming. 
The llamas are bigger than the alpaca and it took several men to hold them down while a little extra grooming was accomplished. Here is Smith helping to hold Grace while her toe nails are trimmed. Later he did get baptized with a bit of llama spit. He was a good sport but couldn't wait to get home and shower. Thank goodness it was the last llama.
It really was quite a day, almost like our own mini-fiber festival. Deb and her beau, Jim (who turned out to be an old college friend of mine), fed us everything from vegetarian chili to buffalo burgers. The day was clear and sunny and couldn't have been more beautiful. 
Kamas is a bit of heaven.
ohhhh sounds like fun! You would never know it was cold from those pictures. It looks sooo nice!
Posted by: Kelly | June 01, 2006 at 04:10 AM
Very very cool. I'm sure that's the first time I've seen llama shearing anywhere.
Did you get some llama fleece?
Posted by: Cassie | June 01, 2006 at 05:28 AM
Fun times, I love a visit to the farm! (My grandparents owned on a dairy farm. So fun to feed bottles to the baby cows.)
Posted by: Zarah | June 01, 2006 at 06:12 AM
I've only been in Kamas a couple of times, but I loved it too! How cool you were able to go and do that.
Posted by: Lauren | June 01, 2006 at 06:13 AM
Poor Smith! Taking one for the team!! Love that last picture.
Posted by: Cara | June 01, 2006 at 06:58 AM
Great story and great pics!
Posted by: Melissa | June 01, 2006 at 06:58 AM
What a great day! And I love the yarn you dyed over the weekend! You have been a busy grrl!!!
Posted by: Lisa | June 01, 2006 at 07:00 AM
Sounds like a great time, other than the llama spit...
Posted by: Chris | June 01, 2006 at 07:11 AM
I love the teepee photo at the end! Dale had one before we were married and we keep talking about getting another one.
Posted by: Carole | June 01, 2006 at 07:12 AM
Sounds like a lovely day - there are several trail rides we want to take to explore that area better!
Posted by: Anne | June 01, 2006 at 07:16 AM
That looks like it was a lot of fun! I have to ask why just the females were sheared, though. (Maybe they were just sheared first?)
Posted by: Susan | June 01, 2006 at 07:19 AM
Sounds like a great day!
Posted by: Sarah HB | June 01, 2006 at 07:21 AM
That must have been quite the experience! Thanks for documenting it so well and sharing it with us, Margene!
Posted by: Kristi aka Fiber Fool | June 01, 2006 at 07:29 AM
Oh! Gorgeous!! Those animals' faces are cute, but I just love seeing them in herds -- always makes me smile (thinking of all that fleece, I suppose).
; )
Posted by: Vicki | June 01, 2006 at 07:32 AM
What a great day!
Posted by: amanda | June 01, 2006 at 07:35 AM
The valley looks lovely -- having just spent the weekend in Vermont I am comparing and contrasting your majestic mountains with our little ones. Both have unique charms.
Posted by: Lucia | June 01, 2006 at 08:21 AM
Blue days are finally here! I know you have been looking forward to it ;)
Great pics! and a lovely blue sky above!
Posted by: Lolly | June 01, 2006 at 08:37 AM
Fun fun!! How interesting that they seperate the girls from the boys. Hmmm....
Posted by: Laura | June 01, 2006 at 09:01 AM
What fun! That fleece is gorgeous!!!
Posted by: Lizzy B | June 01, 2006 at 09:27 AM
That sounds like so much fun. That Smith certainly is a good sport! Llama spit - ewww.
Posted by: hillary | June 01, 2006 at 09:36 AM
Oh, wow, Kamas in the spring. What a fun day! Well, a fun working day!
Posted by: Katherine | June 01, 2006 at 09:47 AM
I want to live there!
Posted by: Rebekah | June 01, 2006 at 09:58 AM
Such a beautifully brilliant sky! Perfect, since the June Project Spectrum color is blue. :)
Big hugs, sweetcheeks--thank you for sharing your beautiful photos with us. xoxo
Posted by: Kim | June 01, 2006 at 10:00 AM
Very fun! Did you bring home any fiber?? My friend Ellen is shearing her llamas in a couple weeks....you can bet I'll be in line for some of that woolly goodness :)
Posted by: lisa Co. Springs | June 01, 2006 at 10:06 AM
Llamas in Kamas! Alpacas are so cute...
Posted by: Chef Messy | June 01, 2006 at 11:01 AM