Hiking with Alpacas – A Special Event

 

During the boarding school weekend, eight female students from Steinmühle Boarding School set out on an alpaca hike. In Sterzhausen, near Marburg, there is an alpaca farm that now has 27 animals; seven foals were born there this year alone, the youngest just a week ago.

Upon arrival at the stable, the dedicated breeders first gave us an introductory briefing to help us learn how to assess the animals and familiarize ourselves with the surroundings. Alpacas are flight animals, so we were told to approach them cautiously and not to be too frantic or too loud.

Conveying a sense of calm and balance

After learning how to care for an animal, each student was assigned an “animal companion” to take for a walk. Step by step, the girls befriended the four-legged friends, who are generally very peaceful and calm. After about 30 minutes, they took a break to graze. Then they continued along the country roads of the Lahn Valley. People and animals became more and more one; the animals’ calmness and serenity rubbed off on the girls.

Finally, the group returned to the barn and the other animals. The girls were particularly taken with the young animals. The alpacas had become increasingly trusting, so by the end, there was plenty of cuddling and petting. It was hard to say goodbye to their four-legged companions. The participants captured the outing and its highlights in photos—a very special weekend activity that will be remembered for a long time to come.

The alpaca, with its soft, thick coat, is a source of wool and is native to the Andes. Today, most alpacas are raised in Australia and New Zealand. That is also where some of Sterzhäuser’s alpacas come from.