Chunky Dunkin at Skinny Dippers

I just have to say, I love IDAHO! Idaho has so much variety and the views are always breathtaking, not to mention those natural hot springs that I love so much!

This picture is actually Tablerock again, but I love this view of Boise.

Over the weekend, since I had Friday off of work, Sarah and I decided to hike up to Skinny Dippers. I've been there a few times, and every once in awhile someone's actually skinny dipping, but it was the perfect day and I couldn't resist going to the hot springs. As far as I'm aware it's the closest natural pool to Boise, about a 45-60 min. drive. It's just past banks at MM4 and is a heck of hike. I actually forgot how bad the hike is. It's just a bunch of switchbacks straight up the mountain. There were maybe one or two other cars when we got there. Oh! I almost forgot, or maybe blocked it out... Libby my parents old dog decided to throwup everything in her stomache right next to Yuki, my dog. Poor Yuki was huddled up next to the door as close as possible and looked pitiful. Sarah and I didn't notice at first, we didn't hear her throw up we just started to smell something.... gross. So we pulled over and I cleaned it up... really gross, then put a towel down and started driving again. Then I hear some disgruntled growling from the backseat and Libby is cuddled up to a horrified Yuki. I think he has personal space issues along with separation anxiety... ironic. Anyway, Libby was very clearly invading his personal space and he wasn't having any of it. I separated the children and kept driving.

It was a hard climb but it wasn't too hot out and just as you feel like you want to quit, you're at the pools. We were lucky enough to have a pool full of people when we got there... three women and one man. Hotsprings, often just attrack naturalists or nudists and sometimes when hiking and you come along a nice pool all you may have available is your birthday suit, most people just can't resist taking advantage of the water regardless of suit or no suit. The point is, I understand you're going to come across some skinny dippers. Thats' inevitable but I much prefer men to women when it comes to that. There are some things that the water will hide and others that are out and about and in your face. Makes it difficult to carry on a conversation when "ladies" are bobbing about. Hope that didn't paint as vivid a picture as is burned in my head. As a Howell,  we pack our swimsuits everywhere, no matter the occassion, destination or season, you can be sure I'll have it! There's always an opportunity to get in the water. Once we got up there it started raining, so the dogs were miserable, and the water temp had been adjusted with makeshift pipes so that it was just lukewarm, not the hot I'd been looking foward to. So we weren't there long before we headed back down.

The dogs were exhausted by the time we reached the car and probably did 3X the hike that we did.

Sarah and I when we reached the car, wet from the rain but still had fun! Thanks for going with me Sarah!