What to know about waterfalls and potatoes in Idaho

Idaho grows potatoes – everyone knows that. My step-daughter Kim and I were there a couple weeks ago and found out that they spray acid on the potato leaves to kill them just before they dig up the potatoes. We bought a bag of potatoes from a huge truckload that had just been reaped.

Idaho also has waterfalls – because the mighty Snake River winds it’s way through the state. The Snake River isn’t near as big as the Mississippi or other eastern rivers like the Ohio, but it’s enchanting to see as it thunders over falls or gently meanders through the flats.

There was a 1994 movie about a couple crooks who forced Meryl Streep to guide a raft through the gauntlet — very dangerous rapids on the Snake river.

Called The River Wild it was a thriller and a good movie.

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Falls Creek waterfall, not far from Idaho Falls where we stayed with Don and Julie, was a delightful surprise.

Don and Julie are old friends from Santa Fe when I lived and worked in Los Alamos in 1972. Don took me rafting on the Rio Grande, through White Rock Canyon, and over the perilous Ancho Rapids where our two-man raft was spun around like a cork. You can read about that adventure HERE.

All this water in Big Spring just bubbles up from underground in a small area by seeping through the lava beds spewed out by of one of the Yellowstone volcanoes that exploded a few thousand years ago.

On another day we drove into Yellowstone West and were delayed 30 minutes by traffic that had slowed down to watch a single male buffalo grazing.

But then we came to the Gibbon falls, which made a gorgeous picture.

A bit further north was Mammoth Hot Springs. The upper level took my breath away.

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A closer view revealed tiny terrace falls caused by deposits of calcium over many years.

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One of our hikes was with Don and Julie’s family near the Grand Teton Mountains, which are spectacular even from far away.

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Family hike amongst the golden aspens at sunset. From left are Don and Julie, Anna and Ryan, Unity, the Gray Nomad, and Adam. And Willie-Bean down below.

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Funny story: On this hike, Kim was prepared for bear. She had bought a foghorn, and bear spray – for good reason as bears were around. We wanted to make sure the things worked, so she offered to give a demonstration.

While we held our ears, she pressed the foghorn trigger but all it did was sputter. She tried three times in exasperation. Sputter was all it did.

That left us with just the bear spray she had bought but had never used. She hit the trigger for just one second, and a large mist of orange dust spewed out for perhaps ten yards down the trail ahead – it was impressive.

We waited until the mist settled then off we went. Suddenly I started coughing, then all of us were coughing and blowing our noses. The visible spray had settled but the invisible stuff still got us and we coughed and sneezed for 15 minutes!

The learning is, if you go hiking with Kim, make sure she tests her bear spray behind where you are headed, and watch where the wind is blowing.

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BLOG TOPICS: I write in-depth blogs about a mix of topics: Health and Hiking, and Science and Energy, and Inspiration and Hope.
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The Gray Nomad ….. waterfalls remind us of continual energy, creativity, and cleansing.
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Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God. [Book of Psalms, chapter 20.]