April 21, 2022

Hello hikers!

Yes, I have returned. Our last blog went out around the New Year. You’re probably wondering where we went; well, we didn’t really go anywhere, but the blog took a bit of a hiatus. Life becomes turbulent, people get busy, and things fall between the cracks. Regardless, we are back with another Trailhead Post! And this one is not so ordinary. This is a special edition to say goodbye and happy trails – at least for a year – to our very own Clara Adams. She is finishing her undergraduate degree this month and taking off for the Midwest where she will trade in her Subaru for the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile! I decided to interview Clara and publish our conversation for us all to relish now and for her to look back on when she is a famous hot dogger!

A conversation with our friend and BHG leader

So let’s begin with BHG. Tell us about how it all began…just one more time for the new hikers in the back.

The guild started in the fall of 2020. I love hiking, but didn’t have many friends to hike with, and I figured other people might be in the same boat. So I started hiking every other weekend, and sending out an email of when and where I’d be to anyone who wished to join me. Friends invited friends, my email list grew, and a community was born.

The group has grown quite a bit now. I’d say you succeeded in fostering a hiking group for all. How many group members are we up to now?

The Boise Hiker’s Guild has now grown to 140 hikers and counting!

If you had one piece of advice to engrave on a BHG monument, what would it be?

Take risks. Not risks that could get you lost in a forest or eaten by bears, but risks that can result in new friends and relationships. If you put yourself out there, you communicate to others that it’s safe for them to do the same. Nobody has to hike through life alone!

As the founder, you’ve been on almost every hike, but now you are spreading your wings – or rather hot dog buns – to travel across the country in the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, correct?

Haha not sure about the “spreading buns” metaphor… but yes! I was one of twelve chosen from thousands of applicants to travel the country representing Oscar Mayer in none other than the iconic 27-foot-long hot dog on wheels. I leave in early June for two weeks of intensive training, before hitting the “Hot Dog highways of America” for a year. I am very excited!

Sounds like quite an adventure! Will you chronicle your odyssey across the United States?

That’s the plan! I’ll be populating an official Oscar Mayer Instagram account with updates of my hot dog adventures, but I also plan to keep a detailed journal or blog, and if I can swing it, write some kind of book or memoir when this is all through.

So you’ll be a published author after having been a hotdogger for a whole year, then what?

We’ll see where life takes me! Maybe back here to Boise, maybe home to Portland, maybe I’ll fall in love with one of the states I visit in the Wienermobile, and end up there. Career-wise, I’ll likely be looking to get back into the graphic design industry. Outside of that, I know wherever I end up I’ll probably be doing a lot of hiking in my free time.

What does this – your new job – mean for BHG? Who will take the reins in your absence?

I hope this community will continue to grow and flourish in the years to come. This group of hikers has been such a blessing to me, and I hope they can continue to bless others in the future. We have an awesome team that will keep planning hikes and service projects in the years to come. I already look forward to coming back to hike with everyone again and experience this community under their leadership.

I’m sure I speak for all the BHG members when I say that I will miss you dearly. Do you have any favorite memories with the group or specific members? Which hike has been the most memorable?

This guild has changed my life and I cherish every hike I took with this community. The hikes we made a little extra special were always fun – snowshoeing last winter, night hikes, sunrise hikes, swimming at Box Canyon, etc. But one of my favorite parts of this guild was that each hike was always made up of a slightly different group of people, and that always made for unique conversations and memories on every trek. I have loved the opportunity to expand my community through leading this guild and have met so many wonderful people that I look forward to keeping in my life.

This week’s hike into the sunset and under the stars

To send Clara off in a notable way, we will be gathering for a sunset hike on the Homestead trail. We hiked this trail a few weeks back, so it should be familiar to those of you who attended. Meet us at the trailhead at 7pm sharp. Bring warm clothes, snacks, water, and a flashlight or two. I also scheduled a meteor shower for us all! Of course, I jest; but there is actually an annual interstellar event happening all week long.

The Lyrid meteor shower will be in full swing Friday and Saturday night. So be ready to keep an eye on the sky! If you’re like me and missed the solar flare event a couple weeks ago, then you won’t want to miss this event Saturday night.

Can’t wait to see you all out on the trail! And Clara, we hope you’ll find your way back to BHG someday soon! We are all going to miss you!

December 31, 2021

Happy New Year!

It feels like just yesterday when I woke up at 4:30 am to meet up with a group of unknown people for a beautiful sunrise hike. Now the freight train of time is barreling down on us as we transition from 2021 to 2022. We will be back on the trails by January 14th with some upcoming winter-friendly adventures.

