IdaHome--February 2020

Community + Culture + Recreation +

Real Estate

Introduces

Timber Square

Bogus Basin A Rich History

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

Startup Fever!

Beyond Boise

Affordable Housing?

BOISE, EAGLE, MERIDIAN, NAMPA, CALDWELL & BEYOND

Alicia C. Ralston 208-850-7638 Alicia C. Ralston

www.ralstongroupproperties.com 208-850-7638 www.ralstongroupproperties.com

Alicia C. Ralston 208-850-7638

420 W MAIN STREET · SUITE 102 191 SUN VALLEY ROAD · SUITE 202 BOISE · IDAHO www.ralstongroupproperties.com 83702 KETCHUM · IDAHO 83340

420 W Main S treet · Suite

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2 · Boise Id aho 83 702

191 Sun

Valley Ro

ad · Suite 2

02 · K et chum I d aho 83340

LORI OTTER

208.340.0920 ottergirl1009@msn.com PROUDLY SERVING THOSE WHO CALL IDAHO

HOME ...AND THEIR CRITTERS TOO !

PROMOTING THE RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY

AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP FOR ALL WHO ASPIRE TO IT

Through service and advocacy, we’ve reduced the cost of new construction roughly $20,000 per home in 2017-2018.

BCASWI.ORG

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

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COMMUNITY

33 Chow Down: Piedaho 25 Explore: Unknown Idaho in Winter

37 Tables: Amano in Caldwell

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29 The Latino Card Podcast TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

19 Starting Startups!

22 Lumineye Looks Forward ARTS & CULTURE

14 Bogus Basin: A Rich History 35 Nonprofit Spotlight: JesseTree

38 Makers: Sculptures at McCall Studios

31 2 Girls From God's Country

REAL ESTATE NEWS

8 Affordable Housing in the Treasure Valley?

10 Beyond Boise MONTHLY EXTRAS

40 Contributors

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Love is In the Air!

Hallmark tells us that February is the month of love and, cliche or not, I am all in. I’m inclined toward sentimentality, and any excuse to celebrate it is just fine with me. Really, we’d all do a little better to love each other a little harder everyday. Let’s start here.

This is also our “Beyond Boise” issue, and I’d be remiss to neglect my love for this beautiful state we get to call home. I grew up in Kuna, went to school in Moscow, and purchased my first home in Boise. Soon, I’m moving to Caldwell, in part because of a story I did for the magazine on the downtown renovation happening there. I love each of these cities, and all the ones in between. I love that I get the pleasure of writing about them month after month. And I love you for making and reading the stories.

This issue is a fun one, because we’re introducing something new--a recurring tech section that will spotlight the cool startups and tech issues happening around the Treasure Valley. We’re highlighting local company Lumineye and talking about FlipRide, a cool new app that got its start right here. Oh, and if we’re talking new, we should mention our interview with Meridian’s new mayor, who you may not have met yet.

Our Explore section celebrates your love of Idaho winters with a conversation about ice fishing and a trip down a few different snowy hills on skis, tubes, and even snowmobiles. We’re talking pies at Piedaho, a company slinging sweets all year long.

Finally, we’re focusing on the home as a place of love. We’re excited to bring you an interview from the Amano kitchen, and tell you about Jesse Tree, an organization dedicated to preventing evictions for families throughout the Treasure Valley. There’s a great article about affordable housing too, which is an issue close to a lot of our hearts, especially during what’s turning out to be another crazy year for real estate--more on that too!

We hope you’re staying warm this winter, and that love is finding its way into your hearts and homes. Snuggle up next to a fire with a puppy if you can--this cuddly issue is a must-read, and H E AT H E R H A M I LT O N - P O S T we’re so thrilled to have you!

Editor in Chief

THE

SPRINGS

HOT SPRINGS RETREAT AT IDAHO CITY

EASY TO GET TO, HARD TO LEAVE

Located 35 miles from Boise, along scenic Hwy 21 near Idaho City 208.392.9500 • thespringsid.com

Nestled in Idaho’s mountains, The Springs offers a unique blend of comfort and solitude. With private soaking pools, locally made spa products, and the nearby Inn the Pines, this mountain retreat is the perfect romantic getaway.

FEB RUARY 2020 publisher K A R E N DAY karen@idahorem.com managing editor H E AT H E R H A M I LT ONPOST heather@idahorem.com copy editor Z ACK CR E NSH AW art and design K AR EN K EY art@idahorem.com K A L E Y BE LVA L design@idahorem.com designers and illustrators JOH N AT H A N S TOK E S social media manager K E L L I E M A L ON E director of operations and sales manager M AR IELLE W ESTPH A L admin@idahorem.com contributing photographers K A R E N DAY J OH N W E B S T E R Marketing, Sales and Distribution sales@idahorem.com IdaHome Magazine is publishing by Idaho Real Estate Marketplace P.O. Box 116 Boise, Idaho 83701 208-481-0693 © 2019 IdaHome Magazine. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed by the authors and contributors to IdaHome Magazine are not necessarily those of the editor and publisher.

ON THE COVER Timber Square at Harris Ranch is Boise Hunter Homes’ newest community and one of the last opportunities to own a new home in the pristine Harris Ranch community.

It’s hard to beat Timber Square’s location.

With the region’s top rated schools located nearby, hiking and biking in the adjacent foothills, and just a 10-minute drive to/from downtown Boise, Micron’s HQ , Albertson’s HQ , and Boise’s Airport, there are many reasons demand for the Harris Ranch community remains strong. Efficient living doesn’t get much better than this with three-story and two-story floorplan options, gorgeous finishes, and a low-maintenance, lock-and-go lifestyle.

Model homes open daily 10am-5pm. Learn more at BoiseHunterHomes.com Photos by John Webster.

We d d i n g s I d a h o St y l e

I N THE NE X T I SSUE

I d a Fo r t a t Tr e e f o r t!

Beyond Bois e : The Hunt For Aff ordable Hous ing

by Leah Hess Victorino You may have heard the line, “there’s always more month than money.” Many people can relate to this expression at some point in their lives, whether it was growing up with a single parent, during early adulthood, or recovering from a financial hit like a medical emergency. With housing costs soaring in the Treasure Valley, it is becoming increasingly challenging for many households to make ends meet.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) considers families paying over 30 percent of their income on housing “cost-burdened,” stating that they “may have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation, and medical care.”

