100 Hikes

 

Recently I came up with the idea that I wanted to track and complete one hundred hikes when I retire.  I love to go hiking and get outdoors in nature.  I see so much and I love the beauty that surrounds me.  In the spring the creeks and rivers are running at full tilt from the winter snow melt and the wildflowers are abundant.  By summer the trees have fully leafed out and there are different flowers.  Fall is spectacular all unto itself with the changing colors and gorgeous foliage.  The crisp air, freshly fallen snow and glory of winter is breathtaking.  The places I can go.  The things that I will see.  The mountains I can climb.  Creeks, rivers, lakes, waterfalls.  It sounds glorious.

 

I have been putting together my gear and have already tried some of it out.  You already know about my new hiking boots.  A couple weeks ago I picked up a tactical bumbag to carry supplies in around my waist and free up space and weight in my daypack.  I'm still working on the supplies part.  I also bought a telescoping hiking pole to try out and so far I like it.  I now plan to purchase another one to keep in Laverne.  I have a bright neon green safety jacket in the closet.  New gloves and a hat are on my list as well as socks and hiking pants with the zip off legs.

 

I love the Sawtooth Mountains

Another purchase I made is a gently used book off of Amazon listing a gob of hiking trails in the greater Boise area.  Even though I've lived in the area pretty much my entire life there are a lot of things I don't really know and feel I should.  I'm using it now.  This has given me the idea to pick up a few more books to keep in Laverne.  I won't always have internet access so maps, books and an atlas make a lot of sense to me. Plus, I like books so a handful of hiking and adventure books will be a good thing to have on hand.

 

No better place to greet the sunrise

I'm "practice" hiking at the  moment.  But I can tell you that since I created this goal I've been extremely excited about it.  I'm really chomping at the bit to get started.  One of the places I yearn to go is Yosemite.  And back to Yellowstone and Grand Teton.  Glacier National Park is another one on my list that I haven't been to since I was a child.  The Olympic forest in Washington state too.  We have so many treasures in our country.  I'm just itching to get started.