Since today is the last day of the year, let’s welcome the dawn of 2022 with some of our greatest adventures.

Waterfalls, Deserts, and Pine Trees

Our first organized hike of 2021 brought us to Jump Creek Trailhead. Jump Creek Trail led us to an oasis in the middle of the desert. At the end of the trail we were graced with a beautiful waterfall. Definitely hope to revisit this destination in the future.

The second hike of 2021 – and one of the most unique – involved snow, ice, pine trees, and a little bit of wayfinding. We traveled into the mountains for a snowshoeing adventure on Hare Loop Trail. It was a gorgeous sunny day, and ten of our hikers’ first time strapping on a pair of snowshoes. You can expect some snowy adventures much like these to come in the new year!

Then there was the Oregon Trail hike one brisk April morning. This was my first hike with the Guild and one that reignited my love of the outdoors. We hiked to the canyon edge just outside of Boise where we sipped coffee and hot tea with the sunrise. Here’s hoping we can catch a few more sunrises in 2022.

Most notably however, we celebrated the Guild’s one year anniversary last September with fancy drinks and the most picturesque morning possible. The valley was completely covered in a thick layer of fog and, from Table Rock, it looked as if we were in Heaven. Makes me think 2021 wasn’t so bad after all.

2022 and Beyond

The new year will bring 12 months of extraordinary adventures in and around Boise. Be prepared to snowshoe, hike, swim, and enjoy the great outdoors. News about our next hike will be posted on Instagram with a correlating blog post written by yours truly. Until then, enjoy the holiday weekend, stay warm, and continue being responsible hikers!

December 10, 2021

Happy holidays!

You may have noticed that the blog has been on a hiatus for the last few weeks because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Well, we are back and excited for a new hike!

Tomorrow morning (Dec. 11) we will be volunteering once again with The Land Trust of the Treasure Valley! The sign-up form has already filled up with participants (me included). So hopefully, if you saw our Instagram posts about it earlier this week, you have already signed up. With winter barreling down on Boise, The Land Trust of the Treasure Valley has pretty much wrapped up trail work for the year and is refocusing on preparing for 2022.

We will be helping sew seeds in preparation for the 2022 planting season. If previous experience is any indication, this will be a fun opportunity to learn about ecological restoration. We will be meeting at The Land Trust of the Treasure Valley’s main office building in downtown Boise. Please refer to our email from earlier this week for more details.

The Holidays

The year is winding down at an extremely fast pace. There are only three Saturdays — including tomorrow — left in 2021. While we will not be hiking over the Christmas weekend, we do look forward to a lot of new adventures as we enter 2022. I, for one, am hoping for an unrealistic amount of snow; but hopefully not as bad as the 1968-69 blizzard.

Baby, it was Cold Outside

At the end of 1968, Sandpoint, Idaho began to witness a storm brewing on the horizon. Idaho has had its fair share of winter storms. Some of you may remember “Snowmageddon” back in 2015. The Blizzard of ‘69 was an entirely different beast. For starters, the temperature dropped rapidly to -30 degrees and a blanket of snow began to settle on the small town streets. The first few days of the blizzard only brought a few inches of snow and was barely indicative of what was to come.

Before long, 32 inches of snow had accumulated. The blizzard lasted a few weeks and over 67 inches of snow had fallen on Sandpoint and the surrounding area. The town was completely shut down. No school. No transportation. The blizzard finally lost momentum on February 6, 1969. In total, 82 inches of snow fell in and around Sandpoint.

Let’s hope this winter doesn’t bring a month-long blizzard.

Winter is Coming…

Clichés and TV series references aside, winter is on the way. Mountain temperatures can dip into the 20s during this time of year. Always be prepared for any type of inclement weather. Feel free to let us know if you need a pair of loaner wool gloves for a hike. I carry approximately six pairs. I also bring two space blankets, a wool blanket, and emergency rations. Together, we can have a fun, warm, and safe adventure.

I can’t wait to see you all tomorrow!

Happy trails!

November 4, 2021

A Halloween Tale

Did you enjoy Halloween? I did too. I spent a better part of two days camping in the foothills of Pocatello, Idaho with an old friend. As dictated by tradition, we packed a large quantity of street tacos, a few bottles of vintage soda, and a pint of rum. The afternoon began with my friend’s gallant attempt to start a fire by using a bow and spindle.

As you can imagine, he did not start the fire and, in fact, it wasn’t always burning. So, in a show of manliness, I too attempted to start the fire with the help of handmade wax firestarters. Suffice to say, I also did not start the fire. I did, however, create a smoke plume visible from space. It’s worth noting that it had rained for three prior days to our visit and it was quite damp out there.

