Boise By Nature

  View from 8th Street Extension Trail  A beautiful morning walk in the foothills  This week marks my anniversary of living in Boise for one year! I can hardly believe that this time last year, I was arriving in the City of Trees, strolling along the Boise Greenbelt in awe, and taking photos of the river. In some ways, it feels inconceivable that a year has gone by, but in other ways, the amount of things I've done and places I've gone in Idaho this past year seem impressive. It seems like a common theme that individual moments and days can seem slow, but years fly by.  In honor of my one-year anniversary of living in Boise, I jotted down a list of some of my favorite memories of exploring this city and state.   Memories of this past year (in no particular order): Floating the Boise River twice Showing my parents Boise (driving up to Bogus Basin, running a half marathon, the farmer's market, biking the Greenbelt,  hiking Ridge to Rivers trails, etc) Learning wildflowers of

Sawtooth Wilderness boundary Looking toward the far side of Farley Lake - the first campsite  This past weekend, I went backpacking on an iconic loop in the Sawtooth Mountains of central Idaho. The Sawtooths are beloved and renowned for their dramatic sharp, rocky peaks that resemble the teeth on a saw. I had only been to the Sawtooths once before (six years ago when I was working a seasonal position in McCall), so I was looking forward to exploring more.  I hiked the Toxaway Lake to Alice Lake Loop , and spent two nights in the backcountry. This was the perfect amount of time to spend backpacking, since it's been several years since I've hit the trail and done backcountry camping. My back and legs were achy and tired by the end of the weekend, but this trip itinerary allowed  The fire smoke that has been looming over Boise was present in Stanley (a small river town close to the Sawtooths) and the views of the mountains took on a dreamlike, mystical quality with the haz

  Flower bounty from my yard! One of the main thoughts my mind keeps returning to over the past several months of the Covid-19 pandemic has been the paradox we find ourselves in when it comes to planning. I have heard the phrase "summer is cancelled" or "2020 has been cancelled" which I can definitely relate to; weddings, friend reunions, half marathons, group camping trips, conferences, and more have been cancelled or postponed or rescheduled. One of the biggest mental challenges is realizing the unknown amount of time in which the pandemic will run its course. Events rescheduled for next year may be a joyful reunion or they may have to be postponed again or otherwise cancelled. I also find it interesting that at this time of uncertainty, there is a paradox in planning. We can't look ahead too far to plan for the future, but at the same time, some things that we want to do require extra preparation. Restaurants are taking reservations so that they can provide s

North Fork Boise River   We're in the middle of an Excessive Heat Warning here in Boise, so there's no denying -- the dog days of summer are here! This past weekend prompted the question: when the temperatures move upward, what are ways to cool down? I've put together a few ideas to help you beat the heat! 1. Float the Boise River . This is one of the most popular ways to cool down in the City of Trees, and for good reason - it's a lot of fun! You can rent a tube, a raft, or an inflatable kayak from Boise River Raft & Tube  and float the cool stretch of the river from Barber Park to Ann Morrison Park. There's nothing quite like experiencing Boise from a tube in the Boise River, and gaining a whole new perspective of the city by going under bridges, over a few rapids, and spotting riverside birds. The water temperature will leave you feeling utterly refreshed and chilled, perfect for these hot days!  2. Bike the Greenbelt. I biked a portion of the Boise River Gre