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.

Last week after discovering the little gem called Hyde Park in Boise's North End I told Mom about it and suggested we take our dogs (Loki and Katie) to Camel's Back Park, which hosts some great hiking trails and is the gateway to several other trails that lead to the Boise foothills and other destinations in Boise.

Camel's Back Park is located on Heron and 13th Streets, and is a huge park that is popular with students from nearby Boise State University and families who live in the North End. It is named Camel's Back Park because of the hump-shaped hills of Hull's Gulch that surround it.

Many young children and their parents were enjoying the park's playground and picnic facilities but I wanted to avoid the crowds and tackle Hull's Gulch, the big hump that overlooks the park and the city of Boise. Mom stayed in the park while Loki, Katie, and I began our conquest of Hull's Gulch via one of the less steep trails that surround the hill. Several children were sliding down the dune-like hill that faces Camel's Back Park, but due to the steepness of the hill I decided to pass on that activity.

The bottom part of Hull's Gulch is easy to maneuver for beginner walkers, but make sure you are in good shape for that and what is to come further up the trails. The hill was covered with beautiful yellow wildflowers, and Loki and Katie were frolicking in them instead of keeping to the trails.

About halfway up the hill to the top of Hull's Gulch, Katie gave up her conquest and went down the opposite side of the hill to Mom. At first I thought she had fallen off the hill or gotten lost, but I was able to see her a few minutes later, running on the trail, greeting other people hiking along. So, it was Loki and I alone to conquer Hull's Gulch.

Halfway up Hull's Gulch, you can see Camel's Back Park and downtown Boise's spectacular panorama. Mom was watching Loki and I during our entire climb, and after Katie joined her she sat under a tree for shade and to watch us.

The rest of this journal is to be continued in another entry.