Thursday, October 7, 2010

passing along a message-

Trail Rangers are seeing a trend toward more bags left along the trails - we were asked to pass this along:
Just finished a short hike and counted 5 bags of dog poop along the route, that had clearly been left there overnight. We are getting comments from trail users lately that are dismayed at the number of bags left along the trails. Please help us pass along the word - it is the dog owners responsibility to not only bag their pet's poop, but to take it to a trash can.

i've noticed that same- along with an increase in general poop. the thing is that we're probably preaching to the choir here, but anything that can be done to spread the word would be appreciated-

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

because every dog deserves a happy and healthy life

from life with dogs



How often have you had a chance to have a 20 pound bag of dog food donated to a shelter simply for writing a blog post? It’s really that easy. Pedigree has upped the ante big time. And please spread this message: The food drive is not limited to pet blogs. Here is the full scoop:



• Each year, more than 4 million dogs end up in shelters and breed rescue organizations. Pedigree created The PEDIGREE Adoption Drive to help shine a spotlight on the plight of these homeless dogs.

• This year the PEDIGREE Adoption Drive is raising awareness for homeless dogs by donating a bowl of food to shelter dogs for everyone who becomes a “Fan” or “Likes” The PEDIGREE Adoption Drive on Facebook. So far more than 1 million bowls have been donated.

• Special for BlogPaws West: For each blog that posts about the PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive through September 19th, PEDIGREE® will donate a bag of their new Healthy Longevity Food for Dogs to shelters nationwide. It’s simple: Write a post, help a dog.

•Thursday, September 16 through Sunday, September 19, the Pedigree BlogPaws bloggers will host a Blog Hop, to help raise awareness for the “Write a post, help a dog” effort.



It is so easy to make a big difference. Please set aside a few moments to write a post. Include the bullet points above. Because this is not limited to pet bloggers, there is tremendous potential. Go to Life With Dogs on Thursday to leave a link to your post.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

summer lovin


as in the trails could use some! i've heard from other dog owners that (as usual this time of year) the military reserve trails could use some tlc- around the dog park and elsewhere. red fox isn't looking too good either ( i haven't has time for a clean up there recently), so i can only imagine that the other areas are showing the usual busy summer time nastiness.

thanks to everyone who volunteers time to clean up opp, and if anyone has a chance to do some extra pick up it would be greatly appreciated-

Saturday, July 17, 2010

gorgeous morning!






wow! over a month!

been out, people have been very pleasant & the weather's been good, so not much to report. i did want to share this, because the trails that are created with money from this event benefit all of us:

The Boise Tour de Fat is back this year on Saturday, August 21 at Ann Morrison Park. The event is one of my favorites because of the unusual entertainment/ theme and good cold beer which in turn brings in a unique crowd. The event includes a themed bike parade through downtown Boise before the kegs are tapped in the park. The purpose of this event is to raise money for trails and outdoor opportunities for mountain bikers, hikers, walkers and runners in the Boise area.


The SW Idaho Mountain Bike Association (SWIMBA) event does not run itself, so we need volunteers to sell beer tokens and wrist bands. Shifts start at 9:00 am and run 3 hours each until 6:00 pm. Each volunteer gets a cool t-shirt and 2 beer tokens, to compliment their personal contribution to the community by helping put on this great bike festival for Boise. If you would like to volunteer please contact: Margie Rosenberg, the event coordinator and president of SWIMBA at mag83701@yahoo. com

the money raised biulds trails for all users and greatly supplements what ridge to rivers would be able to do on its own. plus, it's a great time!

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

how lucky we are!

the ridge to rivers trails are such an wonderful resource. 

it is truly amazing to be able to start every day with a walk from my house on trails that have such a variety of birds, vegetation & wildlife so close to an urban area.

although i use trails more recreationally than socially (ie. i try to be out when it isn't crowded) i have been lucky enough to meet some great people because of the system.

add to that the fact that so much of the system allows off leash dogs and we have a unique situation that sometimes gets taken for granted. this is a reminder to myself not to do that.

saw bodhi & his mom this morning & had a great time rubbing mr. wiggle butt's belly & catching up with ilene. halle was disappointed bod didn't want to play, but he's all about the people....


the flower book says sagebrush mariposa tulips (as far as i can tell). sego lily shaped, different coloring.




 echo did the look out thing as we came down chickadee but i couldn't figure out what he had. i should know by now to trust him that there's something there, though. bottom of the hill was a muley. so proud of the dogs for sitting & staying while i took the photo. the white stuff is hemlock, noxious weed.
yesterday there was a wedding (white dress, jackets & all- it was great!) on top of camel's back. this mroning there was a fiddler (also great!)




happy trails!

