snow!

what a gorgeous day! we followed a mom and boy into the reserve, both lugging sleds. she had a plastic tobaggan & he had a saucer sled. i didn't want to take a photo for fear of maybe bothering her, but i was really wondering where she though they were going to sled. on the trails? not too considerate of other users, tho maybe she thought no one would be out.

there were sled tracks going down the trail that leads from where the photo below was taken down to the pond. the same place i found guys building a ski jump last year. makes it nice & packed down & icy for the rest of us.

the dogs & i sure enjoyed the walk. echo's wearing his new ruffwear boots from idaho mountain touring, and they are just dandy! no snowballs between his pads & toes to stop & chew off- or to melt once we get back home.

4 of us with dogs, 3 without- this at around 10:30. and you can see all of the fun being had in camel's back.....

happy trails!

Articles of interest

we had a fabulous walk this morning & will post photos later, but wanted to share the following articles from this morning's Statesman. The first is about the recent Trails Survey . More information from the survey is available online at www.ridgetorivers.org

The city has purchased 1320 acres around Stack Rock, using funds from the levy & fron an anonymous donor. City Buys Stack Rock. It's great to see this additition to the trail system, and thanks to Julia Grant & the FCAC for their role in making it happen.

Happy Trails! Enjoy the snow-

beautiful day and.....ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!

it was pretty gray this morning- i didn't have high hopes for scenic shots, but the trail came through. red tailed hawk showed up

these deer were hanging on a hill between the trails at the top of camel's back & the houses above red fox. the trails up there are supposed to be on leash, but people do ignore that rule. an especially bad idea this time of year when the deer are low.

ended up going through the scary trees to avoid a "probably pretty passive" (but not coming so well when called) border collie. glad we did, the reflections are always pretty back there

as are my favorite rose hips

and of course my favorite sky/sagebrush/owyhees in the distance vista

the ARGH!!!!! part- not good.

it was also off leash dog fest in camel's back. some guy throwing the frisbee for his dog right toward the trail coming out of the reserve, so that when she went to retrieve it looked to my dogs like she was running right at us. fabulous. he was very nice when i asked him to please not do that, said he didn't see us.

5 of us with dogs on the trails, leashed where necessary and very nice when asked to keep their dogs controlled; 3 without dogs.

happy trails!

merry christmas!

we were out yesterday and today- both very quiet, beautiful walks. corrals this morning around 8:30-

the trail is, as usual, getting pretty chopped up coming out of the lower (miller gulch) lot. this is mud and the more use it gets when soft now the more unpleasant it will be to hike/run/ride for months to come.

we saw elk tracks both today on corrals & yesterday on 8th street past the road closure. didn't see any elk, but kept a good watch on the dogs.

walked the interpretive trail a bit yesterday as well- heard voices & saw the bikers across on sidewinder. otherwise, no one about.

the interpretive trail is also showing signs of wear where it isn't snow covered. it was still frozen at 10:30 yesterday morning, but be careful if it's warm & things are softening up.

happy trails!

wed the 23

what a beautiful day! lunchish walk and things were still pretty frozen, tho starting to soften. this is red fox, which is sandy enough to be on most of the time. it does get clumped up if people are on it when it's soft & it refreezes, but the sand does break down & regain shape . mud, on the other hand, stays rutted up for a long time.

problems occurring on sandy trails: users avoid ice/puddles by going off trail, thereby widening it. this is a road, but it doesn't need to be a wider road.

here's how things looked heading up chickadee. mostly frozen, softening on the edges & south/west slopes. still firm enough on top, but if temps warm will need to stay off.

it was gorgeous- bright blue skies, still snow on the ground...... 3 peeps/groups with dogs. we were the only ones observing the on leash area, tho one couple did leash up when they saw us heading down the trail. saw moab off leash in the on leash area, no effort to leash up. he doesn't bother us, so that's no biggy other than it seems that folks are disregarding rules again.

happy holidays, merry christmas, happy trails. please check trail conditions before heading out- reports available at www.ridgetorivers.org , www.swimba.org or by clicking the badge on the left of this blog.