A full-time minimum-wage worker will gross $15,080 annually, or about $1250 monthly.

Natalie Sandoval, homelessness liaison for Nampa School District, says that “a lot of families are single-female or single-male,” meaning they are considered “cost-burdened” if they pay above $375 on housing per month.

According to HUD, “a family with one full-time worker earning the minimum wage 8

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cannot afford the local fair-market rent for a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the United States.” This depiction of a national crisis hits home in Idaho, a state with a high proportion of minimum-wage workers. HUD calculates fair market rate (FMR) in Ada and Canyon countries for one-, two-, and three-bedroom rentals at $748, $931, $1346 respectively. That one-bedroom cost represents nearly 60% of a minimum wage earner’s gross income, though there is little available in

that price range.

Renters and homeowners are looking to other parts of the Valley to escape Boise and Garden City prices, but outlying communities are still subject to basic economic principles of low inventory. “It’s supply and demand,” says Sandoval, “Landlords can get more, so they take more.”

A Rent.com search for housing west of Boise (Kuna to Notus to Eagle) at FMR yields 11 properties, one- or two-bedrooms mostly in Nampa or Caldwell. Expand that search filter up to $900 to find a total of 23 listings between Kuna and Caldwell, none along Highway 44 near Eagle, Star, or Middleton. Craig’slist produced more hits initially, but a closer look revealed that about one quarter of listings read: housing wanted.

“What I hear from families is, ‘I was in housing, my lease came up, and I couldn’t absorb the rise in rent,’” Sandoval recounts. She wants readers to know that people in shelters and in their cars are often employed but have lost their homes because rent goes up and wages do not.

Idahoans with low incomes on tight housing budgets may be eligible for affordable housing assistance, which could come in the form of qualification for public housing or through a voucher that can be used to subsidize a rental.

Income restrictions apply based on Average Median Income (AMI), starting at 80% AMI, which is $58,880 around the Treasure Valley and even less in more rural counties. Programs are also available to assist in homeownership.

Renters with a low-income qualifier may apply for affordable housing units, but it may be years before they get to the top of the list. Sandoval advises that the housing authorities purge their lists every year through a mailing, so it is important to respond—a task that can prove difficult for families in transition who may change addresses throughout the year.

Even accounting for new developments like Nampa’s Mercy Creek or Caldwell’s Westview Lofts slated for completion April, the number of units is insufficient in the face of rising rent, stagnant wages, and population growth. “What’s being built is either high-end, or senior, or very specific population,” says Sandoval, “We’re not seeing that sort of development being built for fixed-rate low-income housing.”

In her role as minister of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship that serves Greater Boise area, Rev. Sara LaWall sees the effects firsthand when people are unable to afford housing. As the Valley experiences continued growth, she asks “how are we including the most vulnerable?”

Boise and surrounding areas are sorely in need of solutions to lack of affordable housing. Working together, government and developers have a huge opportunity to create mixed-income housing projects that take a load off of working families and build stronger communities in the process.

“When everyone thrives, the economy thrives,” says LaWall. www.idahomemagazine.com

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Avimor, Chapter 2

For over 100 years, the McLeod family has lived on and cared for the thousands of acres that comprise Avimor. Avimor was part of a larger ranch known as the Spring Valley Ranch, which traces its roots to 1890 when a small ranching community known as “Howellâ€? began to thrive in the area. It was an 80 acre ranching settlement that boasted a general store, blacksmith shop, and post ofďŹ ce. In 1916, Colin McLeod, a Scottish immigrant, arrived in Howell and purchased what became known as the Spring Valley Ranch.

Colin McLeod raised his family on the ranch and began to purchase surrounding parcels, ultimately growing the foothills ranch to about 37,000 acres. The ranch stayed in the hands of the McLeod family, passing from Colin McLeod., to Colin “Smokey” McLeod II., and then on to Colin “Sandy” McLeod III. Conservation and land stewardship have always been a priority of the McLeod Family. They were implementing sustainable practices many decades before it became popular to do so. It is their heritage of land stewardship that is the basis for The Avimor Master Plan. In early 2000, Sandy McLeod and his family sought to develop a “place” where the land was preserved for future generations and folks could live side-by-side with nature. The McLeod’s desired a smalltown feel, a community where kids could freely enjoy the outdoors and residents could get to know their neighbors.

The McLeod family considered many alternatives for development. They first considered selling individual parcels, resulting in a patchwork quilt of development throughout the foothills. They decided, however, that a master plan concept with an emphasis on conservation and small town values would be the best way to meet their vision for the land.

As the McLeod’s and planners began planning, one of their primary goals was to find a way to alleviate the natural conflict between private development and conservation of the scenic foothills. They decided on cluster development. Cluster building, also known as conservation design, requires planners to consider environmental features and natural areas while designing any development. It is a way to avoid the simple “checkerboard” development and instead integrate trails, natural open space, creek beds, and parks into the design. Scenic resources and native habitat are preserved while still allowing public access and recreational use.

Avimor has set the standard for inclusive conservation-based communities. Like the foothills it’s built on, Avimor is living and growing. The plan is well designed with conservation at the forefront. The foothills lifestyle is affordable and open to all.

Located North on Highway 55 a Mile Above Shadow Valley Golf Course Model Homes Open Daily 10 am - 5 pm 208-939-5360 • www.avimor.com Marketed by Epic Realty LLC • RCE 35084

BOGUS BASIN A RICH HISTORY

by Karen Day

DID YOU KNOW….?

1.

The name BOGUS derives from swindlers in the 1860’s who hid there while manufacturing fake gold dust.

2. Bogus encompasses two mountain peaks of the southern Bitterroot Mountains: Deer Point and Shafer Butte.

3. Alf Engen, the famed pioneer of the American powder technique, selected the site in 1939.

4. In 1960, a documentary called, Bumps to Bogus, helped convince county commissioners to pave the knee-deeprutted dirt road that became impassably muddy in spring.

5. Bogus is the largest nonprofit recreation area in the U.S.

6. Without J.R. Simplot, there might not be a Bogus Basin today…..why? Read on!

If you live in the Treasure Valley and you’re a winter sports fan, chances are as steep as the 16 mile road to Bogus Basin that you’ve been there and enjoyed it –specifically as opportunity to ski, snowboard, tube, snowshoe,

cross-country ski, bike, hike, dance to live music, ride the coaster or just lift a mug and marvel at the incredible view of the Treasure Valley. The proximity of the resort is an inherent element of its indelible local charm, but the history of Bogus Basin is as twisting as the 172 turns that lead up to all this convenient fun.

