Relatively warm, wet, "in-between" weekend creates a quandary of choices; Might try trail projects; ski sales or hot springs

My friend Michelle Cooper works on a trail in the Harrison Hollow area
as a board member and volunteer for the Land Trust of the Treasure Valley.
Become a "Boise Foothills Friend" to get more involved in trails.  

A peek at Ricochet Trail at Avimor. You can help build this trail on Saturday. 

Big groups of elk can be seen along the Banks to Lowman Highway.

It's been a long winter for the elk 

The Idaho Trails Association offers up many trail work opportunities for people
to tap into. See below for links to plug into ITA activities. 

Hi all,

The weather this weekend looks pretty warm, wet and mushy ... even in the high country. Maybe skiers can catch some powder early in the day in the mountains before things warm up and rain. But the high temperatures in the mountains in McCall and Stanley are going to be in the mid- to high-40s, so that likely means rain. That isn't good for skiing! Dang!

My outdoor tip this week will focus on a few tidbits of things to do close to home and special notes:

• Avimor Trail Day on Saturday - Ricochet Trail - Avimor, north of Eagle on Idaho 55, is breaking ground on a new trail this spring called "Ricochet." It's a beautiful one-mile addition laced with views, rocks, climbs, drops, challenge, exposure and flow, according to Marc Grubert, Avimor trail guru. Volunteers are needed for a work day on Saturday March 12th (weather permitting). Sign up at Volunteer Spot if you'd like to go. Volunteers should bring water, wear sturdy boots/shoes, long pants, a jacket and some form of eye protection. You'll be working remotely in steep rocky terrain (no dogs or small children). The work day will conclude with a BBQ back at the Avimor community center, food and beverages provided.
• Ski and board sales - All of your favorite local ski and ride shops are having sales right now, with deep discounts. If you're looking to make a major purchase, now is the perfect time to save a TON of money. Support your local businesses such as Idaho Mountain Touring (mid-winter sale), Greenwoods Ski Haus ("Haus Cleaning 10-50%), McU Sports (progressive sale; things get marked down more every day), and Boise REI (members garage sale) is Saturday. World Cycle may have some xc skis on sale, too. 
• Dog poop pickup party on Saturday - Well, I couldn't lead off with this one, but this is a necessary gesture to clean up dog poop in the footies. Thanks to Team Eastside Cycles, along with Boise’s Habitat Veterinary Hospital and Boise Parks and Recreation for co-sponsoring this event. It starts at 10 a.m. You can start at Camelsback, the Jim Hall Learning Center or the Old Pen trailhead. Learn more here: http://bit.ly/1TIoX0Y
• Last week of grooming at the Idaho City Park n' Ski Areas - Leo Hennessy reports that the groomer made its last pass over the cross-country ski trail system in the past week, and that'll be it for the season. There's still about 3-5 feet of snow in the area. Keep it in mind depending on weather in the next few weeks. 
• The Idaho Trails Association assembled a hearty list of trail projects that will occur statewide this summer. Go to the ITA web site for a full list of projects, how to sign up, and how to join this very worthwhile organization. 
• The Land Trust of the Treasure Valley launched a new program called "Boise Foothills Friends." To be a BFF, you can volunteer at least 4 hours a year on trail projects or donate to a trails fund. Go to the LTTV web site for more information. I'm a LTTV member, and I highly recommend it! Plus you'll meet new friends! 

Just in case you're interested, fellow Boise Hawks travel hockey parents and I are hosting a big multi-family yard sale at my house on Saturday, starting at 8 a.m. 3209 N. 39th St., Boise 83703. All items must go! Everything will be priced to sell! We have a ton of good-quality items for sale, including furniture, kids toys, clothing, a few whitewater boating items, mountain bikes, air hockey set, books, etc. All proceeds from the event will help send our boys to USA Hockey Nationals March 31-April 4 in Brooklyn, NY. These boys are the top high school hockey players in our valley!   

If you'd like to get out of town this weekend, I'd recommend taking a drive on the Banks to Lowman Road, look for deer and elk, and go soak at a hot springs of your choice ... Skinny-dipper, Pine Flats, Kirkham or Bonneville. See the Idaho Hot Springs site for details. Here's a blog I wrote about this tour. Pack a lunch and some beverages for a fun low-key day.   -SS

Give Back to the Land: How to plug into trail projects with groups in Southwest Idaho

SWIMBA trail event in the Owyhees

Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation trail project 

Land Trust of the Treasure Valley volunteers 

Idaho Hiking Club volunteers worked on Table Rock trails for R2R

Hi all,

Spring is coming early this year. Hikers, dog-walkers, runners and bikers have been hitting the trails with a vengeance. I've been doing that, too!

Spring is also a time when the weather can be cool and moist, a good time for working on dirt trails before they get baked by the summer heat. It's a great time to put some love into the trails with a little sweat-equity.

