IdaHome--May/June

Find Your Wild

Relaxation awaits.

Dear Readers,

When Hurricane Andrew decimated Florida in August of 1992, it leveled the landscape. In the aftermath, there were reports of gangs of monkeys roaming the highways, later gorging themselves on fields of tomatoes. There were antelopes in administration buildings, and juvenile baboons in private weight rooms. Witnesses described it as Disney’s Animal Kingdom come to life.

Or was it "Jumanji?" I remember hearing about a newly opened reptile warehouse flattened in the hurricane, the reptiles swept up or out, never to be heard from again. But then, there was Florida’s growing population of pythons, made larger, speculatively, by the snakes released in the storm.

The pythons, which were seen as early as the '90s, aren’t native to Florida, but were likely pets released when their owners found themselves unprepared for a 15-foot snake that needed to be fed. Wildlife officials knew they had a problem when hikers spotted a python wrestling an alligator, a fight which lasted over 24 hours.

Editor in Chief HEATHER HAMILTON-POST

The snakes were becoming a problem for a number of reasons, including their decimation of other species, the danger they posed to humans in the area, and their potential encroachment on more urban areas, especially because more research revealed the python’s eerily powerful homing instinct, which tracked six snakes to the locations where they’d originally been released, nearly 50 miles away.

All of this to say that sometimes you don’t have to find your wild—your wild finds you instead.

No matter your approach, this issue of IdaHome is for the wild ones. Whether you’re looking for a whitewater experience in Stanley, a global kayak adventure, or a glimpse into the world of pigeon keepers, we’ve got a story to satisfy your inner wild thing.

Writer Elizabeth Gilbert tells us how she cultivates wildness in her life, and we meet some of the folks at the Idaho Environmental Forum, who are creating spaces to discuss and protect our wild spaces. Idaho Fish & Game is celebrating 125 years of managing Idaho wildlife, and the EhCapa Bareback Riders are forging human and animal connections that endure.

We have a great story on adaptive recreation and the outstanding athletes doing it all, a wild west tale of drama in the courts, and a conversation with photographers who are dedicated to capturing the shot, no matter the terrain.

We’ve also got Part Two of the Downwinders story we brought you last issue, which offers a little bit of hope for folks who want, with wild abandon, simple justice.

Be wild and wander,

publisher

KAREN DAY

karen@idahorem.com

editor

HEATHER HAMILTON-

POST

heather@idahorem.com

art and design

JASON JACOBSEN jsngrafix@gmail.com

KALEY WRIGHT design@idahorem.com

director of operations

MARIELLE WESTPHAL admin@idahorem.com

staff photographer

KAREN DAY

cover photograph

JOHN WEBSTER

social media

APRIL NEALE april@idahorem.com

marketing, sales, and distribution admin@idahorem.com

ON THE COVER

Outdoor multisport athlete, content creator, and influencer, Kalen Thorien put over 25,000 miles on her Harley-Davidson the year she bought it. Combining her love for the outdoors, her enthusiasm for adventure, and her appetite for the thrill of riding, Thorien is an avid solo traveler and global explorer who finds her wild wherever the world takes her. Photo by John Webster.

CONTRIBUTORS

Chelsea Chamber s is a graduate of Boise State University and has been working in media and communications for nearly a decade. She specializes in public relations, print and digital media, and social media management but dabbles in a variety of other areas. Chelsea serves as the Public Information Specialist and Interpretive Coordinator for the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and runs a freelance business doing everything from copyediting to consulting.

David Gray Adler is President of The Alturas Institute, a non-profit organization created to advance American Democracy by promoting the Constitution, civic education, gender equality and equal protection of the law. A recipient of teaching, writing and civic awards, Adler has lectured nationally and internationally, and published widely, on the Constitution, presidential power and the Bill of Rights. He is the author of six books.

Zachary Vineyard is a writer and technologist living in Nampa, Idaho. He has an MFA in creative writing from Eastern Washington University and spends his summers backpacking and traveling with horses. His poems and interviews have appeared in various publications, including RE:AL (Regarding Arts and Letters) and Willow Springs

Alan Heathcock is the author of the books VOLT and 40. He's won a National Magazine Award, Whiting Award, and NEA Prose Fellowship, and he has been named a Literary Fellow by the Idaho Commission on the Arts twice. His work has been featured in numerous newspapers and magazines, including GQ, Time, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune, and he's contributed to NPR's "All Things Considered".