As early as 1930, Treasure Valley residents looked up at our foothills and dreamed of strapping on a pair of 6-foot-long wooden slats and experiencing the new sport of skiing. So committed were the locals to the idea of an accessible recreation area that profit was never an initiating force. The resort was born out of a dedicated community effort and volunteerism. Today, most ski resorts are built and driven to serve profitable bottom lines, however, Bogus remains unique from its

inception as a labor of anonymous local’s love for short lift lines and affordable enjoyment. For instance, few people swooshing down from Deer Point know that a civil engineer for the U.S. Geological Survey, Charles “Chuck” Fiske, voluntarily drew the original plans and donated all his professional skills to design the sewer treatment systems, parking lots and the first Poma and chairlifts.

“Our main goal is still to preserve this pristine environment, while offering the mountain experience to as many people as possible,” said Brad Wilson, the current general manager at Bogus.

“We want to ensure the resort is here to serve for at least another 77 years.”

Bogus opened in 1942 with rope tows and the first chair lift starting up to Deer Point in 1959 and night-skiing added in 1964.

Today, 4 high-speed quads average 1,800 skiers per hour.

“This summer, uphill capacity will increase by 25%, to 2,400 per hour,” said Wilson. “Bogus is growing as fast as our Treasure Valley population, but our lift lines will remain short.”

More people enjoying the resort also equates to more traffic on the narrow, winding road. The resort is planning to accommodate the increased flow of taillights with all day, multiple bus services next year. Slow traffic demands patience when fresh powder waits atop the hill, but in perspective, the original dirt road to Bogus was a one lane, dirt washboard that only allowed cars as caravans going uphill in the morning and downhill in the afternoon! Imagine, waiting to

get up the mountain with no cell reception—or cell phones!

Beyond convenience is the cost of Bogus compared to other ski areas. An adult lift ticket is $67, a child’s $26. Most impressive is the historical precedent set by Bogus’ former general manager, Mike Shirley, who dropped the price of season tickets from $500 to $199 in 1998. The break- even point for skiers was 7 visits and the bold move sold nine times as many passes as any previous season. A decade later, senior passes remain at $199. Adult passes have increased only as much as the cost of one full day lift ticket at most major ski resorts.

Operating as a nonprofit means Bogus Basin has faced and overcome staggering financial

obstacles to keep prices down.

Most notably, in 1953, the new ski area struggled under debt and faced early demise. Potatomagnate, J.R. Simplot stepped in, purchased the ski lifts and mountain improvements from the debtors, and leased them back to the association for $1,500 a year for ten years. In 2002, the Bogus Creek main lodge was named after him.

In gratitude, after our next great day of burned quads and sunburned cheeks at Bogus Basin, let’s remember to lift an apres-ski glass to J.R. and all the anonymous volunteers and staff, past, present and future, who carefully, lovingly, helped carve some of our best days ever out of the wild Bitterroot mountains above Boise.

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TECHNICALLY SPEAKING When IdaHome magazine attended Boise Startup Week this fall, we were inspired. But beyond that, intrigued. We asked ourselves how such powerful things were happening all around us, but not receiving the coverage they deserved? We reached out, sent countless emails, jumped on the phone, drank endless amounts of coffee with interesting people doing interesting things in interesting Idaho. What did we learn? Local media hasn’t focused nearly enough on Gem State startups, and IdaHome magazine is changing that.

This month, we introduce “Technically Speaking,” a monthly feature which promises to highlight the people, products, companies, and issues facing the booming technology industry, specifically in the Treasure Valley. We’re committed to profiling local innovators and developments that are changing the world from right here in Idaho!

How to Start a Startup

by Heather Hamilton-Post

“If you feel like you're fully in control and March. everything is perfect, you're not ambitious enough.

“FlipRide is like Venmo for auto transactions,” You need to push yourself till it's out of control,” explains Ricky Lyman, the company’s co-founder laughs Cody Miller, a Boise businessman and investor. and CTO. “We created it to take care of the things Miller, who has started several technology-based that people don’t think about when they sell a car to a companies, hardly ever says no to clients, which he private party. It takes care of the convenience factor a sees as crucial to his success. dealership would provide, but leaves As an investor, Miller doesn’t practice quite the the seller with same mentality, and instead searches for companies more money.In that have a solid business plan. “It doesn’t take an an age where you investor very long to realize if there’s a big opportunity can hail a taxi from in an idea--or not. I like investing in something that your phone, you has been validated by customers. When should be able to do it comes to B2B an auto transaction as companies, I well.” like to get client Miller joins Lyman commitments and two successful up front. It Boise entrepreneurs, reduces risk and Travis Hawkes and we build better David Gardner as coproducts when client founders. The group first feedback influences met to try to figure out a the design,” Miller way to give people car loans explains. through an app, but quickly He is a lifelong realized the need for an endIdahoan, growing up to-end process for consumers. working in Harriman They talked, and Lyman State Park clearing began working on a prototypedead wood from the -”just to see what it would look forest trails and exploring like.”

Idaho’s vast wilderness.

“FlipRide serves arguably the Nowadays, Miller is still largest opportunity in the working to nurture the auto loan market—private party auto world around him, though lending. This market is so underserved, the landscape has changed. and our technology is completely One of his latest endeavors? changing the way people buy and sell A startup called FlipRide that used cars,” says Hawkes, who is also Photos courtesy of FlipRide. hits the commercial market in FlipRide’s president.. www.idahomemagazine.com

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Hawkes and Gardner have been business partners for years, building companies like Capital Auto Loan, one of the largest private auto lending companies in Idaho. “Our experience in the auto, finance, and tech industry led us to create a secure and transparent guide for buyers and sellers,” explains Gardner.

“It’s more important to serve a group of people rather than innovation itself. You build a better product--start with the people. You’ll get a more authentic product, which makes your chances of surviving and thriving better,” he says. Lyman says that, if he’s learned anything during this process, it is to be persistent--great products aren’t built in a day. He’s most persistent about product improvement, setting aside ego in pursuit of design that meets the needs of the market, whatever they may be.

