Part one of Loki and my adventure up the hill at Hull's Gulch was easy, but the hill started to get steeper and more treacherous as we got higher up the hill. Katie had already quit climbing up the hill and went back down below to Mom who was watch the whole thing from a shady spot.
The backside of the hill at Hull's Gulch faces the Boise Foothills and is very steep with narrow paths. But steep trails and drops didn't stop my intrepid German Shepherd from joining my on the trail by climbing up the hill. Like Edmond Hillary and his trusty Sherpa guide Tenzig Norgay at Mount Everest in 1953, Loki and I were determined to get to the top, and Loki was determined to make that climb up the hill to be with me. After falling down a little bit down the hill, Loki went to a lower spot to navigate the hill and successfully made it up to me on the trail. I praised Loki for his bravery and determination, and we continued on up a steep set of stairs that was the last part leading up to the top of Hull's Gulch.
There were a couple of joggers that were jogging up to the top of Hull's Gulch as Loki and I walked up the hill, and Loki and I went to the side of the trail to let them pass, and I would let them know that Loki was a friendly dog. Loki was too tired and sore to acknowledge the people going up or coming down the hill, but he was determined to get to the top of Hull's Gulch with me no matter what.
Finally, Loki and I made it up the hill and we took a break to admire the beautiful views of Boise and its environs. To the south of Hull's Gulch, you can see Hyde Park and the North End. When you look east of the Gulch, you are greeted with a spectacular view of downtown Boise with the State House dominating the skyline. On the north and west sides of Hull's Gulch, you can see the Boise Foothills, the gateway to Bogus Basin and other sights including many of the homes of some of Boise's wealthier citizens, including potato and french fry baron JR Simplot's hilltop home.
After catching our breath and admiring the scenery before us, Loki and I made our way down the steep hill to Mom and Katie. The trip down was more treacherous than the uphill climb up Hull's Gulch, and Loki was feeling the effects of his arthritis, but he was trooping along.
I definitely recommend that you are in very good physical condition when you try to conquer Hull's Gulch and wear good shoes. I am in pretty good shape, and Loki was stiff and sore after getting off the hill and it took a couple of hours for him to recover from his adventure with his Mommy Dianne.