A7_-_LeConte_GRSM002-25_Llama_Ops_Plan_2026_0002.pdf

LeConte Lodge, LLP LLAMA OPERATIONS PLAN GRSM002-25 Great Smoky Mountains National Park

- Proprietary and Confidential - LOP1:LOP6 Page 1 This document contains trade secrets or confidential commercial and financial information that is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

LECONTE LODGE LLAMA OPERATIONS PLAN

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Concession GRSM002-25

CONTENTS AND REVISIONS

Section Content Responsible Revision, by whom

Date

LOP1 LLAMA OPERATIONS PLAN SCOPE GM JN v. 0 1/12/2026

LOP2 LLAMA CARE GM JN v. 0 1/12/2026

LOP3 LLAMA PACKING & SAFETY GM JN v. 0 1/12/2026

LOP4 NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION GM JN v. 0 1/12/2026

LOP5 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES GM JN v. 0 1/12/2026

LOP6 LLAMA PACKING TRAIL GM JN v. 0 1/12/2026

Contact:

John Northrup, General Manager

LeConte Lodge, LLP

Stokely Hospitality Enterprises 250 Apple Valley Road

Sevierville, TN 37862

(865) 429-5704

LOP1 LLAMA OPERATIONS PLAN SCOPE

This Llama Operations Plan (LOP) of LeConte Lodge, LLP (an operating unit of Stokely Hospitality

Enterprises) is for the Great Smoky Mountains LeConte Lodge concession contract GRSM002-25 with the National Park Service (NPS), and supplements the contract’s Operating Plan Section 4(J:2:f).

LeConte Lodge is dedicated to providing a quality llama packing operation for the purpose of carrying supplies to and from the Lodge during the months of operation. The owners and management of the

Lodge are committed to providing any personnel and/or funds needed to ensure the success of the program. The Lodge will provide the best care possible by utilizing on site Farm Managers, Wranglers, and Tenants, as well as through the involvement of qualified large-animal Veterinarians. The General

Manager will be responsible for overseeing the management of the farm and the packing operation. The

Farm Manager will oversee day-to-day operation of the farm and proper care of the llamas. The General Manager and Farm Manager will communicate regularly to ensure an efficient operation. The Farm

Manager, Wranglers, lodge Site Managers, and Stokely Commissary will communicate regularly to ensure routine needs of the lodge are satisfied on a week-to-week, or if necessary, day-to-day basis.

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LOP2 LLAMA CARE

LeConte Lodge will employ an individual(s) who will be responsible for daily farm upkeep, which includes but is not limited to: feeding, cleanup, and property upkeep and maintenance.

A qualified veterinarian experienced in llama/large animal care will visit the farm at least once a year to administer vaccinations, measure weights, trim toe nails, cut fighting teeth, etc. and assess overall health of each llama. Additional trips by or to the Veterinarian will be made as needed.

Trained employee personnel will administer oral medications for worms, parasites, etc. once a month as directed by the Veterinarian.

The llamas will be sheared once a year to prevent overheating on the trail, or delayed and strategically sheared throughout the season to prevent hypothermia.

Quality certified weed-free hay will be procured in autumn to provide the llamas sustenance during the winter months. This will be supplemented by alfalfa llama pellets (feed) on a year round basis.

Each field at the farm will have a covered shelter for the llamas in harsh weather.

All barns will be cleaned and shoveled of animal waste routinely.

Water heaters will be utilized in the winter months to deter water bins from freezing.

LOP3 LLAMA PACKING AND SAFETY

LeConte Lodge will employ an individual(s) who will be responsible for training and packing a string of llamas to the lodge during the months of operation.

The Lodge will maintain a herd of enough trained llamas to be able to rotate any animals out of the string due to illness or injury to avoid placing additional burdens on remaining llamas.

The llama Wranglers will inspect and/or repair all llama rigging prior to each trip.

The llama Wranglers will keep the llama truck and trailer properly maintained throughout the operating season, with items organized in a manner that encourages efficiency.

The llama Wranglers will conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner while coming into contact with the public on the trail and at the Lodge.

While on trail, llama Wranglers must make the llamas’ safety, well-being, and health a top priority.