Eventually, my friend was able to summon the flames by using something called a lighter.

The night carried on with tall tales of our exploits from our first year of college. The tales were those of nostalgia regaled with fondness and a yearning to revisit days predating the grind of adulthood. As the night finally dwindled to a close, we sat in silence for a while. This particular night was not typical of Pocatello weather. It was incredibly quiet and still. Cold, sure, but not unbearable.

We eventually retired to our tents, his with a wood stove and mine with a plethora of wool blankets. Before lazily drifting off to sleep, I couldn’t help but think about next Halloween’s adventures and how one night can summarize over seven years of friendship.

Celebration Park and Petroglyphs

As October comes to a close and November is born, we find ourselves traveling to Melba, Idaho. It sits in the Snake River Valley of Southwest Idaho surrounded primarily by, you guessed it, farmland. Melba was founded as a United States town in 1912 by Clayton C. Todd; but settlers were not the first to reside in the area.

In Idaho, there are five federally recognized Native American tribes: the Shoshone-Bannock, the Shoshone-Paiute, the Coeur d’Alene, the Kootenai, and the Nez Perce. Native Americans have settled in and around Melba for about 12,000 years, primarily by the Shoshone-Bannock and Shoshone-Paiute tribes. The history of these tribes can be seen in Celebration Park — Idaho’s only Archaeological Park — where thousands of petroglyphs are on display.

To create the petroglyphs, they used quartzite to chip away the basalt stone formations to create a variety of designs and depictions.

To learn more about Native American history and Celebration Park, stop by the museum after our hike this Saturday!

Basalt Formations

So how did the basalt formations come to exist on the Snake River Plain?

Volcanic units, or alkali-enriched basalt units, are basalt flows that erupted subaerially (formed in the open air or on the Earth's surface) from small shield volcanoes located in the Kuna and Initial Point quadrangles (a four-sided tectonic plane or plate). This all occurred millions of years ago to create the formations we will see this weekend. Above the basalt deposits, fine-grained soil accumulations and intermittent lake deposits of clay and silt were left during the Holocene Epoch.

Just remember how lucky you are to live in a location of extinct volcanic activity — Yellowstone notwithstanding.

We look forward to seeing you all out on this beautiful desert hike along the Wilson Creek Trails. As always, bundle up, bring food and water, and let us know if you need a ride or would like to carpool.

See you on the trail!

October 26, 2021

A Cold and Wet Winter Lies Ahead

La Niña is a climate pattern that forms in the Pacific Ocean every two to seven years. This pattern has a substantial effect on weather patterns all around the globe; but, more importantly, it brings an increased amount of precipitation to the Pacific Northwest. La Niña is caused by changes in global atmospheric circulation and cooler ocean surface temperatures.

Will we get another snowmageddon? Maybe. Maybe not.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published their winter forecast on October 21, 2021. NOAA predicts a wet and cold winter for the Pacific Northwest and a dry and slightly warmer winter for the southern and eastern United States. I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to have more snow falling in Idaho. Hopefully we will get enough snow to alleviate the stress on the environment from such a harsh summer.

Smaller weather patterns are often affected by geographic formations like mountain ranges and basins. We live in the Snake River Plain (the giant smile of Idaho).

The Snake River Plain and You

A lot of you are newcomers to Idaho and might not know about the several million years of volcanic activity and tectonic plate shifting it took to form the land we stand on today. Don’t worry, this will be a brief overview and not a dissertation.

The Snake River Plain is a “Neogene-aged intracontinental rift basin, about 70 km wide and 300 km long, trending northwest across the southern Idaho batholith.” It was formed, in no small part, by the Yellowstone Hotspot. The Yellowstone Hotspot is a melting anomaly that resides under the Earth’s crust. The hotspot is a plume of hot — not molten — material. This material originates from deep in the Earth, possibly between the core and mantle.

Tectonic plates are constantly shifting. Over the course of many years, the hotspot has remained stationary while the plates move over it. The hotspot has erupted several times with several million year gaps in between eruptions.

Not to worry though, the Yellowstone hotspot shouldn’t erupt for a few million more years and scientists are constantly monitoring the area for fluxes in temperature, pressure, and gaseous anomalies. If you haven’t visited Yellowstone yet, it is definitely worth the drive. You don’t want to wait around two million years and regret not seeing it before it explodes.

We hope to see you all out on Harrison Hollow Trail this weekend at 8:30 AM. Bring a rain jacket and keep an eye out for any postponements.

See you on the trail!