Micah Drew is a writer currently based in northwest Montana. A multiple Montana Newspaper Association award-winning journalist covering politics, sports, and the outdoors, he has written for Edible Idaho, Boise Weekly, and High Country News. When not in the newsroom, he can be found trail running throughout the West.

IdaHome Magazine, LLC P.O. Box 116 Boise, Idaho 83701 208.481.0693

© 2024 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.

Dave Southorn has lived in Boise since 2005 and has spent nearly all that time covering Boise State University for the Idaho Statesman, Idaho Press, and The Athletic. He married an Idaho girl, Lisa, and loves to explore the city and the surrounding natural beauty with her and their two dogs, Riggins and Rue.

Jodie Nicotra is a freelance writer based out of Moscow, Idaho. She writes for a number of different magazines, including Boise State Magazine, Whitman Magazine, and Central Washington U’s Crimson & Black.

Community + Culture + Recreation + Real Estate

Mike McKenna is an award-winning author and journalist from Hailey. Mike’s writing has appeared widely, from Forbes, People, and Trout to numerous regional newspapers. He has served as the editor of The Sheet and Sun Valley Magazine and is the author of two prize-winning guidebooks, including Angling Around Sun Valley.

Drew Dodson, a Donnelly resident, is a newspaper reporter for the McCall Star-News, a try-hard ice hockey goalie for the local beer league, and a die-hard backcountry skier. He weaves tales on and off the ice, aspiring only to live life to the fullest and embrace happiness as it comes.

A SPACE FOR DIALOGUE The Idaho Environmental Forum

BY CHELSEA CHAMBERS

In times of political divisiveness, it is essential to nd common ground, and although each generation could make the (accurate) case that political division has existed for decades, there have been a few commonalities over the years upon which all sides can stand together. Over time, one thing has remained consistent—we are all sharing planet Earth. Because we di er on how we should manage our natural world, it is fundamental to discuss. Whether for recreation and exploration or agriculture and grazing, these discussions about our land make all the di erence.

“To live in Idaho is, for many, to love Idaho’s outdoors. But there’s often a lot of con ict around how we should relate to the environment,” said Jared Talley, who serves as the current vice president of the Idaho Environmental Forum (IEF). “IEF provides a space for civil discourse around Idaho’s environments. is means speaking intentionally and listening authentically.”

For this reason, and so many others, organizations like the IEF are vital. Founded in 1989, the IEF is an informal, nonpro t, nonpartisan, educational association whose sole mission is to promote serious, cordial, and productive discourse on a broad range of environmental policies a ecting Idaho.

Andy Brunelle, who served on the IEF’s board for more than 13 years, has been an integral part of the nonpro t’s mission to provide a space for environmental conversation. A fourth generation Idahoan who spent several decades working for the U.S. Forest Service, Brunelle is now retired.

As a volunteer with Trout Unlimited and an outdoor recreationist, Brunelle has continued his involvement with environmental causes, recruiting several

of the current IEF board members and supporting the nonpro t as a member.

“As the community of environmental professionals has grown across Idaho, there is a need for a venue or forum where information, studies, and proposals can get some time and attention from knowledgeable and interested patrons,” Brunelle said.

rough hosted lunch events, webinars, happy hours, and more, the IEF is able to facilitate important conversations about everything from wildlife corridors and dam management to cloud-seeding and native plants.

Talley is himself a fth generation (on both sides of the family) Idaho native. “Our families have hunted, shed, ranched, and farmed in Idaho for generations,” he said. “We’ve been raft guides, mountain bike riders, backpackers, and horseback riders. I am an environmental philosopher and love thinking about the ways we relate to nature, often doing so while I’m in the landscape experiencing it.”

e IEF is comprised of a dedicated board of directors like Talley who

share a similar passion for the environment. ey come from both sides of the aisle and everywhere in between, bringing with them a wide range of perspectives to the table.

Brandy Wilson, a current IEF board member and former IEF president, is another lifelong Idahoan. She grew up in Pocatello and attended Idaho State University. Like many, she loves everything outdoors—including hiking, camping, and Nordic skiing. “Both my working and volunteer life are rooted in the environment,” Wilson explained. “My career has included environmental analysis, public outreach for environmental restoration projects, and sustainability.”

Wilson has been involved with the IEF for many years and has seen rst-hand how contentious issues can be discussed amicably when given the proper platform for cordial dialogue. “IEF is important because we create a safe space for people with di erent viewpoints to talk. e best policy for the environment comes from walking in each other’s muddy boots. Challenges like wild re, sustainable development, water stewardship, and conservation can only be solved if we work in community.”