The llamas must always be treated in a humane manner.

The llamas may rest as needed on the trail to avoid overheating or overexertion.

The Wranglers shall make verbal suggestions and warnings when engaging day-hikers on the trail to ensure safe passage for both llamas and hikers.

Site Management will have feed and water available for the llamas upon arrival at the lodge.

The llamas will rest at least one hour before being loaded for the descent.

The lodge Cooks will prepare a meal for the Wranglers on packing days, unless other arrangements have been communicated.

Wranglers are responsible for overseeing the interaction of Lodge visitors and llamas to ensure the safety and well-being of the animals.

Site Management will assist Wranglers with packing the llamas to ensure the transportation of all pertinent lodge supplies and that routine needs are satisfied.

Pack trips may be canceled or rescheduled due to severe weather, hazardous trail conditions, or road closures. Any and all pack trip cancellations require communication between the Farm Manager and/or Wranglers and the lodge Site Managers, along with the consent of the General Manager.

Bonus pack trips are to be avoided, unless unforeseen circumstances or conditions generate their necessity. All bonus pack trips require approval from the General Manager.

- Proprietary and Confidential - LOP1:LOP6 Page 3 This document contains trade secrets or confidential commercial and financial information that is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

LOP4 NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION

Llamas will not be led away or allowed to stray from the designated trail.

Llamas will not be allowed to graze upon or ingest plant life hazardous to their health, or that detracts from the preferred and natural scenery of the landscape.

Llama Wranglers will make every effort to discourage llama urination or defecation in Park streams.

Select areas along the trail have been designated for llama waste in order to minimize their impact on the natural environment. A shovel will be used to remove from the path excess llama waste that has not received adequate time to decompose.

LeConte Lodge will use only regionally certified weed-free feed and hay for its llamas to prevent the spread of noxious weeds both inside and outside the national park. Recertification will occur annually every harvest season (autumn). Certificates will be kept on file for at least two years, available to NPS personnel for inspection as needed.

LOP5 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Llama Wranglers will carry a lodge provided cell phone and an NPS radio at all times on the trail. It is the Wrangler’s responsibility to keep both communication devices charged and operating. If either device should fail to function, the matter shall be reported to the General Manager as soon as possible for remedying.

Any llama or Wrangler related accident or injury along the trail will be reported to the General

Manager. Dependent upon the extent of the situation, NPS Dispatch and/or the lodge office may need to be contacted. If necessary, the Lodge’s preferred Veterinarian may need to be contacted.

Situations involving hikers in distress should be reported to the NPS Dispatch.

Farm Managers, Wranglers, and Tenants will abide by the lodge Fire & Safety Plan, as enforced by the General Manager.

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LOP6 LLAMA PACKING TRAIL

All road related hazards and obstructions preventing routine provisioning of the lodge will be reported to the NPS Dispatch by the Wrangler. If circumstances prevent immediate resolution, the lodge General Manager will advise the Wrangler in the next course of action and communicate needs to the NPS Roads Supervisor.

All trail related hazards and obstructions preventing routine provisioning of the lodge will be reported to the NPS Trails Supervisor by the Wrangler. If circumstances prevent immediate resolution, the lodge General Manager will advise the Wrangler in the next course of action and communicate needs to the NPS Trails Supervisor.

Llamas will utilize the 6.7 mile portion of the Trillium Gap Trail, which begins at the “Grotto Falls” parking lot along the one-way Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. A designated parking area nearest the trailhead has been demarcated exclusively for the llama truck and trailer, with signage discouraging visitor interference.

Trillium Gap Trail is the ideal llama packing trail for these reasons:

o The llamas can complete the pack trip entirely within daylight hours.

o Its gradual grade in relation to length do not overburden the llamas.

o It is a wide enough path absent of exposed cliffs and ledges to allow safe and simultaneous passage for both llamas and hikers throughout.

o Location is along the mountain’s northern slopes which often shields it from direct sunlight and keeps daytime temperatures slightly cooler.

o The strategic location of water crossings allows for adequate hydration and rest stops for the llamas throughout the day.

o The time it takes for the wrangler to ascend and then descend the mountain means the llamas avoid the busiest parts of the trail during peak visitation hours.