October 5, 2021

Can you believe it has already been two weeks since our last Trailhead Post? Neither can I! Since our last hike on the Crooked River Trail, members of BHG — including myself — volunteered with Land Trust of the Treasure Valley to build a fence along the Harrison Hollow trail in the Boise Foothills. The new fence sections reroute foot traffic around a cluster of rare indigenous plants and prevent unleashed dogs from trampling restoration efforts.

This weekend (Oct. 9) brings forth a new and exciting hike in Garden Valley, Idaho. The hike in question is on the Station Creek Trail off of State Highway 17. On this hike you will witness the grandiose Payette River and scenic forested hill tops. This trail is also in big game winter range habitat so we may stumble across deer, elk, and — based on one All Trails user’s eyewitness story — black bears. Not to worry though! There are preventive measures we will take as a group to deter any possible entanglements with foraging bears.

Wildlife Safety

As we mentioned in the last Trailhead Post, Autumn has finally arrived and cold weather is practically here, especially in the higher elevations. Changing seasons bring colder weather and prompts some animals to migrate and others to prepare for hibernation. During the transitional autumn months, large predators — like black bears — are hunting and foraging for food wherever they can find it. Bears do not pose any immediate threat unless startled, provoked, or threatened.

So what steps can we take? It’s quite simple:

1. Be aware and alert. It is easy to get distracted by a babbling brook or become too focused on the rocky trail; however in bear country, we must be watchful for fresh tracks, scat, claw marks, or decaying carcasses in your immediate area.

2. Become familiar with your surroundings. Avoid areas ideal for a bear’s habitat such as thick brush and heavy tree stands. In late summer and fall, bears will be foraging which means that flowering plants and low-hanging fruit are potential feeding grounds.

3. Hike in a group. Check! A group of three or more people decreases the chance of startling a bear because it is likely the bear will hear, see, and smell the group before the group sees her.

4. Make some noise. No, it’s not necessary to blast music on a Bluetooth speaker and, quite frankly, no one wants to hear that to begin with. However, talking loudly, wearing a bell, and clapping your hands once in a while are great ways to deter an unsuspecting bear.

5. Never surprise a bear. I know it is tempting to throw a hibernation barbecue during fat bear week, but we must refrain from such festivities. If you happen to see a bear before it sees you, back away slowly until you are clear of the area. Never approach a bear, whether it sees you or not.

6. Avoid hiking during foraging hours (dawn, dusk, and at night). Bears are most active in the morning, in the evening, and at night.

7. Be prepared and responsible. Bring bear spray, let people know where you are hiking, and pick up after yourself. Bears love to eat accessible food and discarded leftovers. Never leave food or trash on the trail.

As hikers, we have a responsibility to maintain the trails we love, preserve the plants and animals that reside there, and to keep ourselves safe.

Responsible Trail Use

Personal safety is easy to achieve when you are a considerate hiker. Leave No Trace is a set of best practices that helps preserve and conserve areas of natural beauty and is step one of responsible trail usage. Leave No Trace was developed in part by the US Forest Service and the National Outdoor Leadership School. The principles provided under the program aim to minimize the impact of humans on the trails and surrounding environment through which they pass.

The basic principles are as follows:

• Leave animals and plants alone.

• Come prepared.

• Dispose of all waste and trash (pack in, pack out).

• Stay on well-defined paths.

• Respect other hikers.

With those principles in mind, remember to use common sense. In parts of Idaho, muddy or overly saturated trails can be damaged by regular foot traffic. Please remember to postpone your hike if you question the integrity of a wet trail.

If you want to shoulder a commitment to responsible trail use, consider signing the Happy Trails Pledge. The Happy Trails Pledge is a hiker’s oath, of sorts, provided by Ridge to Rivers that helps ensure everyone has a positive experience while recreating in the Boise Foothills and beyond. The principles are simple: say hello and show respect.

BHG was built on the premise of respectful and responsible trail use and we hope to foster these principles by continuing our work with Land Trust of the Treasure Valley and other conservationist organizations.

As always, I look forward to seeing you all out on the trail! Remember to bring extra layers, food, and water for our excursion into Garden Valley this Saturday (October 9)

September 23, 2021

It was great to see so many Guild members turn out for our anniversary hike on September 11. To our surprise, we arrived at Table Rock under a thick layer of fog. The unpredictable Idaho weather provided a surreal experience to commemorate the Guild and all who attended. We would like to thank all of those who came and can’t wait to see you all on this week’s hike, which brings us 19 miles past Idaho City!

The 7.6 mile Crooked River Trail passes through a narrow valley and parallels the Crooked River. This trail is rated as moderate and has an elevation gain of 715 feet. Most of our previous hikes have remained in the Snake River Valley; however, the Crooked River Trail lies in the Boise Basin at an elevation between 4320-5080 feet. Hiking mountain trails require an additional level of preparedness and caution.

