A Hike in the Foothills

One of the benefits of living in Boise is the close proximity and access to all sorts of outdoor activities. This winter, since we're experiencing such mild weather, I've been out exploring the foothills and doing a little hiking. The high desert climate helps to make this possible year round.

So, while I work my way through the Ridge to Rivers Trail System during the week, on the weekend I like to select  something further afoot. Yesterday, this meant my first trip out to the Wilson Creek area in the foothills of the Owyhee Mountains south of Nampa, Idaho. I was on the trail by 8:15 am, and it was worth the early hour to have the trail to myself and explore at my own leisure.

If you're in the area, I highly recommend checking out this hike. I completed 9.5 miles in about four hours with a short snack stop to refuel and enjoy the view. Idaho is a beautiful place, and my goal is get out and explore more of it.

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2010: One Long Road Trip

I went a few places this past year that you may not know about. Like the 2,045 mile road trip from Salem, Oregon, to southern California and back.

I discovered my favorite mission so far: Mission Nuestra Senora de Soledad. Tiny and inconspicuous, it was off the beaten path among farmland outside the community of Soledad.

I stopped in San Luis Obispo for three nights, and promptly fell in love with the area. I visited Cambria, Morro Bay, and drove past those famous, happy California cows grazing the hillsides below Hearst Castle.

From there, I enjoyed a brief stop in Santa Barbara. Of course, it meant another mission tour.

A walk on the beach. Some decent Indian food. And the admiring of a lot of tile in the city courthouse. Make sure you climb to the top of the bell tower for a fantastic panoramic view.

A few months later I found myself on a boat cruising around the Hawaiian islands with my parents. It was my first time to any of the islands, and a great way to get an overview of where I might want to return to.

In July, I was introduced to the Basque culture that surrounds Boise during Jaialdi.

In September, my sister met me in Hermosa Beach for a weekend of tart frozen yogurt, letterpress art, and bicycling along the beach.

There were also half a dozen road trips to eastern Idaho, two weekends in Salt Lake City, and a return visit to Portland after eight months away. A visit during which I never took a single picture. Hard to believe.

It's been a year of tremendous change for me personally and professionally. And I'm looking forward to what 2011 will bring!

...

Summer is the Season of Handmade

Mention the words "local" and "handmade" in the same sentence, and I'm likely to show up to whatever is happening. That was the case today when I learned earlier in the week about the supa summa craft market at the Flying M Coffeegarage in downtown Nampa.

Nampa, you say? Yes, let's go for a walk around downtown Nampa and see what we find. Did anyone else grow up with an 88 cent store in their town?

I saw this sign and immediately recalled the worn hardwood floors and the tinkling bell of the store that graced a corner of the small Oregon town I grew up in. Of course, the store longer exists, but it's still fun to see a vestige of days gone by.

Around the block, I stopped in to check out the wares on display at Urban Shed, a large consignment shop with contemporary and antique finds.

It's the building as much as the contents that will draw you in. Far in the back, I found a small glass dish to catch my keys and sunglasses when I step in the door at home.

Across the street, it was the handmade jewelry that attracted my attention at the Brass Razoo Boutique.

And once I was there, I was drawn in by the artful and clever displays of both furniture and clothing. By the time you reach the back of the store, you won't feel like you're in Nampa anymore, but a chic boutique that has recently garnered national attention.

I like the eclectic heartbeat that downtown Nampa has. I've seen traditional downtowns struggle in every area I've lived in, and it's encouraging to see this growing revival of boutiques. Sure, you can find both the hip and the ordinary, but more importantly, you can support local and handmade.

Some places to check out on your own walk around downtown Nampa:

Brass Razoo Boutique

115 13th Avenue South

Flying M Coffeegarage

1314 2nd Street South

Retro Connection

1305 2nd Street South

Urban Shed

120 13th Avenue South

The White Pine Boutique

1306 2nd Street South

...

So...I moved to Idaho

So, last month I moved to Idaho. Boise, to be exact. And I've been giving myself some time to adjust and do all the little things one must do when relocating and starting a new job.

A couple weeks ago, I finally went out to start exploring my new environs. I had seen the Boise Depot poised along the edge of the bench plateau on earlier trips to the area, and I wanted to get a closer look. I thought it might be an appropriate way to introduce you to my new city.

Completed in 1925, the Union Pacific Railroad Depot was a key element in the design of a grand boulevard into Boise. It anchors one end of the boulevard, while the state capitol building marks the opposite end.

I was particularly attracted to the Spanish Colonial architecture and red tile roof. It's not a style you see often in the Pacific Northwest. The surrounding grounds are beautifully landscaped, and the pond below the waterfall and rock grotto has the largest koi fish I have ever seen!

In some ways, the interior reminded me of being in the main hall on Ellis Island, although on a much smaller scale.



I've already been scouting out local events and nearby places to visit. And though I've spent a fair amount of time travelling through Idaho on my way to other places, the state itself is going to be full of new adventures for me.

Going on a Wild Strawberry Hunt

A couple of years ago I wrote about my memories of blueberry picking each summer. In fact, I reprized that role just last week so that I could pack fresh, Oregon blues to share with family in Idaho.

