A scenic drive up Routt County Road 129 takes travelers by rivers, ranches and mountains.

Now, it will also offer a view of a caravan of camels. 

Heather Beck and Adam Hunt arrived in Clark from Utah earlier this week to permanently move their ranch — The Canine, Cattle and Camel Ranch to the Yampa Valley.

Along for the ride were their two daughters, Charlize and Izzy, as well as a Texas Longhorn named The Kid; a donkey named Georgia; three dogs and a hairless cat — and, of course, their three camels.

Their camel adventure began roughly eight years ago when Beck and Hunt got Falcor, an Arabian one-humped camel known as a dromedary, who was just four weeks old when he joined the ranch. He’s now at age eight.

It is important for young camels to be around others of their kind, so the ranch added a second named Colonel Mustard just a few months later. Colonel Mustard, also a dromedary, is roughly 22 years old.

The trio was complete the following year when Grover, a Bactrian camel, joined the family. Bactrian camels are two-humped and native to Mongolia and other parts of Central Asia. 

Camels are not exotic. They are one of the oldest domesticated animals in recorded history. They are working animals and are used for transportation, their milk and hair and for companionship.

“They are very different in how they train, how they think and how they work,” Beck said of her three camels. “This is really an extreme hobby.” 

Jason Martin, a world-renowned camel trainer with Home School Camels, worked this week with the animals to help them feel comfortable in their new Colorado setting. 

The camels have had other training and work constantly by Beck and Hunt. Martin’s job has been improving their behaviors while saddling, walking and riding and he also helps the owners get more comfortable with the animals and the ways they interact with one another. 

“(The camels) are already pretty well-versed,” Martin said. “We always come up with a goal in the beginning, we try to see where we want to take them to the next level… We set a goal that is important for the camels and the education they already have.” 

The master camel trainer

Martin began his career working with zoo animals but found a special attachment to camels. He now spends his time traveling around the world to train them and educate people about them. 

“I love teaching people and driving an interest and an understanding of an animal that most of us have no clue what it actually is,” Martin said. “We’ve been taught a number of myths about camels throughout the years and dispelling some of those for people is always something I look forward to.” 

Beck and Hunt hope to continue that mentality with their ranch and hope the community interacts with the camels. Beck mentioned trying to take the camels out to special county events throughout the year. 

“It won’t become a business but we will figure out a way to incorporate these guys into the community,” she said. “Whether it is schools coming up for the educational side or whatever, we want people to know that these are their camels too.” 

Camels? In North America?

While our childhood storybooks tell us camels are only meant for the sandy deserts of Africa and the Middle East, the truth is camels can also thrive in North America.

Colorado suits them well. They like the dry air and can adapt well to cold temperatures. As a native of Mongolia and Central Asia, Grover, in particular, will love the snowy weather. 

“Camels are incredible adapters,” Martin said. “Depending on the winter, they predict it. You can see partially through the winter, those beards can grow 36 inches long for cold winters and won’t be as long where it’s not as cold.” 

This is not the first time camels have lived in Northwest Colorado. Camille the camel currently lives at Troublesome Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation on Chipeta Ranch outside of Kremmling. Camille lived with her camel friend Larry for many years before his unexpected death due to a lightning strike earlier this summer. 

Beck also referenced hearing whisperings of a camel who lived by the base-area of the Steamboat Resort roughly 20 years ago. 

Having just moved to Clark, Beck noted the ranch will need a few upgrades ahead of the winter snow.

The camels currently have a temporary shelter as they await their permanent barn. The property spans over 30 acres and is fenced all the way around, but Beck alluded to upgrading that fencing as well. 

Another major need is a hay supplier for the winter. Camels will eat the grass and minerals around the property, but once the snow covers the ground, they will resort to hay purchased in bulk. 

Beck and Hunt are eager to educate the community about their animals and hope to see growing interest in them over the years. 

“We’re happy to have people experience our camels and just get to know them, love them and have a different appreciation for them,” Beck said. “They are just amazing.”