“The startup environment in Boise has changed considerably over the last five years. The rate of new Boise startups is increasing, more entrepreneurs are taking risks—quitting their day jobs to pursue their dreams,” says Miller. “And this startup environment is attracting new investment groups.”

For FlipRide, this turned out to be true, though on the heels of hard work and a truly interesting idea.

StageDotO, a seed round venture capital firm focused on early-stage companies, had recently announced plans to set up an office and investment fund in Boise, and Hawkes was able to arrange a meeting. In the lobby of the Owhyee, the group talked for 30 minutes. “We showed them a prototype,and they were interested in taking next steps,” says Lyman. “It was great timing for us to find such perfect partners.”

Originally, the FlipRide team was prepared to bootstrap their idea, pouring their own time and money into a product they believe in. “The partnership with StageDotO gives us the chance to scale very quickly, which spoke to us. We’re working with better resources, building a better quality product. We get to launch with some great marketing,” Lyman says. He explains that, what could have been a hometown business now gets the chance to go national in a shorter time frame.

And, while he is infinitely grateful that people believe in his product, Lyman says that funding isn’t a cure-all. “We’re treating this as a way to scale up, but we were positioned to build FlipRide regardless.

Funding is not a crutch--it’s a tool,” he emphasizes.

Luckily, such tools abound in the Treasure Valley, which offers support for startups by way of money and resources. “I think Boise is incredible, not just because I live here. There’s lots of untapped talent here. There’s this idea that Boise is a low cost place to live and operate, and that’s true, but we’ve really got the perfect mix of innovation here--education, people who are being built up by companies like Micron and Scentsy. And they’re going out and applying these skills,” Lyman says. “A whole new generation of entrepreneurs.”

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Winter is coming...

our Community Mountain

NON-PROFIT. ALL GOOD. After 76 years of being the place to go for community mountain recreation, you'd think everyone would know we are a non-profit organization. It's true, we're in it for the long haul. As one of the Treasure Valley's most valued assets, we put everything we make in profits and donations back into the mountain, so education, events, facili facilities, and amenities are affordable and accessible to everyone, year in and year out.

BB Join the Fun

Winter Activities & Passes From winter sports to tubing & mountain coaster rides, Bogus Basin is your one stop spot for winter recreation in Boise. Boasting 10 lifts and 2,600 acres of terrain, your local playground offers excitement for all ages and ability levels.

BOGUSBASIN.ORG

208.332.5100

Lumineye Exemplifies the Success of BSU Venture College

by Karissa Manske

Lumineye may be one of Kleffner — are Treasure Valley the hottest new tech companies natives. Hennen and Lacy you’ve never heard of--yet. originally met in Fall 2016 The buzz around during a Hacking for Defense Lumineye is at a fever pitch. course co-sponsored by Boise Why the hype? The answer State’s Venture College and lies in the technology they’ve the College of Engineering. created: a 3D-printed radar Hacking for Defense (H4D) device called Lux. is a nationwide universityFounded in 2017 by sponsored class focused on Corbin Hennen, Megan learning about and designing Lacy, and Rob Kleffner, solutions for the Department Lumineye set out from the very of Defense and the Intelligence beginning to solve a problem Community. The two close to Hennen’s heart. In participated in other Venture a September 2019 interview College course offerings: with the Idaho Press Tribune, Lacy completed HBX CORe he described how he’d grown (a rigorous pre-MBA online up hearing a story about the program offered through Lux image courtesy of lumineye.co. untimely death of his uncle’s Harvard) while Hennen led partner, who was serving a warrant in his role in law and participated in the program for entrepreneurial enforcement. The perpetrator, hiding behind a wall, ideas. caught the officers completely off-guard.

Venture College Executive Director Nic Miller This devastating story, all-too-common for first describes Venture College as an unconventional responders, was a solvable problem, and Hennen did approach for students ready to test and launch a just that. business or non-profit. Venture College practices Lux is powerful enough to see through walls and an open-door policy where students from any of detect the number of people on the other side while BSU’s colleges are welcome. With a variety of ideas staying small enough to avoid the additional burden of and successes emerging from this nontraditional weight or bulk. Enabling first responders and soldiers setting, Miller describes Lumineye as “one of the best with such capability impacts everything from fire examples of the college’s success.” rescues to hostage situations, from human trafficking Lumineye certainly led by example. In 2018, they raids to rubble scanning after natural disasters. While entered the pitch competition during Boise Startup keeping teams safe, it also speeds the rescue time and Week and won the grand prize of $20,000. That was accuracy of their tireless efforts. just the beginning. In March 2019, they secured a The three founders, along with two other team $120,000 grant from the U.S. Army’s xTechSearch members added as Lumineye grew, all attended Pitch Competition in Huntsville, Alabama. Later in Idaho colleges at some point in their scholastic October 2019, they traveled back to Alabama to win careers. Two of the three founders — Hennen and an additional $250,000 during the xTechSearch’s final 22

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From left to right: Lumineye’s Megan Lacy, Corbin Hennen, and Rob Kleff ner. Photo courtesy of Megan Lacy. round of competition.

During their time preparing for and competing in the xTechSearch Pitch Competition, Lumineye secured a spot in Y Combinator’s Summer 2019 session, earning them access to an exclusive business accelerator they applied to once before in 2017. “We applied in 2017 and got through the interview but didn’t make it in. Looking back, I’m glad we didn’t get in then because we were not ready,” says Lacy. “However, the application process was what encouraged us to continue as a company. When we were ready again, it was a natural step to reapply to see if it would work out.” Graduating from Y Combinator meant Lumineye was a part of an exclusive alumni, which includes AirBnb, Dropbox, Doordash,and Reddit.

After their exciting whirlwind over the past couple of years,

the founders agreed to continue calling Boise Lumineye’s Idahome.

Currently, their office space is located at Trailhead North in the heart of downtown. “It wasn’t a difficult decision to base our company here. Boise is a good combination of what you need. We can easily travel to main hubs like the East Coast or the Bay Area,” says Lacy.

Miller echoes Lacy’s sentiments on the benefits for Boise start-ups.

“Boise start-ups have the ability to be a part of something that is really in its infancy. They can have an outsized impact on the community.

This impact comes with the ability to make connections they may not make in more well-known cities like San Francisco or Seattle.”

