Moseying through Beautiful Meadows

For the first time in all the trips, I've taken to Boulder Meadows (which include an overnight trail ride with the Gold n' Grouse 4-H Club back in the early 1970s), I saw dust on portions of the trails. 

Bill and I visit the meadows almost every year.  They seldom disappoint. 

We were, however, disappointed when we first went there this past June to find walking not very pleasant with all the muck and water on the trails.  

So, we took a short hike and headed home with wet shoes.

Later, in late July we planned to take my brother, his wife and my sisters to the meadows. 

That morning, Bill, the careful researcher, learned that a portion of the road would be closed for improvements---sometimes waits of three-four hours.

So, that day we went to Boulder City instead.

Yesterday, Bill suggested that we drive up to the meadows and see how the road improvement was going. Believe me, it needed some repair as we bounced all over the place going about 10 mph for several miles on that June trip.

After yesterday's visit, it looks as if there's more repair to do, but the heavy equipment sat idle yesterday as we drove a much smoother stretch of road. 

And, so we made it to the meadows in time on a reasonably comfortable afternoon to do some hiking. 

The meadows are dryer than we usually see them, and, yes, occasionally while walking up the trail in front of me, Bill kicked up a dust cloud or two. 

Still, the picturesque area is lush with grass as ever, even in some places along the trails where the grass is so tall it hides rocks waiting for klutzy stumblers passing through and fall on their faces. 

Our leisurely 3.5 mile hike looping through the meadows was about as pleasant as anyone could ask for. 

For one thing, we had the beautiful "Sound of Music" type setting ALL to ourselves.  

In no big hurry, we had the luxury of stopping at several places, including a camping area for riders and horses.

The corral seems to be relatively new, and it's for sure the table top is.

  Someone left a bridle there, so I'm hoping someone reading today's blog can figure out who owns the bridle. 

Who knows?  Maybe it's the same person who restored the inscription. 

Our hike took us through a lot of comfortable shade and through several meadows filled with wildflowers and a few of those pesky hawk weeds, which some folks think are wildflowers.  

I refuse to take pictures of hawk weed, as if its feelings will get hurt and it will stop growing and spreading. 

That's magical thinking, for sure. 

We crossed three creeks---Boulder, Rummy and Poker (near Inscription Rock).  Bill sez there is a Gin Creek too but not on the route we took. 

And, of course, Bill picked a few huckleberries from bushes along the way. 

Twas a great afternoon escape, filled with a few new aspects of one of our old favorites of places on earth to be. 

If you haven't been to always-enchanting Boulder Meadows, check it out. Info. below in the Inscription Rock tale. 

Over this next week, it's wise to check out the road situation. 

Inscription Rock----then in 2014

Tale of Inscription Rock from a geocacher's log . . . .

This cache is located at a little known land mark called "inscription rock" located in Boulder Meadows. I am not sure when I first visited this rock as Boulder Meadows was a destination for many overnight horseback trips. 

 One of the highlights of these trips was to ride to the rock and read the words that are written upon it: "Jesus, In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; " Ephesians 1:7 KJV

Today the words on the rock are very faint, but if you look closely you can make out a few letters. One of our reasons for placing this cache is to preserve this piece of history that is unfortunetly fading away.

From the stories I have been told, this Bible scripture was placed here by a Sheep Herder some time in the 1920s. It is very possible this could of been a Basque Shepherd.

 The old timers tell stories of sheep being unloaded off of trains at the Samuels landing then herded up Grouse Creek into the Boulder Creek Meadows where the sheep would summer. In later years Boulder Meadows was also the summer home for cattle.

 The last herds in the area being owned by Vern Coon. There are several trails into the Boulder Creek area, but the most direct driving route is to take the twenty mile creek road off of highway 95 just North of Naples, Idaho. 

Follow road to the Boulder Meadows trail head. (Be sure to log into the Boulder Meadows cache while you are there) From trail head take trail 51 to trail 155 and follow GPS to ground zero while staying on this main trail. 

Be prepared to walk on water as there is three creek crossing along this trail. This trail is in good condition and there are no steep grades. 

Other route would be to follow GPS directly from trail head to cache sight. (be prepared for some bushwacking if you choose this way) Cache is a plastic container with a screw on blue lid and holds your typical cache treasures.

Inscription Rock----Aug. 23, 2020

The inscription has been restored.  Bill figured from the tromped down plants near the massive rock that someone had been there within the past day or so.   We also thought maybe Janice Schoonover had done the restoration as she planted a geocache above the rock in October, 2010. 

Bill has visited the cache a time or two, even leaving mementos from Ireland inside the container.  He inspected the cache yesterday, noting it had some moisture inside but those Irish items and the original log are still in fine shape. 

This morning on Facebook, I read a comment from Janice asking if we had done the restoration.  So, it appears there's a mystery.

Who then?

Whatever the case, it's impressive and will for many years to come provide an inspiring message along the trail for geocachers, hikers or horseback riders.