#43: I-I-Idaho

I passed through the northern, narrow portion of Idaho that borders Canada en route from Washington to Montana, but that was just for a few hours. I didn’t count that as really visiting Idaho. Having a few friends in Boise I wanted to see, I happily headed back west towards Boise even though it was a bit of backtracking.

My landing pad in Boise was my friend Charina’s house. Charina and I met in Boulder, CO, working for Backpacker magazine about ten years ago. I was looking forward to visiting Charina and her family and also to experience Boise. I had heard such great things about it and was anxious to see the city for myself.

I loved it. It’s funny because years ago, to me, Boise seemed so “out there” - like the cow town for which Denver was known before it became the cool place to be. They say Boise is the “next” Denver, and I believe it. The city is happy and quaint and offers so much. The weather is pleasant all year round, outdoor activities nearby are abundant, the food and culture scene is lively, and people are friendly and open-minded. Charina and her family live in a city neighborhood, and it’s walkable and safe.

We did a little adventuring at Box Canyon State Park. It was cool to see something different that I wouldn’t have done if my friends hadn’t initiatedd it. 

We also met up with a mutual friend from NYC - our friend Laurence. We all know each other from our past careers in magazine publishing. We caught up over some wine and the picturesque atmosphere at Koenig Vineyards.

My next stops in Idaho were Ketchum and Sun Valley (per Charina’s recommendation). Ketchum is a little mountain town, and Sun Valley is the ski resort area. I’m a sucker for a good mountain town, and Ketchum was no different. I also got to see North America’s first chair lift.

After asking around town, I planned to explore Redfish Lake the next day, about an hour north of Ketchum. I found an incredible boondocking spot outside Ketchum and Sun Valley.

I had no expectations of Redfish Lake and wasn’t exactly sure what I would do there. I found my way, though, and took a boat across the lake and hiked back.

My next destination…Jackson, WY. I had a bit of a drive to get there but was pumped for what Jackson had in store.

#41: Spokane-> Idaho-> Glacier National Park

I arrived at Airstream of Spokane around 11 am. I was so relieved to be somewhere with people who could potentially help me. It’s worth noting that my (now) friend, Doug, was the only service manager willing to squeeze me in to his already busy schedule at this Airstream dealer. I was so grateful.

Since I needed a shower, the first thing the Spokane team did for me was to plug the Airstream into electricity, water, and sewer. I took a shower in the trailer, as it was parked in the parking lot.

The team took the day to troubleshoot, and the Truma was working fine. They ran it for hours - the heat and water heater. I was almost disappointed when Doug called to tell me it was working as expected. I wanted it to act up so they could more easily diagnose.

That Thursday night, I made a camping reservation in a regional park - with electrical hookups (I purposely stayed in the area just in case I needed to go back to the dealer the next day). I arrived at the park, hooked up, and turned on the water heater. It worked. The next morning, though...error code. This thing was playing with my mind. I called Doug, and I was back at the shop before breakfast.

Long story short, with George-from-Truma's help, a diagnosis was made: the fan on the unit needed replacing. 

Good news: George sent a new one that would arrive on Monday. 

Bad news: I had to find a place to stay for the weekend. 

Doug so graciously offered me to "camp out" in his driveway while we waited for the park to arrive, and I took him up on his offer. I felt safe, and Doug ended up becoming a trusted confidant and friend. I am so thankful for him.

My third party warranty covered the fan and repair labor - phew. By Tuesday morning, Addie and I were on our way to Montana via northern Idaho. Doug gave us a few places to check out along the way to Glacier National Park, our next destination. We stopped at Kootenai Falls and the Swinging Bridge in Libby, Montana. 

It was getting dark on our drive, so we found a place to stay in Libby. I grabbed a shower, and we hit the road for Glacier the following day.

Glacier National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the country. Even though it was mid-week, I had a hard time finding a place to camp near the west entrance. I settled on an overpriced RV park and called it a night.

At the time of my visit, the eastern side of the park and east entrance was closed (unfortunate). Going-to-the-Sun-Road (main scenic road through the park) closed at Rising Sun, just before the east gate. Some would argue that the east side is the preferred side, but it, unfortunately, would not be an option this time around. When I learned that I wouldn’t explore the park to its fullest, I decided not to stress out about trying to see everything. It wasn’t going to be possible, so I’d have to make it a point to return to Glacier again one day. On this visit, I would drive through the park and take in the iconic views.

The next morning, to beat the crowds, we set out before sunrise. Although the weather was cloudy and on the cusp of raining, I’m glad we got out early. Parking lots were filled by 8 am.

As mentioned, Glacier National Park is on my list of places to return. Something I’m learning throughout this journey is to be okay with not seeing everything. There is just no way to do so. As a frequent FOMO’er (Fear Of Missing Out), this is something that I’m getting more and more comfortable with as each day passes.