Meet national celebrity llama Homer at the Holly Berry House Folk Art Festival Sept. 17-19

Homer’s rescue from the top of Pikes Peak took a dramatic and positive turn on a lovely September afternoon in 2009 at the Holly Berry House Folk Art Festival at Rock Ledge Ranch.  Orphaned by a fatal mountain lion attack in August, the little llama was left to fend for himself in the high reaches of the southern slope of Pikes Peak.  Lonely and lost, he was first seen in early September by Pikes Peak Cog Railway conductor, Rachel Javorsek.  Much to the delight of the tourists on board, he had taken to following the trains, sometimes for over a mile.  Just as Rachel’s concern for the plight of this young llama grew, fate took over and his rescue odyssey began.

On September 19, Rachel found herself at the 31^st annual Holly Berry House Folk Art Festival at Rock Ledge Ranch, just days before planning to leave for Texas.  She unexpectedly came upon the C Squared Alpaca, Inc. display featuring beautiful alpaca garments, knitting yarns AND a pen of young alpacas surrounded by an adoring crowd of festival attendees.  After waiting patiently for the crowd to disperse, Rachel introduced herself to the owner, Christiann Shade and related her concern for this lonely, young llama stranded and alone on the top of Pikes Peak. 

This chance meeting at the festival with Christiann set into motion a full fledged llama rescue mission plan.  By September 23 those rescue plans that had been put in place were interrupted by a major early fall snowstorm that closed roads, impeded trains and created six foot snow drifts on the rocky tundra.  On Monday, September 28 the road and railway were finally cleared and some sheep hunters confirmed seeing a young, white llama the night before. Immediately, Christiann, her husband Michael, friend Tracy Ducharme and their llama, Moon Shadow, headed for Pikes Peak.  They found fresh footprints, and an abundance of foliage and fresh water which reassured them despite no sighting that day.  Soon news reached them that yet another storm was headed their way.

A second rescue attempt was made the following Saturday and again on October 2, when Michael, Tracy and friend, Kathy Wallace, set out once again, headed for the top of Pikes Peak, this time with a trailer in tow carrying two adult pack llamas.  Enduring a chilling wind and minus two degrees, the rescuers scanned the white landscape in search of something that might appear like a small, white llama, lying down.  Suddenly, that shape was spotted about a mile away.  Ecstatic, the rescue team forged their way closer through boulder fields, deep snow drifts and gullies.  When within about a quarter of a mile, the young llama saw them, lept up and, just as expected, ran directly to the security of the pack llamas. Mission accomplished!  Tracy immediately named him Homer for the adventurous odyssey he had been on. 

Now safe and healthy Homer happily resides on Tracey’s farm in Black Forest, scampering about with the other llamas. And where did this young llama come from?  Frank and Theresa Knot live and work in Seattle, Washington, but maintain a beautiful ranch on the south slope of Pikes Peak.  Discouraged by the loss of two adult llamas and, presumably, the small white cria (baby), to mountains lions, they returned to Washington no longer interested in raising llamas.  Theresa was quite astonished when, while reading the Seattle News, she saw a picture of Homer and read the story of his rescue.  She and Frank promptly returned to Colorado for a warm reunion at Tracy’s farm.

Don’t miss the opportunity to meet Homer in person at the 2010 Holly Berry House Folk Art Festival at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site in the beautiful Garden of the Gods Park.. September 17, 18, and 19.  For a small donation to the Llama Rescue Association, you may have your picture taken with him.  Bring your own camera!  See you there!

Holly Berry House Folk Art Festival

Friday, Sep 17 10:00a at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, Colorado Springs, CO

Price: Adults, $6.00; Seniors, $5.00; Children (6-12) $2.00