Albert Padley

2017 was an historic water year in Idaho. The snowpack throughout southern Idaho was well above average. That means there is a lot of runoff from snow melt.

Much of the snow melt finds it’s way into the Snake River, one of the longest rivers in the United States. The Snake has it’s headwaters in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. It courses across the entire southern section of Idaho, through Hell’s Canyon along the Oregon Idaho border before emptying into the mighty Columbia River in Washington state. The Snake is the largest tributary of the Columbia River.

One of the natural wonders along the Snake River is Shoshone Falls near Twin Falls. In many months and years, little or no water flows over the falls, having been diverted up river for irrigation use during the hot dry summer months. However, in years like 2017, Shoshone Falls puts on a spectacular show.

At 212 feet tall and almost 1000 feet wide, Shoshone Falls are actually higher than Niagara Falls. One can easily get drenched by the mist and rainbows are a frequent phenomenon.

Spring is the best time to visit Shoshone Falls. If you ever get the chance, plan a visit to see this wonder.

I love ghost towns. They are so intertwined with the history of the west. They helped define the character of the western states and fuel the entire national economy. Rough places to be sure. But they also speak to a time of rugged individualism that seems to be lost in the 21st century.

Silver City, ID is one of those ghost towns. Ghost town may be a misnomer, since Silver City actually has habitable buildings and residents. However, it is remote and only reachable in the summer by a long narrow twisty dirt mountain road. 4WD advised. It sits at 6,200′ in the Owyhee Mountains of southwest Idaho and winter access is by snowmobile. You really have to want to visit this place similar to getting to Bodie, CA.

The town was founded in 1864, shortly after the discover of silver on nearby War Eagle Mountain. Silver City quickly grew to over 2,500 residents and had it’s shore of general stores, hotels, saloons and brothels. The town served as the county seat of Owyhee County until 1934. Millions of dollars of silver and gold were pulled from the mines which operated as recently as 2000.

There are currently about 75 remaining buildings, all privately owned and in various states of restoration. One of the buildings is Our Lady of Tears Catholic Church where Mass is still said. How would you like to be the priest that has that duty each week? There is no easy access to the church. One must climb the hill pictured to the right. There are no stairs, just series of rock outcroppings. They have added a safety rail, however.

Several years ago our family visited Hoover Dam which sits astride the Colorado river near Las Vegas. It was summertime and hot. Probably around 114 degrees. After parking, we ventured inside to the visitor’s center to take the tour. The waiting room wasn’t much better than being outside, hot and uncomfortable. Once the tour started and we entered the bowels of the massive structure, the temperature fell to the chilly side. Nevertheless, my wife had had enough and renamed the place “The Damn Dam!”

The Damn Dam was built during the Great Depression years of 1931-1936 in Black Canyon which sits on the border of Arizona and Nevada. It was a massive undertaking and an engineering marvel. We often forget the human toll the project extracted with over 100 workers loosing their lives. You have to wonder what would have happened if OSHA had existed at the time?

The Damn Dam and the other dams along the Colorado River including Glen Canyon, Davis and Parker are controversial to some, but make modern life possible in places like Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Diego and Los Angeles. The lakes behind the dams provide drinking and irrigation water, flood control and recreation. So, thanks to the hardy individuals that conceived, built, maintain and run the Hoover Dam.