Set within the rugged landscape of southern Idaho lies a rich tapestry of history, culture, and pastoral tradition—woven by the skilled hands and resilient spirits of Basque immigrants. These hardy people, hailing from the Pyrenees region between Spain and France, carved out a unique legacy in the Gem State: sheep herding. While Idaho’s picturesque mountains…
Nestled within the rugged landscapes of Idaho, a state renowned for its stunning natural beauty and diverse cultural history, lies the enigmatic tale of the Sheep Eater tribe. This lesser-known Native American group has left an indelible mark on Idaho’s history, and yet, their story remains shrouded in mystery. In this exploration, we delve into…
“Set a good example for our children, and those visiting Idaho from other states. Idaho is only as great as we keep it, and allow others to keep it.” –Randy Thaemert Welcome to the blog post where I delve into the intriguing world of outdoor defecation. Did I really just say “intriguing” in reference to…
Idaho has been a hub of outdoor recreation for decades, and many of the world’s leading outdoor gear companies have their roots in our great state. Let’s take a look at the histories of two of these companies: Scott Optics and Smith Optics. Scott optics Previous image Next image Scott Optics was founded in Sun…
May be Idaho-er than you. You may have never heard the term “Ridge Runner”, but they really aren’t all that mysterious. In fact, if you happen to be from North (not “Northern”, but that’s subject for another time) Idaho the term is pretty common. I, myself—born and raised in Southern Idaho—had never heard the term…
The Nez Perce people, also known as the Nimiipuu, have a rich oral tradition that includes many stories about their creation and origin. One of the most important and well-known of these stories is the Nimiipuu Creation story. According to the Nimiipuu Creation story, the world was once covered in water. In this watery world,…
The State Seal of Idaho was adopted on March 14, 1891, shortly after Idaho became a state on July 3, 1890. The seal was designed by prominent artist and suffragette, Emma Edwards Green. The design of the seal features a miner and a woman, representing Idaho’s mining and agriculture industries, respectively. The miner is depicted with a…
People that touch our hearts often leave our lives too soon. One such person was my father-in-law, born and raised in what feels like the highlands of our state, the nearly mile-high plains of eastern Idaho. Don was the son of two rugged individuals, Bill and Nora Johnson, who had met on his mother’s family’s cattle ranch…
The wilds of Idaho have a lot to teach us. On a recent trip through Hells Canyon, NRS guest contributor, Emily Jackson, put forth some lessons from our iconic Whitewater State. Important parenting-on-the-river tips like, “You can never pack it all. Instead, mentally prepare for the things you’ll physically forget.” So true, especially when you’re bobbing…
The summer of 1910 in Northern Idaho had been ominous. The unusually hot and dry weather had created the perfect conditions for wildfire and firefighters spent most of the summer putting out thousands of fires. On the afternoon of August 20, a southwestern wind turned the forest from dangerous to deadly. The smoke is dense…