For the past twenty-three years, Mt. Sopris Llamas has been
serving the needs of the lama community, both through the design of a
superior line of products and through the learning opportunities offered
by ongoing training clinics and classes.
The Beginning:
Francis (Tant) Benson, 1903-1999, in addition to being
sensitive, creative, honest, witty and intelligent, was a true animal
lover. He was in charge of the horses while serving in the cavalry and
later owned trotters and pacers. In those racing years he built and
repaired sulkies and training carts and was the first to repair sulky
shafts using fiberglass instead of wood. Tant studied saddlery and was
a harness maker skilled at hand and machine stitching. He was a compulsive
inventor, who before his death received national recognition for his
contributions to the sport of harness racing.
I learned a thing or two from Uncle Tant when we designed
the Sopris Pack Saddle in the winter of 1982: people appreciate craftsmanship
and quality. Back that up with a guarantee
and outstanding service, and each customer is yours for as long as they
have a use for your product.
My business was based on these principles from the
very beginning. Over the years llama and alpaca products carrying the
Sopris brand have risen above the rest because of my commitment to these
principals. I still fill orders for many fantastic people who have been
customers for twenty years.
The Company:
Mt. Sopris Llamas Unltd. began with the creation of
the Sopris Pack Saddle in 1982. Based in
Carbondale, a small town on the western slope of the Colorado Rockies,
the company sat in the shadow of one of the most photographed mountains
in the country: Mount Sopris. This mountain, the pride of the Roaring
Fork Valley, is the namesake of our company.
In 1998, when the town of Carbondale outgrew us, we
moved to the small town of LaVeta in the south central mountains of
Colorado. The twin Spanish Peaks that tower over our new location often
remind us of Mount Sopris. But, like our new ventures, the Spanish Peaks
offer a change of scenery and a new set of challenges.
New Developments:
Since moving to La Veta, Mt. Sopris Llamas has undergone
major changes. We have recently added a very rugged, time-tested commercial
saddle to our line. In addition, a new economical saddle design called
the Roughy will round out a line of packs
to cover every packing need. In anticipation of production increases
in the near future, a superb sewing company in Montana will do most
of our sewing.
Demand for the Sopris Halter from both llama and alpaca
owners has increased markedly over the last few years. We will be adding
new colors to our inventory for our halters and leads to meet that demand.
I have also teamed up with longtime friend Bill Redwood
to host summer llama-packing clinics in
the beautiful mountains near the resort town of Silverton, Colorado.
These clinics will be the quickest, safest and, without a doubt, the
most fun way to learn to use your llamas for packing.
In addition, my book, Tales
of the Trail, has been published and is available for purchase--I
hope it will be an entertaining guide for you about using llamas in
the back country. To receive periodic emails about new additions to
our product line and upcoming events and appearances, please subscribe
to our Email
Update List.
I look forward to speaking to you about your packing
needs.
Sincerely,
Charlie Hackbarth
President, Mt. Sopris Llamas Unltd.