This year, I'm flat impressed with all of the trail projects on tap in Boise and the greater SW Idaho area. Here's a quick list of six groups that have multiple projects on tap:

1. The Land Trust of the Treasure Valley has a number of volunteer trail projects coming up, starting on Saturday in Dry Creek. They're already full for that session, but more projects are happening on April 14th, May 2nd and May 6th. They need volunteers to build a new trail in Harrison Hollow on May 2nd, in cooperation with Boise REI, and they're doing trail-enhancement work on April 14 and May 6. Go to the Land Trust of the Treasure Valley or Boise REI to sign up online.
2. The Idaho Trails Association has a full slate of trail projects on the calendar for the entire year. This is a solid group with leaders who have experienced know-how to teach folks how to maintain existing trails and build new ones. There's a trail project planned in the Owyhee Canyonlands on June 6th, National Trails Day, East Fork of Lake Fork in McCall on June 27, Box Lake Trail in McCall, June 28, Alice-Toxaway Loop in the Sawtooths July 19-25, and much more. Check out this map for all of their projects planned this year.
   
   The ITA is having a fun Volunteer Appreciation Party on April 18th at the Ann Morrison Old Timers Shelter from 5-9 p.m. In the Wild Chef Steve Weston is going to be cooking up some excellent D.O. fare, and I'm hoping to join the party and cook up one of my favorite D.O. desserts, Devil's Tooth Cheesecake. They'll have some craft beer on tap. See you there!
3. You can always count on the Southwest Idaho Mountain Biking Association (SWIMBA) to dial up a bunch of trail projects every spring. SWIMBA has four work days set up this month -- April 4, 18, 21, 25 -- to work on Peggy's Trail in the Daniel's Creek area near Polecat Gulch. Just like ITA, SWIMBA has a lot of strong leadership in the trail-maintenance and -building department. Plus, you can count on some beers after the work day!
4. Our beloved Boise Foothills take a beating from all of the public use, so it's always a great idea to give back to the foothills trails by signing up with Ridge to Rivers for a volunteer trail project. Watch the Ridge to Rivers web site and Boise Foothills Trail Conditions Facebook page for upcoming trail events. Sam Roberts handles volunteer projects for Ridge to Rivers, sroberts@cityofboise.org.  
5. How about a little love for the rivers? The Idaho Whitewater Association is hosting a riverbank cleanup on May 9th along Idaho Highway 55 from Cascade Kayak to the Beehive Bend boat launch. People are meeting at Beehive Bend at 8 a.m. More information here. 
6. Last but not least, the Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation dishes up a bevy of trail projects every year for volunteers to benefit the wilderness resource. These projects require more of a time commitment in terms of a week-long backpack in "the Frank" or the Selway-Bitterroot that also involves trail-maintenance work with the assistance of crew leaders, pack stock, tools and materials. The Foundation also has opportunities for cabin and lookout hosting! Contact the Foundation for more information.
   
   Think about what a privilege it is to enjoy our public lands in Idaho. Pitching in on these volunteer projects will make a difference! Have fun!
   - SS

Give back to the earth on National Public Lands Day; volunteer to improve the land

Hi all,

Do you ever think about how wonderful it is to live in a state like Idaho that's richly endowed with public lands? I do. I've spent a lifetime trying to explore Idaho's national forests, state parks, state lands, BLM lands -- hiking, biking, camping, boating, skiing, backpacking, fishing, hunting, etc. etc. All of those adventures are what we live for. They give us a rich quality of life. Friendships. Hardship. Tons of fun! Thus, we should take a moment to cherish our public lands this weekend in observance of National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Trail volunteers assembled for a similar project in the Big
Jacks Creek Wilderness last year. 

One way to do that is head out for an adventure. Another is to give back. The weather looks crummy, so you might consider giving back. There are a number of volunteer opportunities going on in SW Idaho as part of National Public Lands Day. 

My #1 pick is to help out with finishing a BLM trail into Shoofly Creek and Between the Creeks in the Little Jacks Wilderness, near Grand View. You can either camp out Friday night or meet up Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at the Poison Creek picnic area on Mud Flat Road, south of Grand View. The Idaho Trails Association is a project co-sponsor along with Boise REI and the Idaho Conservation League.

This year, the NPLD theme is to recognize and celebrate the 50th anniversaries of the Wilderness Act and Civil Rights Act. There will be speakers there to talk about both. 

Getting there: Take I-84 east of Boise to Simco Road. Turn right and drive to Grand View. At the T-junction in Grand View, turn left and drive to the signed right-hand turnoff for Mud Flat Road, the Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway. Follow Mud Flat on pavement and dirt until you seen the Poison Creek picnic area on the right. It's good gravel road for any 2WD to reach this point. 

Bring your rain gear. The BLM is serving breakfast and lunch. 

For more information, contact Dave Draheim, at the Boise BLM 208-384-3358 or ddraheim@blm.gov. 

• Volunteer to help enhance the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge for wildlife and visitors. Meet at the Deer Flat Visitor Center at 9 a.m. Saturday. For more information contact Kacey Kai at 467-9278.
• The BLM is leading a project to plant sagebrush seedlings on Kuna Butte near Kuna. There also will be birds of prey on display at lunchtime, a swainson's hawk, great-horned owl and gold eagle. For more information, contact Barb Forderhase of the BLM, 384-3485 or bforderhase@blm.gov.

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Looking for a used Stand up Paddle Board? I saw that Idaho River Sports is having a September blowout sale ... they're calling it, SUPtember. IRS actually has a whole bunch of sweet deals going on through the end of this month, including half-price SUP rentals and great discounts on SUPs, canoes and other gear. Check it out! 

Have fun!
-- SS