To learn more about the Idaho Environmental Forum and to see upcoming events, visit them online at idahoenvironmentalforum.org.

IEF Board Member Brandy Wilson

IEF Vice President Jared Talley (picturred right)

PIERCE KLINKE

PIERCE KLINKE

PIERCE KLINKE

PIERCE KLINKE

The joy of spring is perhaps lost on Skagway, Alaska. “Those are some pretty brutal conditions to be operating in,” laughed Pierce Klinke, an adventure athlete, cinematographer, and photographer who spent some time there shooting heli-skiing.

“It was negative 15 degrees Farenheit with a wind chill that made it feel like negative 40. My batteries had died halfway through the day because of the cold. I had frostbite in my fingers,” he said.

Klinke got a taste for this particular kind of brutality at age 13, when he wanted to capture the backpacking and climbing trips he and his brother were embarking upon in Washington. “From there, it turned into a full-fledged career after I decided halfway through college that I didn’t want to study mechanical engineering,” he said.

On the slopes or balanced precariously over a canyon, Klinke says that no two projects are the same, and while it presents some challenges, the chance to travel, work, and meet new people is something he’s grateful for, even when things go wrong.

“There are so many factors in play out there that are out of your control. So you just have to be able to roll with the punches—bringing a good attitude certainly helps with that. It’s way more fun to work with people when everyone is just stoked and happy to be out there,” he said.

For photographer John Webster, the draw happened during his teenage years. When he got into snowboarding, he started noticing the action shots. “I love the variety of sports you can shoot that are intense, as well as the environments that are always changing; rivers could be very high, powder days could be all time, or simply a moody portrait of an athlete could make a day outing worth it. The variety is endless,” he said.

Webster’s work in adventure photography, commercial, and short film has taken him all over the world, including Northern Patagonia’s Futaleufu River, on the border of Chile and Argentina, which sits in a corridor surrounded by the Andes. “The river can be aqua blue, warm, and comes equipped with some very large rapids. The weather is ever changing it seems, it could rain for days on end or be the prettiest bluebird day. There’s nothing quite like it,” Webster said.

PIERCE KLINKE

JOHN WEBSTER

JOHN WEBSTER

JOHN WEBSTER

JOHN WEBSTER

JOHN WEBSTER

On the Other Side An Interview with Elizabeth Gilbert

BY ALAN HEATHCOCK

is issue of Idahome carries the theme of “Find Your Wild”, which fortuitously coincides with author Elizabeth Gilbert (“Eat, Pray, Love;” “Big Magic;” “City of Girls”) visiting Boise as a part of e Cabin’s Readings and Conversations series on May 20th at 8 p.m., at the Morrison Center.

We asked Gilbert about remaining grounded, aging, and cultivating wildness in your life. Here’s what she had to say:

AH: Beyond being a gifted and celebrated writer, you’ve also become a cultural icon. Every writer must negotiate how readers begin to see you as an extension of your work, as opposed to your work being an extension of you as a person, but it seems to me that in your case this would pose a special challenge. I mean, you’re “Elizabeth Gilbert,” who’s inspired so many! How do you remain grounded as Elizabeth Gilbert, the human—the sensitive soul who happens to be an amazing writer? Is it a challenge to remain open and sensitive now that anonymity is harder to come by and expectations follow you wherever you go?

EG: What an open and sensitive question! I will admit that there was a moment back there between 2007-2010 (a time that my friends and I refer to as “peak ‘Eat Pray Love’”) when it was tricky, and often emotionally overwhelming, to navigate the whole “being Elizabeth Gilbert” thing. I got famous so fast, and it felt destabilizing. During that time, I took o almost a year from writing and public speaking because I felt that everything had become a bit too much. Not that I wasn’t grateful, but I didn’t feel grounded at all. My remedy was to spend the year gardening—literally grounding myself in the soil— which brought me back down to the earth itself in a profoundly beautiful way and made me feel like a normal human being again. ings have not gotten that wild or out of control since, in terms of my public persona, and I think I am old enough now—and life has done a good job humbling me often enough—that staying grounded feels easy these days. It helps that I have true love for my readers. I feel like I know them as intimately as they feel like they know me. Perhaps this is delusional on all of our parts, but I would say that there is a mutual humanity and sincerity that ows between us and that helps us all stay connected as real people. at’s very sweet for me.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELIZABETH GILBERT

AH: I love the way you embrace aging. I listened to an interview in which you said that at your current age—the oldest you’ve ever been—you feel as “free as you’ve ever felt.” What do you believe is at the heart of this feeling of freedom? What advice would you give to anyone looking to age into freedom?