But this berry adventure? Well, we're going on a wild strawberry hunt. First, you'll need some transportation. Most anything will do, but a topless jeep sure makes for a fun ride:



You'll also need picking vessels. No buckets here, folks. Paper cups? Just the right size.

Next, find yourself a secluded and overgrown patch of brush along the river. It helps if you have an expert scout in your party. In our case, my mother has been summering in Island Park since the late 1930s, so she knew right where to look.



Now, get yourself familiar with the shape of the plant you're looking for. Once you've found one, lift the branches and look close to the ground for the berries. Don't see any? Me neither. Don't get discouraged. We'll find some eventually.



Ahh,look! Two ripe berries!! Expecting more? Tsk, tsk. This is going to be a lesson in patience and diligence, my friend. Repeat plant checking steps listed above for 1 hour...



...and this is what you'll have at the end of your labors!

Now, get yourself speedily back to camp so that you can clean and chill your berries before the summer heat renders them to nothing more than juicy pulp.



It helps to use a small colander. It will make the berries appear larger and more plentiful. Watch out for sneaky little hands that want to steal them.

Now we're getting to the good part. Fold your berries into some egg whites that have been whipped with sugar. Place this concoction into a graham cracker crust and try to wait until after supper...



Make sure to save a few berries to sprinkle on top!



Mmm, enjoy the fruits of your labors!

"Lazyman's Pie"

1. In a bowl, beat 2-3 egg whites until peaks form.
2. Continue beating egg whites while adding 1/2 cup sugar.
3. Fold in 2-3 cups of fresh raspberries or wild strawberries.
4. Pour mixture into prepared graham cracker crust.

Summer Road Trip: Boise to Island Park

bacon bread
Originally uploaded by Katherine H.

11 August 2007

I'm a sucker for a local farmer's market. So my morning in Boise started with a quick trip to the downtown Saturday market. My tasty acquisitions: bacon bread, bleu cheese spread, and a new pair of shoes (oops, not from the market!).

By the Numbers:
•Vehicles spotted with bikes: 12
•Vehicles transporting watercraft requiring a paddle: 7 (4 with kayaks, 3 with canoes)
•Pit stops: 1

Forgotten:
•To wash the car windshield again!
•Must pump your own gas in Idaho!
•Sales tax in Idaho!

Miles travelled: 346

Summer Road Trip: Bend to Boise

pit stop
Originally uploaded by Katherine H.

10 August 2007

A few months ago I decided to do something I had never done before: drive by myself to Idaho and Utah. This excursion has become my annual August trip – a last hurrah to see family and friends before returning to the escalating rhythm of training season.

Usually, I travel by plane. This year, however, I figured I had the time for a leisurely drive and a little exploration. I mean, what says summer more than a road trip?

With energy and eagerness, I began my journey in Salem on Highway 22 headed east toward Bend. This route is familiar territory to me. Nothing new here, just beautiful scenery and a slow climb through the Santiam Pass behind fellow vacationers.

It was the stretch beyond Bend to Boise that I was eagerly anticipating: The Road Unknown. For someone who travels the byways of Oregon regularly as part of my job, it’s still exciting to traverse new territory.

And the landmark I was searching for? What has become known as The Shoe Tree, a cropping of scrubby trees lassoed by dozens of shoes between mile markers 126 and 127 along the Malheur River. There were mostly sneakers, a few boots and flip flops -- even a pair of ballet slippers and ski boots. Apparently, not much to do around here but mark your passage with an abandoned shoe or two.



By the Numbers:
•Fellow Mazda 6 drivers in hotel parking lot: 2
•Times driven around the same block in Boise: 3
•Number of aggresive RV drivers towing Hummers: 1

Forgotten:
•To wash the car windshield
•Cotton swabs
•Water reservoir for Camelback
•Water pick
•Change to MST while still in Oregon

Miles driven: 449

Blue Herons and Bike Rides

bikes on bridge
Originally uploaded by Katherine H.

Eighteen years ago, my parents were fortunate enough to acquire a patch of land along the Buffalo River with one of my aunts and her husband. Since then, our summers have been full of blue skies alternating with thunderstorms, lazy afternoon floats down the river, and the exploration of dusty paths in this southeastern corner of Idaho.

Promoted as “the longest Main Street” in America, this 33-mile stretch along Highway 20 provides access to numerous lakes and rivers for water sports and fishing, groomed trails for snowmobiling, and access for exploring the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.

As the area grew in popularity for outdoor sports, a number of lodges and inns sprung to life in response to the tourist traffic. Pond's Lodge, Phillips Lodge, Island Park Lodge, Mack’s Inn, and Big Springs Inn were just a few of the businesses established during the early 20th century. With the passage of time, those lodges that remain struggle to adapt and draw modern travelers.

Island Park holds a lot of memories for my mother, who spent her summers in the area as a young girl. In the 1940s, she began working at Pond’s Lodge, a stopping point for motorists as well as a supply point for the families who spent their summers in the area. Punctuated with hard work and good, clean fun, it was a way of life that she longed to share with her family.

And so, over the years, Island Park has come to mean those things to us as well: canoe rides, bicycle trips to the railroad bridge, feeding the fish at Big Springs, and spying blue herons and moose around the reservoir at twilight time. Though my schedule only allowed for a few short days here this August, the shared memories of summers past will continue to linger.