Another benefit Miller notes is the access to influential political and business leaders as a means to learn and build relationships. He points

to Idaho-born corporations like Micron, Simplot, and Albertson’s as key examples for what is possible.

As Lumineye continues to develop and test Lux, they are certainly in great company of other successful Idaho-based businesses.

Are they planning for more competitions? “We’re open to it, but not actively seeking any out,” says Lacy. “Now, our focus is on building the company. But we’ll always enjoy pitch competitions because they’re what started our company.”

Product testing is continuous, and Lumineye has already received a lot of great feedback to further shape future releases. Their success in building a solutionbased, marketable product that began just a couple short years ago makes them an example for Idaho entrepreneurs at any age to emulate.

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Explore McCall’s powder playground.

Book your McCall SNOWMOBILE ADVENTURE

visitmccall.org

Rent sleds to explore on your own or book a guided snowmobile experience.

EXPLORE

by Sarah Sheehy Sun Valley is known as the first destination ski resort in America, but it also has a deep and rich history of backcountry skiing. From the early days of ski tours led by Austrian guides to the more recent trend of snowmobile-assisted skiing, the Sun Valley area has been fueling powder dreams for generations. “Sun Valley is one of the best places in America for backcountry skiing,� says Paddy McIlvoy, Managing Partner of Backwoods Mountain Sports in Ketchum. “There’s an extreme amount of accessibility and a variety of terrain that spans five mountain ranges.�

The Sun Valley area offers something for every type of backcountry skier, from the beginner to the expert. “There is a huge amount of safe, mellow backcountry here,� adds Paddy, “and an endless amount of ski mountaineering territory for experienced skiers.�

If you’re new to backcountry skiing, hop on a “Saturday on Skins� tour offered by Sun Valley Guides. The tour includes a day of guided skiing along with in-the-moment instruction on technique and snow safety. Rental gear is available at Backwoods Mountain Sports. “There’s a really great backcountry culture in Sun Valley,� says Paddy. “I feel lucky to be a skier here.�

Photos by Sun Valley Guides Lead Guide Chris Marshall, courtesy of Sun Valley Guides. www.idahomemagazine.com

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by Heather Hamilton-Post By day, Jordan Rodriguez works in corporate communications, but on the weekends, he’s got bigger fish to fry.

Rodriguez, who owns and operates Tight Lines 208, is an avid fisherman--and he doesn’t let Idaho’s cold winters stop him. “It takes a lot of patience and effort to drive to fishable ice, hike through snow to your spot, drill your holes, set up your gear and, hopefully, locate some fish. But it’s a great way to enjoy the Idaho outdoors in winter,� he says. “And, at its best, it’s an absolute riot!�

For Treasure Valley residents, ice fishing is just a few hours away. Rodriguez says that the closest places for safe, reliable ice every year are Lake Cascade, Horsethief Reservoir, and Magic Reservoir, but cautions people to stay off local ice, which is not safe because of our elevation.

Rodriguez says this 23-inch cutthroat trout, caught at Henry’s Plus, he says, you need less to get started Lake, weighed over six pounds and took so long to reel in that the knees of his snow pants f roze to the ice. ice fishing than you’d think. “The key gear item is an auger, which comes in manual (hand-crank) and power models.� Then, he says you’ll need a few basics-- an ice scoop, some short ice fishing rods, jigs/lures/hooks and bait, a bucket to carry it all, a sled to pull your gear, and warm layers. “With a manual auger, you can get into ice fishing for $200 or less,� Rodriguez says.

If you’re looking for a tailgate atmosphere in which people fish in groups, barbeque, and pull kids around in sleds, ice fishing may be for you! To learn more, sign up for a class, offered monthly and focused on bass, panfish, ice fishing and everything in between! Browse and register for upcoming classes at www.tightlines208.com.

Photos courtesy of Jordan Rodriguez/Tight Lines 208 26

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by Lindsey Harris

Burgdorf Hot Springs, which has been in operation since 1865, is a different beast in the winter months--the sound and smell of the sled machine foreign to my nostrils, but the promise of warm water under falling snow calling my name just the same. Hopping on our machines and hitting the trail, we knew that true adventure awaited.

In the winter months, Burgdorf is accesPhoto courtesy of Lindsey Harris. sible only by snowmobile or cross-country lowing guests to leave the hectic, modern world behind ski for the ambitious. But, be prepared to be ambitiously rewarded. What awaits you in Idaho’s winter in favor of deep snow and stillness. And, while a fire is nice, the real rush is to get down to the pools. backcountry is hard to describe. Words fail to convey At a comfortable 100* F, the large pool offers how truly awe-inspiring the snow-covered landscape reprieve to bones chilled from the ride, and “crab potsâ€?, truly is. And you’ve got 23 miles to appreciate it--the where the geothermal water emerges at an impressive ride into Burgdorf from the Francis Wallace parking lot 113*F. Your 9-5 stress melts away as snow falls and coltakes you up and over a beautiful summit, literally over a lects on your lashes. In a moment of gratitude, I breathe river and through the woods. in the cold air, realizing I am right where I need to be‌ The resort is rustic, with cozy cabins boasting already-blazing fires and lanterns to light the evening, al- in the middle of nowhere.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Neptune.

by Heather Hamilton-Post Ryan Neptune just wants to bring the snow to the children. “We’re here for the kids. It’s all we care about--introducing them to snow and sports, and there’s no better way,� he says. Neptune is of course referring to Eagle’s own Gateway Parks, a seasonal terrain and tubing park that promotes the idea of ride where you reside, a philosophy that encourages families to look no further than their

own backyard‌.well, almost.

Neptune, who is grooming the snow when we speak, says that skiing and snowboarding are always free at the park, requiring no reservations or tickets. And, if you email ahead, he’ll even groom the grounds at no cost. “I want it to be as perfect as it can be so that kids can learn,� he adds.

If you don’t have the gear, Neptune recommends Play It Again Sports for great deals on rentals and also

says that they’ve got a program with Tamarack, offering equipment rental, three lessons both here and on the mountain, and a ticket for only $30.

If you want to tube, and you will, there is a fee and you’ll need a reservation, though if the park is empty, you’re welcome to stay all day. “There is no typical age for the park. I’ve seen four and five year olds skiing and tubing. And parents too--they’re always the ones who end up having the most fun, even if they say they’re just here to watch in the beginning,� Neptune says.