Monday, June 21, 2010

bullfrogs!

gorgeous morning- first time i've heard the bullfrogs this year. lots of orioles and a quail sitting right by the trail who didnt move as we walked by.



 fleabane added to the wildflower procession


great walk. strange conversation with 2 women with 3 dogs who asked me if we were on an on leash trail when they saw me leash up & get off to the side. they were gathering dogs when they asked, but when i said no they quit doing that. so i asked them not to let their dogs run up, explainin that mine play rough & will take people out at the knees running around. and i am not going to try to hold onto them if someone is not going to control their dog. one woman said something about not knowing why people didn't want the dogs to meet. you know what, it doesn't matter why. if someone asks, keep your dog away. it's pretty easy.

why, oh why do i never remeber to say "it's off leash under control, so if someone asks for a dog not to approach them, the dog should be controlled"?

regardless, the women were nice enough, no harm, i just wish i could find a better way to articulate.

in chicago now, be fun to see what's new when we get back out on friday. happy trails!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

slacker

i've been a big slacker on posting, but not on getting out. it's bizarrely green for this time of year due to all of the wet (tho the cheat is turning regardless)


there have been a few sunny days

wildflowers are putting on a show








people have been great- smiling, pleasant, either restraining their dogs when they see mine leashed or sitting or not asking questions is i ask them to keep their dogs close. have seem more off leash dogs in the on leash trails, but it seems to happen this time every year.



happy trails!

Friday, June 11, 2010

catching up


what a gorgeous morning! we've been out & it has been very nice, between those times we couldn't get out b/c it was too wet or there was traveling.

the trails could be cleaner, but the users have been great lately. people keep their dogs with them without argument or question and are nice about it. i overheard a woman today telling her friend as she grabbed her dog's collar that she did that b/c she wasn't always sure how her dogs would react. i thanked her.

it's not an uncommon situation- one i have with echo- but so easy to deal with if your dog is well trained enough to come when called & stay with you, and other dog owners respecvt that & keep their dogs with them. doesn't have to be a big deal, we all get off leash time, it's all good.

anyway- here's hoping for things staying dry & a great weekend- happy trails!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

oh what a beautiful morning!

it was frosty yesterday.....


but gorgeous this morning



i caught part of the oriole! (not the best part, but proof he's around!)


trails getting busier in the mornings again, but everyone is really nice & polite. seeing more off leash dogs in the on leash area again. it seems to cycle.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Hammer Flats

I wanted to share the information below on the situation with hang gliders and Hammer Flats. Hang gliders had been using the Crow Gliding area with land owner permission for 35 years and were locked out when the city purchased the land with levy money. At this point, everyone is locked out of the area, and the city is talking about turning management over to Fish & Game, who in turn said "if people are thinking in terms of additional recreational activities, they're probably going to be disappointed." More information below.

Our money purchased this land. Although I don't necessarily think that we need miles of trails or off leash access in every part of the foothills I strongly believe that purchasing land with public funds and taking away access, particularly for an activity that's being going on for 35 years without apparent detrimental effects, is very wrong. Especially when decisions are being made artbitrarily behind closed doors without public input.

Please get involved as you see fit.

Marianne

Are we being hammered at Hammer Flats?

Back in 2001 Boise voters passed a $10 million dollar open space serial levy to do five specific things. By statute, serial levies must do that which they say they will do. When we voted, our ballots stated that "approved levy funds will: Protect water quality; Preserve wildlife habitat; Provide increased recreational areas for walking, biking, and other outdoor activities; Limit overdevelopment and traffic; and Protect natural vegetation that prevents mudflows and washouts."

This spring, Boise spent the last $4 million dollars of our trust fund buying the 700 acre Hammer Flats property including the Crow Gliding Area just above the Crow Inn. Immediately and without any public meetings or input, the City announced that Hammer Flats would be managed by IDFG (Idaho Department of Fish and Game.) One IDFG manager was then quoted saying this about Hammer Flats "if people are thinking in terms of additional recreational opportunities, they're probably going to be disappointed." Some reports stated that no new trails and roads would be built. Other reports indicated that even existing roads and trails could be closed. One thing is for certain, our expectations and our open space is being spun by Boise City and the IDFG.


The Fish and Game mission statement reads "All wildlife.. shall be preserved, protected, perpetuated, and managed. for. continued supplies of such wildlife for hunting, fishing and trapping." In other words, IDFG grows fish and animals so that they can be harvested. Nothing is said about managing people and outdoor activities.

