Five Mile Gulch - With the Whole Pack
Sandy and Abby on the long traverse back to the start
Abby and I had a lot of fun on our first two hikes of the season. In fact Sandy thought it sounded so good that she wanted to try one of the hikes too. So a week later all three of us were back at the trailhead for Five Mile Gulch to do the Five Mile Gulch - Watchman - Three Bears loop.
Because the stream crossing at the beginning was a little tricky, this time I brought a hiking poll along. It made it a lot easier, especially since a bigger log had appeared in the week since my first time on the trail. It all turned out to be really dumb though. At the end of the hike when we got back to the car, I noticed a sign about fifty feet down the road from the parking lot. It turns out the REAL start of the trail is there, just after the road crosses the stream. I felt like a hiking noob.
It was another beautiful day and we only saw two other parties in the first hour as we hiked up Five Mile Gulch. One couple was carrying full packs, as if they had camped somewhere up ahead. I guess if you could find water higher up that would work. When the trail split we took the western branch again and started to climb out of the gully. We resolved that we would try to come back soon to explore the trail which continued up Five Mile Gulch.
The new mystery wildflower along the trail
In a brushy section we came upon a trail crew from Boise Parks. They were clearing brush that was infringing on the trail. Some of them were even wearing masks, strange when they were working by themselves outside. It was also hot enough that it would be pretty uncomfortable. I'm all for masks but this didn't seem neccessary.
There were still a lot of flowers even though it was the end of June. Seemed very late for the foothills to me. We even found a new flower that I hadn't seen at all the week before. I don't think I have ever seen it before. We looked it up afterwards but couldn't decide if it was a Trillium or a Mariposa Lily. Quite a large and beatutiful flower. What's in a name anyways?
It was another good hike and Sandy really liked the trail too. It was a good find so close and accessible to Boise. Definitely a good early season hike when the high country still has snow.