The park comes complete with a “magic carpet� style tow, so you don’t even need to hike up the snowy hills to enjoy the adrenaline rush of trip back down, and it is only $5 to enter Eagle Island State Park--unless you have an Idaho State Parks Passport, which would make it free. Pick yours up at any county DMV office or online for only $10 and enjoy Idaho’s parks all year long!

www.idahomemagazine.com

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All Heart: The Latino Card Podcast Elevates Idaho’s Latino Voices

by Heather Hamilton-Post

Like so many podcasts before it, The Latino Card began with a group of friends sitting around a table, talking about things close to their heart. A trio of like-minded people with a passion for Latino issues in their communities turned into brunch, and then clever dialogue and smart discussion, and then the inevitable joke: we should totally make a show/podcast/move.

People would totally watch it.

“We were just joking, and then we joked publically on Twitter. And Scott McIntosh, then the editor at Idaho Press, saw the interaction and said ‘yes, let’s 28

www.idahomemagazine.com

make that happen’,” says Rebecca De León, one of the hosts on The Latino Card podcast. “We started having conversations about what that would mean, and the Idaho Press backed us financially and made the connection with Radio Boise--and it’s been growing ever since.”

The original group of hosts included De León, JJ Saldaña, and Nicole Foy, who left after joining The Idaho Statesman as an investigative reporter, as well as producer Ashley Miller, Idaho Press Digital Editor.

Now, De León and Saldaña host the podcast, which

is available on Soundcloud with a new episode every two weeks. The podcast, De León explains, seeks to elevate the voices of Idaho’s largest ethnic minority beyond discussions of immigration, which is undoubtedly important, but only part of a much larger story. “Latino issues are everybody’s issues--they care about healthcare, education, access to services. The same things everybody cares about. They just experience them differently,” she says.

De León and Saldaña are well versed in the issues they tackle each month. Saldaña works for the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs, and De León, now a columnist for Idaho Press, has an extensive history of volunteer work in the community. Together, they spend each episode dissecting stories making headlines in Idaho, conversing with diverse guests, and “elevating the voices of Idaho’s largest ethnic minority.”

Not yet a year old, The Latino Card is growing fast. They’ll be on the stage at StoryFort, and they’re adding a live show with Radio Boise, which will air every other Tuesday at 3 p.m., beginning February 4. De León says that the live show and the podcast will compliment each other.

“Sometimes we’ll have guest, but sometimes we just want to attack an issue amongst ourselves. The show will be more structured, and we’re excited to see what it brings,” she says. “It means the absolute world to every one of us who had a hand in the making of this podcast, and we’ve had a moment where someone will stop and say that they wish something like this had existed when they were kids. It’s so

The Latino Card’s Rebecca De León and JJ Saldaña post with Jaci Kettler and Charlie Hunt of The Big Tent. humbling. You can’t do what you can’t see. Representation matters,” she says.

And exposure to diverse voices matters for non-Latino listeners too, who likely make up a large part of The Latino Card audience.

Anecdotally, they believe their listeners are mostly bilingual or monolingual English speaking people, the majority of which are not Latino, though they can only speculate about who their audience is based on information Soundcloud provides, which is basically limited to basic geographical area.

“People are still finding out about us,” De León says. But the reception has been a welcome one-De León gratefully acknowledges that feedback has been positive, and criticism has mostly been constructive, even as the podcast has shifted to one that often takes a stance. And while De León appreciates the opportunity to do so, she’s more eager to bring guests onto the show. “I certainly don’t

know everything. I don’t even know that much. But I want to make room for Latino leaders, and I think we’re doing that,” she says.

De León and Saldaña will begin introducing content from outside the Latino community, including conversations with indiginous people throughout Idaho whose voices have also been marginalized. And, while they plan content as much as they can, they’re often switching things up as current events develop, and frequently learning on the job.

“We’re trying to grow and measuring our success not by how we compare with more established programs, but on the little bits of feedback. The people saying that we really made a difference, or that they’d talked to their mom about something they heard. To me, that’s the real reason we’re doing this-what we’ve been aiming for since we started. We pour our whole hearts into this because we think Idaho deserves it,” says De León.

www.idahomemagazine.com

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The Girl(s) From God’s Country: Nell Shipman

by Karen Day I am a woman of dangerous enthusiasms. Likewise, Nell Shipman, akin in spirit and profession, was a cultivator of worthwhile risk--which almost explains why we were drawn together, one hundred years apart.

I’d been directing independent television and documentaries for twenty years when I discovered a black and white photo of this silent screen star in the Idaho History Museum’s Archives. The headshot, dated 1917, was a studio-manufactured image, mandatorily glamourous, but lacking the lacquered lips and corkscrew curls of the era. More wholesome than stilted beauty or sultry vamp, Shipman offered an adventurous image, completed by a luxurious Lynx fur hood and the title, “The Girl from God’s Country: Idaho’s First Filmmaker.”

Why hadn’t I ever heard of Nell Shipman? I spent the next two years of my life searching for the answer, ultimately producing and directing a documentary called THE GIRL FROM GOD’S COUNTRY. What possible pertinence could a turn-of-the-century woman offer a liberated-twenty-first-century moi? Silent films were the dark ages of cinema, overacted with batting eyelashes and flailing sheiks. Most of these women didn’t even have a driver’s license, what could they teach our gender-embattled world?

Nearly a century apart, Shipman and I both chose to relocate from California to Idaho, a state that still boasts the most wilderness in the lower forty-eight and one established female filmmaker. As a warzone journalist and filmmaker, I recognized a wild commonality with her wayfaring art and soul. And the more I read, the more brightly Shipman’s boldness shone light on our similarities.

Even in the wilderness, her life proved a spectacle made for film. She brought along her 10-year-old son, a married lover-director, a future Academy-Award-winning cinematographer and a zoo of seventy abused, animal actors, including bobcats, bears, elk, eagles, deer and sixteen sled dogs.

Shipman’s daring was like a dimmer switch, turning up the light on early female independence. Seeking space enough to create herself and her films on-location, not on veneered sets, this firebrand rejected velvet-handcuffs from Crew of “Girl From God’s Country” on below-zero set!

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‘Hollywood suits” like Sam Goldfish (soon to be Goldwyn) who offered her a seven-year studio contract with a guarantee of stardom.

Independent, audacious, lover of animals and fur coats, determined to make films in dangerous locations-- How utterly cool was this woman? I suddenly wished I could take her to lunch.