EG: Most women DO “age into freedom”—as you put it so well—naturally and as a consequence of the maturing process. e reality is study after study proves that women get happier as they get older—although you would never know it from observing our consumer culture, which makes billions of dollars a year by trying to scare women into thinking that if they aren’t young, or if they don’t look young, they are doomed. But most of us grow into awareness that this is nonsense—and I have never met a 55-year-old woman who would want to live her 20s all over again for any price. We become more emotionally autonomous as we age, and acquiring wisdom is no joke, in terms of life satisfaction. Like many women my age, I have come to love my solitude and to appreciate the mental stability that the years have brought. It’s a beautiful time, the crone years! I’ve spent the past few years exploring Central America—going on road trips and adventures with another single, middle aged woman friend of mine, and it’s awesome. How good it is to nally know what— and who—is worth our time and attention!

AH: e theme of this issue of Idahome Magazine is “Find Your Wild.” is is meant as a theme of liberation, but this can also feel intimidating to a lot of people. How do you overcome fear/doubt/shame/guilt enough to allow “wildness” into your life? Is “wildness” something to be consciously nurtured? How do you continue to nd “wildness” in your life?

EG: My beloved friend, the writer and life coach Martha Beck, is perhaps the biggest expert I know on wildness, and I take great joy in learning from her thoughts on this matter. She said something once that blew my mind—and it is quite radical: If you want to be free, all you have to do is walk away from your family and your culture. Wowza. is doesn’t mean you literally have to never speak to your family members again, or shave your head and move to Nepal—although go for it, sure, if you want to! It merely means questioning and often refusing to comply anymore with the ironclad rules and roles you were taught by your family and your culture—especially if you are a woman. Most of the women I know who are living lives of quiet desperation and su ering from a feeling of being con ned in positions that were assigned to them nearly at birth—caregiver, martyr, supportive partner, self-sacri cer. It takes courage to walk away from these often-thankless assignments. It can’t be done overnight, but it can be done. Fostering your creativity grows wildness—demanding times of solitude encourages wildness; detoxing from mass media, social media, and consumer culture demands a spirit of wildness; seeking out your own relationship to spirituality is a wild act; and learning how to say NO is the wildest thing a woman can do. Listen, people won’t like it. You can’t resist cultural and family paradigms without making some people unhappy. ere will be consequences. But on the other side of all the shake-ups is a life of ever-expanding freedom, where wildness expands like an opening hand, and where you will no longer feel sick and crazy. As someone on the other side, I can say, in all honesty, it’s worth any cost.

“Fostering your creativity grows wildness— demanding times of solitude encourages wildness...”

Taming Idaho’s whitewater wilderness in Stanley

BY DREW DODSON

For Jesse ompson’s money, some of the best whitewater rafting in the country can be found in a small central Idaho town that sits on the banks of the Salmon River and in the shadows of the Sawtooth National Forest.

Stanley, as it were, has been a mainstay in ompson’s life since he was a child, and the Salmon River’s unbridled whitewater thrills run through his veins like blood.

“My dad was a rafting guide, so he’s been coming through Stanley since the late ‘60s,” said ompson, a Stanley resident

whose family runs a river gear retail shop.

“I started coming up here in junior high.”

“It’d be one of those things where my dad just let me know like, ‘hey, I got an extra spot on a raft on the Middle Fork. Do you want to hop on?’” he said.

A 100-mile stretch of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River is one of the two most popular whitewater trips that departs from Stanley. It is a permitted river, which means that rafters must either be selected in the annual permit lottery or hire one of about two dozen companies that o er guided expeditions.

Most guided Middle Fork trips last nearly a week, as rafters snake through the heart of the Frank Church— River of No Return Wilderness Area. Rafters are greeted by Class III and IV+ rapids, along with up-close views of the Big Horn Crags, towering canyon highwalls, and remote expanses of wilderness not commonly seen by the human eye.

“Once you go, you’re out there. It’s just 100 miles of solitude,” ompson said.

“It’s de nitely one of the most premier, sought after trips in the country.”

“At the end of the day, you feel like you’ve accomplished something.”

While the Middle Fork is the stu of dreams for experienced rafters, Stanley also provides easy access to whitewater day trips that are fun for all skill levels.