What we don't know; Why are Boise hikers, runners, bicyclists, hang gliders, climbers, equestrians, dog owners, and other outdoor enthusiasts are being ignored by the City in favor of IDFG and their mission statement to grow and harvest animals? Why is Hammer Flats not being integrated into the Boise Park and Recreation system where its many uses including winter habitat can be balanced? Just who in Boise City is making the decisions to ignore the citizens, and the letter and intent of the serial levy?

What we know: The final half of our Boise open space trust fund is now being earmarked to benefit the IDFG. Private meetings are now being held between IDFG and Boise City. Outdoor user groups have not been contacted by Boise City, including those who have expressed a desire to utilize the open space at Hammer Flats. No public meetings have occurred. The first time "we the people" will have an opportunity to comment "on the deal" will be when the City Council votes on the matter after IDFG and Boise City finish their private meetings. IDFG has already locked the gates to our land and has posted their signs prior to any agreement. IDFG will use No Trespassing Laws to enforce "their" lands.


John Kangas,
Lifetime Boise Resident and Spokesperson - Idaho Hang Gliding Association


Crow Gliding Area Update for May 21st,2010

Our team has been very busy this week. Today we sent Public Record Requests to both the City of Boise and Idaho Fish and Game regarding their closed door meetings. They should receive the requests on Monday, and under State law they will have 3 days to respond.

Also today, we had most of our story published online at the Boise Weekly.

Last week, we had an article published in the Idaho Statesman, both in print and online. The day the Statesman article came out the paper ran an online poll. With 650 responses in just one day, twice as many readers felt that the property should remain open for recreation compared to those who felt the property should be locked up for deer only.

All outdoor groups in Boise need to be made aware of these articles. We need to expand everyone's understanding of this emerging situation. Keep the letters and phone calls going in to our elected representatives. They work for us and not the other way around.

Thanks,


Blaine, Lisa, Patrick, Aaron, and John.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

wow! been a long time!

one thing that dog owners should be aware of is the situation with hang gliders and the newly purchased hammer flats area. hang gliders have been using the property for 35 years through an agreement with previous land owners and are now locked out as the city determines the future use of the area. read about it here .

most of the people i know did not vote for the serial levy to purchase land and have historical uses taken away. do i think that there should be a million miles of trails added? no. have the hang gliders co existed with wildlife in the area for the past 35 years? it seems that they have.

most disturbing is that this seems to follow the same pattern as the off leash dog issue of arbitrarily making a decision without having any discussion with the affected user group to look for solutions.

please get educated & get involved if it seems appropriate. the hang gliders are asking people to write to the mayor and council.

we have been out on the trails, just been busy...... in the meatime, the grass has gotten high




the arrowleaf balsamroot is still blooming


as are new additions.

  


i saw my first oriole of the season the other day, but he wouldn't give me a good photo opp, will have to keep trying.

i'm afraid i've missed the lupine on corrals, but will try to get up there with a camera soon just in case....

meantime, happy trails-

Saturday, May 1, 2010

hull's gulch interpretive trail

nice hike this morning on the interpretive trail. i don't usually hike that one for several reasons- i've heard it can be snaky, there are boatloads of poison ivy by the creek, it's narrow & windy & i seem to run into a high pecentage of "dogs must run free" people on it. but since it was 8 am and kinda icky out i decided it would be worth a try.

the owls were out on the way up. of course i didn't have the big camera, but i did the best i could.



currant


desert parsley


larkspur

prairie star


red twig dogwood


halle & echo had a great romp. i had to talk myself into getting out this morning, but i was so glad that i had once i was out- listening to the meadowlarks & the running water and watching the dogs sniff and run and totally be in the moment engaged with their environment always does its magic.


happy trails!


Monday, April 26, 2010

it's beautiful out there!

i've been getting out in the mornings and loving it, just too busy to post. it's been just beautiful.....






reports of a rattlesnake sighting on upper hull's already, and of a bad tick year, so be prepared-

happy trails!

Sunday, April 25, 2010

heads up!

this was posted on the idaho outdoors group site



 FYI…..

Looks like the weather is warm enough for the rattlesnakes to show themselves after a cold winter. This is the earliest we've seen rattlesnakes in the Boise area.

My hiking partner and I came across a 2 1/2 - 3 foot rattlesnake this afternoon.

It was about 50 feet up the trail from the second bridge above the junction of trail 0 and trail 29 in very fine sandy soil along the trees.

For those familiar with the trail, the first bridge above the 0/29 junction has the Coyote picture sign with a poem. The second bridge, on your way to the loop, has a sharp right hand turn after crossing over the water.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

lots of changes in a week!

beautiful morning on the trails- so glad to be able to get out before work again!

things are springing, grass is greening......



soon the bitterbrush will be filling the air with its wonderful scent



happy trails!