Portraits Of An Idaho Resident

Over the course of this summer and moving forward, a dirt road I frequently drive near Sun Valley, Trail Creek, is being paved. It's really quite a bummer for me for numerous reasons including it just doesn't seem to make sense to pave a road that gets as little use as this road gets in addition to the astronomical costs associated with paving and the potentially increased driving speeds--think open range livestock grazing--and the fact that it's just a special place that will likely see increased use due to the fact the road will no longer puncture tires at the same rate.

With all of that said, I have been stopped daily on my way to guiding the Lost River by a few flaggers working the road construction zone. A week or so ago, one of the flaggers, a woman with a "stop" and "slow" sign stopped me and as we talked mentioned she wanted to give me something. Keep in mind I had at this point been stopped by this woman many times prior and generally rolled down my window to talk with her. I wanted to ask her about her blow horn attached to the pole of her sign and why she calls her little car parked off to the side "The Chicken Chaser." What are her days like? I have been thinking of writing a short story in the perspective of a flagger and thought, why not try to talk with as many flaggers as possible? This particular one, Susie, always has a smile and is talkative and tough in her own ways. Think of standing with a stop/slow sign for up to 12 hours a day. Meditative? Sore legs and back? Rain and hail storms... Dust. Rude impatient drivers.

She walked over to "The Chicken Chaser" and opened the rear end and sorted through a cooler and walked over to me with a handful of canned goods. She handed through the window of my dirty suburban corn relish and sweet pickles and tomatoes with jalapenos all from her garden in Challis, Idaho. She mentioned she liked me due to the fact I talk with her and probably find a way to make her smile.

Her name is Susie and a few days later I was once again stopped by her and I asked if I could get a portrait or two of her.

Silver Creek Brown Trout

Below are two Silver Creek browns caught today by two brothers. While the fishing was not exactly great the catching was pretty good as the images below may suggest...

Harrison Kapp all grins after landing this brown.

Pete Kapp and his own rendition of a nice brown.

Arco, Idaho

Below are a bunch of images taken either in or near Arco, Idaho. Arco was the first town in the world to be powered by nuclear power. It's located at the southern end of the Lost River Range and the Big Lost River is almost always dry in Arco. I have been fascinated by the town for some time and got a quick oral history from a lifetime resident, John, who spent nearly an hour answering my questions. John graduated from Arco's high school class of '55 and gladly pointed out where '55 is inscribed in the hill.

John, a lifetime resident of Arco, Idaho poses for a portrait. In the background is the infamous hill showcasing, in large painted white numbers, the graduating classes of nearly the last 100 years. Arco was first powered by nuclear energy in 1955. John mentioned the larger the size of the white painted number on "the hill" represented the larger the size of the graduating class that respective year. In other words, the small numbers represent smaller class sizes and vice versa. I spoke with John in front of Arco's Mello-dee Club.

The hill in Arco with almost 100 year's worth of graduating class numbers. This is a 5 image pano.

Road near Arco.

Buildings just west of Arco.

An old Arco motel. During better times, motels in Arco were abundant and occupied. This motel still appeared open.

Cross near dirt road. Arco, Idaho.

Water troughs and sky. HWY 20. Idaho. West of Arco.

Mello-dee Club. Arco, Idaho.