Transitioning to Autumn

September 22 marks the first day of Autumn, otherwise known as the Autumnal Equinox, and in Idaho that could mean a variety of different weather trends. Boise city saw a record high temperature of 99 degrees in 1966 and a record low of 29 degrees in 1895. While the projected daily temperature for this Saturday is 82 degrees, be wary of the 40 degree shift into the night. Granted, we are not hiking into the night, but it is always a good idea to bring adequate gear on every hike regardless of proximity to civilization.

So what should you bring? I know most of you are no strangers to the outdoors, but for those who are, bring additional layers, plenty of water, and protein-rich snacks. I always bring enough gear to keep me warm and fed for at least two additional days.

Remember, wool is your friend! Wool is a wonderful fabric that is naturally breathable and retains body heat when wet. If you’re looking for affordable options, visit used gear stores or army surplus stores to find inexpensive wool gloves, sweaters, socks, etc. If you find yourself on the trail lacking warmth or need a snack, come see me, and I’ll lend you what I can.

Discovering Idaho City

Idaho City was founded in December 1862 during the Civil War and Boise Basin gold rush — which happened to be the largest gold rush since the California gold rush. Due to the gold rush and influx of miners, Idaho City became the largest town between St. Louis and San Francisco. On March 4, 1863, Boise County — previously Idaho County of the Washington Territory — became Idaho Territory. Idaho didn’t become an official state until July 3, 1890.Downtown Idaho City boasts several original structures and amazing stores for your viewing pleasure. The Boise Basin Museum retains 19th century artifacts from the Gold Rush era and provides an extensive amount of relevant information.

September 9, 2021

This week brings two exciting milestones for the Boise Hiker’s Guild: the group’s one year anniversary and the debut of our new blog! To celebrate, we are inviting all members, new and old, to the anniversary hike on September 11, 2021 (9AM) at the Table Rock trailhead.

On September 12, 2020, BHG founder Clara Adams organized the Guild’s first hike. The hike was located on one of the most iconic (or infamous) and well-traveled trails in Boise — Table Rock. Only ten people gathered at the trailhead and only four made it to the top. Since Table Rock, the Guild has united for 22 hikes around Boise and neighboring locations. Now the group consists of 90 official members and has close to 200 followers on Instagram. And there is room to grow.

So who are we?

The Boise Hiker’s Guild was founded by Clara Adams, a Boise State University student majoring in graphic design, in the summer of 2020. Clara wanted BHG to be an accessible and welcoming space for students and non-students alike to socialize in the outdoors. BHG was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic and provided safe socialization during an otherwise isolating time.

Our hiking adventures vary throughout the changing seasons. Last October, for instance, the Guild met at the trailhead to Adelmann Mine for an enjoyable sunset hike. Group members brought headlamps, warm clothes, and hot drinks. For more information about the founding group members and the Guild’s conception, visit the Boise Hiker’s Guild about page.

Hikes to remember

Over the course of 22 hikes, the Guild has hiked multiple historical sites including the oldest hydroelectric dam in Idaho, an old homestead along the Snake River, and a cluster of ancient petroglyphs. Of these hikes, the most memorable were the ones with the most members. On January 30, 2021, the Guild organized a snowshoeing hike. This hike became one of the best attended hikes at the time with 13 people! Ten out of the thirteen who attended had never snowshoed before.

Another hike for the books was when the Guild volunteered with the Land Trust of the Treasure Valley to restore and build fencing in the Boise foothills. Members were able to learn all about trail maintenance, fence building, and the importance of public lands.

Yours Truly

I suppose I should introduce myself! My name is Cody James and I have been given the honor to write these blog posts for the Guild. I was born and raised in Idaho and spent many days wandering the foothills around Boise, the desert around Mountain Home, and the mountains around Stanley. I love Idaho geology and I enjoy bringing unconventional — yet extremely useful — gear on all of our hikes. If you get a scrape, sprain, or puzzled expression, hopefully I will be able to help you.

I became a Guild member in early 2021 after a friend convinced me to utilize my love of hiking to meet new people. While apprehensive at first, I finally worked up the courage to attend a hike. Before the hike even began, Clara made a point to welcome all newcomers with warm appreciation, which was quite nice on such an icy morning. We began the hike as a large group and made our way down the dusty trail towards the Oregon Trail historical site. I have been on almost every hike since. The Guild meets every other weekend for a new and exciting hike. I’ll be the quiet and over-prepared fellow if you need someone to talk to!