A stretch of the Main Salmon River that skirts Stanley and parallels Idaho 75 is ideal for day oats that can be catered to experienced boaters all the way down to those who don’t want to be splashed

by rapids. Local out tters o er rental rafts, kayaks, and paddleboards, as well as guided tours of what is known locally as “ e Day Stretch.”

High water in June makes the 14-mile stretch of river challenging for experienced boaters, while lower water in July and August is manageable for beginners looking to experience the allure of majestic Sawtooth peaks

from the water. Meanwhile, anglers can expect hot trout shing on both the Middle Fork and the Main Salmon starting in July and continuing through the summer.

“It’s just a di erent way to see the valley, the mountains, and just kind of experience the area,” ompson said.

“At the end of the day, you feel like you’ve accomplished something.”

A Wing Over the Finish Line

BY CHELSEA CHAMBERS

It all happens in a ash. A rustle of feathers…the sound of a thousand wings taking to the skies at once. And they’re o ! Hundreds, upwards of a thousand or more, pigeons soar o into the rising sun. Where are they heading? Well, home of course!

“I got my rst pigeon in 1971,” said Mike Hackney. “I was 12 years old and one of our Boy Scout leaders had pigeons that he would take elk hunting. Every morning, he would use his pigeons to send word home to his wife, sharing his location and information about the hunt.” After this early introduction to homing pigeons, Hackney was quick to get his own birds. Fast forward over 50 years later and he is still fascinated. It’s become something his whole family is involved in.

“...pigeon fanciers are some of the most generous people I’ve ever met, and they are more than happy to share their knowledge...”

“Oh, well I probably have about 400 pigeons now,” he said with a laugh. “Is that too much?”

Divided into old and young birds, the young pigeons (under one year old) are able to y extensive distances with relative ease. But nearly all ages of pigeons can cover hundreds of miles in a single day, which isn’t too surprising when you factor in that they can y up to 90 miles per hour, although they average between 50 and 60 mph.

During a typical race, one person or a group of people will haul all of the racing pigeons to the starting line, then they are released at once. While there are a variety of di erent kinds of races, a common style is one where the pigeons just simply return home. ey are incredibly adept at knowing where “home” is.

“You train them slow at rst, one mile here, two miles there,” Hackney explained. “Young birds are ready to race at four or ve months old.” Pigeons are given a leg band when they are born that allows racers to track their locations. Racing contestants measure the distance between their home and the starting line of the races. e time the pigeon takes to return home and the total distance own is recorded and the fastest bird is declared the champion.

Another local racer, Jacquine Shippy, is relatively new to the sport but already in love. “I built my rst racing loft last year,” Shippy said. “And I’m already building another one!”

ere are many factors to consider when getting involved in pigeon racing, but there is so much variety that you can really cater the hobby to your liking. “I just do it for sport,” said Hackney. “But there are some races where you can win tens of thousands of dollars.”

For Shippy, “Sifting through all the di erent methods and thought processes and nding a system that works for you was the hardest part for me.” She continued, “What to feed the birds, how to train them, how to keep them in shape, breeding practices, how to build your loft... it can get really complicated.”

Alongside racing and caretaking, these pigeon advocates are working to change the stigma surrounding the birds. A common misconception about pigeons is that they are dirty. “But in reality, they’re not dirtier than chickens or any other birds,” Shippy said. “You just have to clean your loft regularly just like you would a chicken coop or any other bird pen.”

For those looking to get involved, Shippy suggests to “ nd some fanciers and/or a racing pigeon club in your area—pigeon fanciers are some of the most generous people I’ve ever met, and they are more than happy to share their knowledge and maybe even give you birds to help you get started. We are a dying breed and want this sport to survive.”

ere are several local clubs in the Treasure Valley, including groups in Nampa, Marsing, and Boise. A great place to start your search is on Facebook groups, Pigeon.org, or Topigeon.com.

Pigeon lofts typically hold around 60 birds, including older birds, younger birds, and breeding stock. Newcomer Jacquine Shippy is already building her second loft. With others, she hopes to change the stigma around the gentle birds. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JACQUINE SHIPPY.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHEYENNE HACKNEY

Climb the Mountain,

BASE’s Adaptive Recreation Makes the Outdoors for Everyone

BY DAVE SOUTHORN

When Becki Walters was 16, she was diagnosed with cancer. A sprinter in track and eld, learning her left leg needed to be amputated was devastating. But she wouldn’t be stopped.

Walters grew up in Illinois, but a year after losing her leg, she had an opportunity to learn to ski through the rst adaptive program in the United States in Winter Park, Colorado.