winter wonderland

i've been a bit grumpy lately, missing my walking meditation. i was so glad to see the snow this morning! we got out as soon as we could, and already there had been plenty of folks before us.

you could see where parts of the trail (chickadee) were going to be too sloppy to be on soon.

it was beautiful and so good to be out. we ran into 4 other folks with dogs & 2 without. one of those rare days where after i asked people to control their dogs & thanked them they ignored me, as though i really put them out. oh well- it was so good to be out it didn't matter. and most folks were very friendly.

happy trails, merry christmas, happy holidays, season's greetings, alla that. here's to a white christmas!

at last

couldn't take it anymore and figured that the sandy trails- red fox, that is- would be ok, so we ventured out. the dogs have been pretty restless with shorter leashed walks this week.

there is still ice on portions of the trail.

even in the fog, we ran into 4 other folks- all with dogs- this afternoon.

since we couldn't do chickadee (too wet) we did the loop through the grove instead. ran into 2 women with off leash dogs in the parking lot....

it was a nice walk- the rose hips adding, as usual, a welcome spot of color.

happy holidays!

soggy!

oh how we miss the trails & long to get back on them! this on a leash quickly through the neighborhood because the human doesn't like cold rain is for the birds. we don't even get to dash around the neighbor's big lawn cuz it's too wet & we could tear it up.....

happy holidays to all- here's hoping for snow! and a trail report giving the all clear-

FLC Open House and Parks & Rec Comprehensive Planning Process

the open house at the Foothills Learning Center is this evening. Learn more about plans for new trails, open space management, results of the trail use survey and other Foothills-related topics at an informational open house from 5:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the Foothills Learning Center, 3188 Sunset Peak Road.

i received this email yesterday, and this is all i know right now. will keep you posted as we receive more info.

Boise Parks & Recreation is beginning its year long Comprehensive Planning process and would like your participation.

For your planning purposes, I wanted to provide the schedule for neighborhood and city-wide meetings regarding dog use in City parks.

February 9, 2010 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Neighborhood Association Work Session
Boise Public Library Auditorium - Downtown Boise

March 18, 2010 3:00 - 6:00 pm
Park & Recreation Commissioners receive Recommendations for Neighborhood Associations on Dog Findings
Boise Public Library Auditorium - Downtown Boise

April 15, 2010 3:00 - 6:00 pm
Final Presentation on Dogs with Recommendations from the Comprehensive Plan to the Park & Recreation Commissioners
Boise Public Library Auditorium - Downtown Boise

May 5, 2010 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Presentation and discussion with Advisory Committee regarding Dogs
Boise Public Library Auditorium - Downtown Boise

July 15, 2010 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Public Open House on Dogs, Wellness and Sustainability
City Hall West

Please check with the department as meetings dates get closer to verify location and times of meetings. Please contact me with any questions.

Thank you

Jamie Heinzerling
Administrative Assistant
Boise Parks & Recreation Department
(208) 384 - 4060 ext. 333

winter wonderland

what a beautiful day! started with a 6:30 meeting of the Foothills Advocates for Shared Trails, so we took our walk lunch-ish. fortunately, there was still snow. which didn't keep people in- we met one other group with a dog & 3 without- one being a runner in shorts. he was moving right along :)

i never realized that russian olive trees actually have fruit, until i saw this photo on bill scheiss' wild in idaho blog. so when i noticed these birds in the russian olive, i looked more closely, and there it was- white, so it's not too showy.

love the blue sky peeking out between the clouds.

happy trails! off to phoenix, no posts from me for a few days. enjoy the snow!

trail 1

beautiful sunny morning, if a bit nippy...

happy trails!

friday

this is the time of year that gloves and hats start sprouting from signs, fences & twigs.....
this is half of the same pair, further down the trail....

it was a beautiful day- as usual lately i was way overdressed and shedding layers once i was on the trail.

early cc today, so we did the lunch- ish walk- went around 1 to try to avoid the true lunch hikers. still people out- 5 with dogs, 3 without. all polite & following the rules.

have a great weekend! happy trails-