Like myself, Nell Shipman came to filmmaking through writing. I started in print and built a film resume that offered work in Hollywood, but instead, chose to face wolves at the door (literally) when I left a 22- year marriage in the Bay Area to live in a log cabin on the banks of The River of No Return. I traded creative tyranny to report from tents in Afghanistan and Africa, gave up books clubs and espresso for chopping wood and writing war stories to pay bills and feed two young boys as a single mom.

Sounds masochistic and romantic now, but it was mostly a lot of hard work and heartache with possible deadly consequences.I was choosing to save my own life in places that could kill me for reasons I thought I knew. But I was wrong.

Nell Shipman had made the same dangerous choices a century earlier. Unearthing a liberated role model from a time when women couldn’t vote was as surprising as it was ironic. It’s the 21st century, yet I’ve

spent my life trapped in the archetypal and timeless dilemma of being born female and an artist: struggling with the choice between security and freedom, of the predictable turn and the unknown road, or as the author, Karen Von Blixen described it, “the lion hunt and bathing the baby.” In bringing Nell’s forgotten legacy to light, I saw into my own dark and unruly interior.

I hope my efforts make a down payment, however small, on our universal debt to all female rowdies—the historic super stars like Susan B. Anthony, Frida Kahlo, Sacajawea, Sojourner Truth, and the anonymous thousands and thousands, like Nell Shipman, Annie Londonberry, Phyllis Wheatley and Annie Dodge Wauneka, who wreaked havoc for change on my behalf and yours. We know the price of equality and freedom demands a loss of innocence and a fight. Because of them, we also know the rewards.

We writers and filmmakers are plagiarists. Our job is to trace the beginning, middle and end of a life story that may or may not be true. Bitter or sweet, an ending is always assured by author or fate. Though I learned Nell’s tragic end before I even thought about telling her story, it inspired me to begin. What I never expected, however, was to discover my own strength in retelling hers. To me, this is the definition of feminism. By living with courage, we save ourselves and each other.

Idaho Film and Cinematic History: A Kick-Off Event for the Boise Philharmonic’s Silent Film Event Idaho State Museum • February 13th • 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM GIRL FROM GOD’S COUNTRY • Short Film by Karen Day LIGHT ON LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN by Nell Shipman www.idahomemagazine.com

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New Beginnings with New Leadership!

Tina Perry Broker/Owner

Chris Watkins Owner

Amy Radue Director of Operations

www.idahowindermere.com 208-258-2222 1412 W. Idaho Street, Suite 120, Boise, ID 83702

C H O W D O W N: A PI EDA H O PA R T Y HAILEY-BASED BAKERY GAINS NATIONAL ATTENTION

BY D E E F E R R I S Photographs courtesy of Rebecca Bloom.

You can spot a real pie person by asking a simple question--do you like pie more than cake? For Rebecca Bloom, who started sending pies to Oprah Winfre last year, the answer was easy, and she speculated that Oprah might just agree with her. Why? Pies are good. Maybe Oprah likes pies! As it turns out, someone in her organization did. Last year, Bloom and her husband, David Kurtz, received word that Oprah had named their pies as a favorite thing of 2019. Boom! Bloom’s fledgling business, Piedaho, based in Hailey, Idaho took off.

Bloom, who moved to the Wood River Valley, from Southern California almost two years ago, has always been passionate about food, and especially pie. A trained chef, through her time at the Escoffier School in France, Bloom was inspired by images of pies on Instagram.

“I enjoy the creative side to pie” she said, while cranking out mouth-watering pies while speaking in her commercial kitchen in Bellevue.

“I’ve been a writer and editor. I have two kids, and I did a food blog with my mom called “Square Meal Round Table.” We were ready for a change when we moved here after 20 years of visiting. This is truly a family business for us.”

As further inspiration, Bloom cites the late Anthony Bourdain’s refrain that being at a table with people while sharing a meal and conversation gives insight into your dining companions.

“Pie is so nostalgic,” Bloom said. “And I get to make things that are really pretty. It lets me have an artistic expression. We eat with our eyes so we have special designs, but if it doesn’t taste good no one will eat it,” she continued. “So I use the best ingredients, lots of organic, and as local as we can. I don’t put a lot of crap in it.”

One of the secrets to her incredible pies is her flaky crust. “Your crust is just another layer of flavor,” she said. “There’s a mix of butter and shortening, not lard. I add cinnamon in the crust for salted caramel, the lemon blueberry pie has lemon zest and there is ginger in the mixed berry ginger. I also do an egg wash inside and on top of the crust.”

Her swoon worthy pies are now flown all over the country; the demand was especially intense over the holidays. People may order online at pieado.com.

Bloom doesn’t do cake, by the way. She’s the real pie deal. www.idahomemagazine.com

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Jesse Tree Helps Provide A Safe and Stable Idaho

by Leah Hess Victorino “Having a safe and stable home means not having to worry constantly about how to provide for my family,” writes Raquel, who worked with Jesse Tree when her spouse went to jail for domestic violence. Though employed, she found herself struggling with court costs associated with obtaining custody of her children because of lost work hours, so Jesse Tree worked with Raquel’s landlord and helped to pay her rent, ensuring that she did not face eviction and could pay bills.

Jesse Tree’s vision is a “community where all of our neighbors live in safe and stable housing.” While multiple governmental and nongovernmental organizations are essentially working towards that same goal, Jesse Tree of Idaho takes a unique approach to the housing crisis.

“Their primary niche is prevention—for people on the brink, but not chronically homeless,” explains Rev. Sara LaWall, an advocate and community partner in the fight against homelessness. Rather than working with people who are already experiencing homelessness, Jesse Tree functions as a safety net to ensure that their clients do not wind up on the streets in the first place.

Executive Director, Ali Rabe, explains how she “heard the same story of people living paycheck to paycheck without savings or support.” An unexpected expense for families with limited income can put them in the hole financially, making it difficult to pay rent.

In such cases, Jesse Tree provides emergency rental assistance to prevent eviction, case management and budget counseling to foster financial stability, and community advocacy around tenant-landlord laws. These services are offered based on what the organization learned from “talking to people about the root of homelessness,” explained Rabe.

Jesse Tree has reached 8000 people in 3000 households.

