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Untraditional Outfitting

By Beacon Staff

SWAN LAKE – Pat and Joanne Tabor opened Swan Mountain Outfitters seven years ago using a traditional business model – horses and hunting.

When the economy went south, companies in the leisure industry, like the Tabors’, entered the crosshairs.

Today, Joanne Tabor stands by the barn of their guest ranch on a summer afternoon and points to a big, four-legged reason why Swan Mountain Outfitters has remained successful.

Watch out for the spit.

Bunker, one of the llamas used on treks by Swan Mountain Outfitters, is seen at the guest ranch located south of Swan Lake.

Llamas, those tall-necked, slack-jawed cousins of the camel, have become a new favorite way visitors in the Swan Valley can explore Flathead National Forest. Anywhere from two hours to four days, llama treks offer hikers an opportunity to experience the outdoors without the burden of carrying the load. Because of the animals’ workmanlike attributes — they can carry 100-pound packs — and because some folks are wary of riding a horse, llama treks are growing more popular each summer at Swan Mountain Outfitters.

“The great thing about the llama treks is anybody can do it; it doesn’t take any skills,” Joanne said. “It’s really taken off with a lot of people that normally either can’t or don’t hike. I’ve been surprised how many grandparents with kids we’ve had.”

The llamas are on lease from Steve Rolfing, who founded Great Northern Llama Co. in Columbia Falls in 1979.

This was the second summer Swan Mountain offered llama trips, and the new animals were just as popular as the traditional ones. For the first time the company had more people go on llama treks than horse pack trips in July, Joanne said.

“We had to diversify because of the economy and diversifying with different things has helped us survive,” she said. “Llamas are one way we did that.”

Three-year guide Shawn Fulton has also seen another new advantage llamas offer.

“With llamas you get to hike more, see more. You get to spend more time taking it in,” he said. “The horses will take you further but the llamas will get you into some better spots that are a little harder.”

The Tabors have eight llamas and seven guides living at their guest ranch off Soup Creek Road on MT Highway 83. The ranch is an outdoorsman’s paradise. The 5,500-square-foot lodge is decorated with mounted animals of all shapes and size. A home theater is located in one room and a Jacuzzi sits on a deck overlooking the pond. The Swan Range fills the idyll backdrop landscape.

“We’re focused on offering a unique experience that really enhances someone’s visit to Northwest Montana. That’s really the core perspective,” Pat Tabor said.

Lead guide Shawn Fulton shows how different kinds of packs are harnessed to llamas during treks with Swan Mountain Outfitters.

“From a business practicality standpoint, we’re trying to have a diverse portfolio so if any one aspect becomes sensitive to an economic downturn, like hunting, then we’re still capable of maintaining some vestige of a strong business and can keep employees hired on.”

Ten years ago, Pat and Joanne moved here from San Diego thinking more about retirement than business building.

But, “once we got here we thought how can we make a living out of this? It just kind of morphed from there,” Joanne said.

Swan Mountain Outfitters now offers an array of opportunities for anyone looking to explore. The company expanded into Glacier National Park with trail rides that are managed by the Tabors’ daughter. The group has also added snowmobile trips coming this winter.

If llamas have taught the Tabors anything, it’s that diversifying can work wonders.