“I had to use [ Jesse Tree] once, years ago. I got my one-time rent payment when I really needed it,” says Liliana, a past client whose identity is undisclosed for privacy purposes. This former client, who grew up in the Treasure Valley, has moved a couple times since then, but remained in stable housing. Still, she admits that she has concerns about rent increases and properties falling into disrepair with no recourse.

Jesse Tree serves residents of Ada and Canyon Counties.

There is an office near downtown Boise and another recently opened inside the CATCH office in Nampa.

Anyone at risk of eviction is encouraged to call Jesse Tree Housing Crisis Line at 208-383-9486 Monday through Friday 9am-5pm. Jesse Tree’s dedicated staff are ready to provide counsel and support to keep residents at home where they belong.

To learn how to get involved and donate, visit www.

Jesse Tree Executive Director Ali Rabe stands beside a table at jessetreeidaho.org the Idaho Women’s March promoting safe and stable homes. www.idahomemagazine.com

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Relive your youth while they live theirs.

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TA B L E S

AMANO

BY

T I M

AT W EL L

Salvador Alamilla remembers watching his mother cook in his childhood home in Santa Ana, California.

“That was a good way to spend time with my mom,” Alamilla recalls. “I would just sit on the counter and watch, and I would always ask a lot of questions.”

These fond childhood memories stuck with Alamilla when he moved to Idaho and started his career in the food industry.

Beginning as a dishwasher at On the Border, Alamilla nurtured his passion for cooking and hospitality as he worked his way up to become Executive Chef at Whole Foods in Boise.

In 2019, Alamilla achieved his dream of opening a restaurant with his wife, Rebecca. They chose a location just around the corner from Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell, in a building that was once a bank, and founded Amano Restaurante. They added their own flair while working with the existing space, including transforming the old bank safes into rooms for private parties.

Amano roughly translates to “by hand,” a symbol of the restaurant’s focus on creating food from scratch. For example, Amano ships in corn from Mexico to be ground and transformed into soft, chewy tortillas.

Alamilla describes his goal as “having a restaurant where people can experience what I experienced growing up… To have guests feel the way I did as a kid in a Mexican household, with my mom cooking every day. With love in the cooking and the tradition.”

The love for tradition is apparent in Alamilla’s recipes, such as his mole, which has been passed down in his family for generations. It is a combination of over 30 ingredients, and can take several days from the time preparations begin until it is ready to serve. The result is a rich, smoky, and complex sauce that is served at Amano with chicken, rice and tortillas.

When I visited, I took Alamilla’s recommendation and tried the chile relleno, which was plated with a trio of savory potato cakes that paired well with the mild, but pronounced, spiciness of the pepper.

“We make it exactly how I made it growing up,” Alamilla said. “It’s simple, but there’s a lot of flavor in simplicity.”

IDAHO MAKERS Making a Living, Making a Life With Sculptor Ken McCall

“When we got into the roundabout business, we had to come up with something that is zero maintenance, and we decided on sculpture. The art would be unique, these would be iconic,� says Eric Shannon of Nampa Highway District.

by Heather Hamilton-Post Ken McCall steps outside his studio, nestled in growing Garden City amidst a sea of autobody and fabrication shops.

He gestures toward a workbench containing tiny versions of his sky-high sculptures, which sit on display across the Treasure Valley and even the United States. “I’ve always done art or sculpture. My grandparents were my key inspiration, very likeminded individuals, both artists. I lived with them, and I’ve been doing this since I was little,” he says. “See that one over there? The big Tootsie Roll? That’s from the Roosevelt Market.

It’s a little library too!”.

McCall walks toward the towering candy and opens the door, revealing books. The Roosevelt Market, now being reconstructed, will again host the sculpture, but McCall is keeping it safe during construction. As a sculptor, he installs Created for the City of Boise and Boise State University, each piece he completes, and is happy to store it until it can Transference celebrates Boise’s success in geothermal energy. be safely transported home. For now, it sits in his fabrication While the colors illustrate the cooling and heating of the water, shop, which doesn’t look much different from any other sort the panels show the actual map locations of buildings in Boise of welding shop. and on BSU’s campus receiving the geothermal system.

He feels at home here--before dedicating himself fulltime to his art, McCall worked in precision fabrication so that he could make a living doing some version of what he loved.

He never imagined it would turn into a full time career as an artist. Now, he specializes in custom artwork, though he collaborates with artists across the world. He says that, when things really took off, he’d play a game--”how far can I travel without seeing something that I had a hand in?”.

McCall says he’s always working on “too many” projects at a time. In his shop, he walks from piece to piece, pointing out designs in progress and miniature models of things that are installed or have yet to take shape. Often, he responds to a request for qualifications from an entity (like a city), and, if selected, gets to work. “At first, it’s usually panic and stress,” he laughs. “And then I keep mulling it over in my mind, and sometimes it just comes to me. That’s the best. And sometimes it’s a kind of osmosis.

You think about it, and think ‘this would be cool’. Other times, you go to a place and it’s like, ‘oh, that’s what it is.’

It’s different for each project.”

And there are many projects--McCall jumps around the shop and office, excited to explain his sculptures, which are multifaceted, and the epitome of thoughtful design.

What does he think would surprise people about his art and his process? “Oh, I don’t know.” he says. “I’m still pretty surprised myself.” www.idahomemagazine.com

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Contributors

Tim Atwell graduated from Boise State University in 2016 with a BA in English and a certificate in Technical Communication. He currently works on the marketing team of a local healthcare technology company. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, cooking and spending time outdoors.

Leah Hess Victorino is a Boisean, born and raised, and freelancer who takes on research and writing assignments to maintain her unofficial status as perennial student. She is mama and wife to three extraordinary humans with whom she loves to explore the world.

Lindsey Harris is a 4th generation McCall individual with a love of community and a passion for local and global wellbeing. Lindsey has traveled to 25 countries and loves to see the world. She studied International Studies & Spanish and works in tourism and development.

Karissa Manske is an Idaho native Boise transplant who graduated with an English degree but found her calling in tech. When she’s not researching, writing, or editing content about the latest technological advances, chances are she’s shopping for thrift store steals or exploring Idaho’s hiking trails.

Sara Sheehy is a writer who travels the world seeking wild places and great stories. She loves discovering off-thebeaten-path destinations, starting conversations with strangers, and road trips.

When she’s not on the road, Sara spends her time exploring the mountains around her home base of Sun Valley.

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