Getting to go fast again was a feeling she truly missed. She became a certi ed instructor in 1986 and quickly joined Boise Snowsport Adaptive Education (BASE) in 1998 when she moved to Idaho. “It’s kind of the ultimate nonpro t,” she said.

BASE has been a part of the ski and snowboard community in Boise at Bogus Basin since 1978, pairing volunteer instructors with students that have physical or developmental disabilities.

During the 2024 winter season (January through March), 105 volunteer instructors helped provide nearly 600 sessions to 182 students.

“Everyone is there because they want to be…we get paid in smiles, the way I see it,” said Walters, BASE’s snowsport director. “ at ‘ah-ha’ moment, where the students maybe realize they can do something they didn’t think was possible, it’s amazing. I know it changed my life,” she said.

ere, she also met her husband.

“I wanted to share that feeling I had with other people,” Walters said. “It’s how life should be, it’s inclusive, we are up on that mountain having fun with everyone else.”

For the past winter season, an $80 annual registration fee gave BASE students a Bogus Basin season pass and rental equipment. A two-hour private session is $55, which is well below the cost of a typical private lesson.

Funds that come in are utilized for scholarships for students in need, payment for instructors who wish to obtain additional training, and to purchase the various equipment to meet the needs of the array of disabilities students may have.

Walters takes pride in the training the volunteers go through on the mountain, from learning how to tether to a skier or choosing the best terrain for an individual. It even carries o the mountain— speakers have been brought in to explain neurodiversity or “person- rst” language.

“You’re always learning on the job,” Walters said. “I truly believe we have some of the best instructors in the country.”

One of BASE’s top instructors also happens to be a former student.

Wayne Huang always has been an adventure seeker. He was a frequent skydiver until a hard landing in 2013 changed his life. A fractured vertebrae in his lower spine led to a spinal cord injury.

ough he still needed a wheelchair, successes in rehabilitation made him want to get back to skiing.

About two years later, he signed up to be a BASE student. Two seasons as a student had him hooked.

“I feel a connection when I see another person like me,” Huang said. “I kind of thought that I would like to help more people be able to do what I did, go and be out there with their families, not just in the lodge. I wanted to help more people be involved, show them that it is possible.”

Right: Becki Walters, the snowsport director at BASE, is passionate about going fast and helping students realize what they’re capable of. Left: Wayne Huang was anxious to get back on the slopes after a fractured vertebrae, so he signed up as a BASE student. Now, he’s an instructor. PHOTOS COURTESY OF BASE

So, Huang decided to make the move onto the other side as a volunteer instructor. He’s even been able to recruit his 17-year-old son to be one, too.

In April, Huang became a Professional Ski Instructors of America Adaptive Level 3 certi ed instructor, meaning he is capable of skiing all levels of runs in most conditions.

“Seeing someone newly injured, if they see someone who can do it, it gives them some motivation,” Huang said. “When they succeed, it’s kind of overwhelming for me.”

And for newer BASE students, it’s that camaraderie and mutual enjoyment that has them eager to get up Bogus Basin Road during the winter.

Sue Brooks had initially been a student in the mid-1980s when BASE

Sue Brooks originally joined BASE in the 80s, when it was Recreation Unlimited. Through Northwest Association of Blind Athletes, she rediscovered her passion in 2023.

was known as Recreation Unlimited. But life and a focus on law school took precedence and she hung up the skis. Brooks is visually impaired and even though her vision has declined in the four decades since, she got the itch to get back onto the snow. rough Northwest Association for Blind Athletes, she heard about an opportunity through BASE to get transportation to Bogus Basin.

“I hadn’t skied in what, 35 years or so, but went up (in 2023) and just had a blast,” Brooks said. “ is past season, I went up six times and plan on doing it more next season.

“It is just about the most fun thing I do. I am so crazy about it. A lot of their instructors are really good skiers and have a lot of experience working with people with disabilities,” she said.

Her rst season with BASE, Brooks said it was easy to communicate with instructors on the mountain, but if they picked up speed, it was busy or windy, some instructions had to be shouted. is time, BASE was able to make it easier— they out tted Brooks and her instructor with a speaker and headset.

“It made it so clear,” Brooks said. “Whether you can see or not, that feeling you get going down the mountain is the same. You can’t beat it.”

“I wouldn’t be comfortable doing it if they weren’t so well trained—and kind. ey’re just kind people. It’s just a di erent world up there, not just the skiing—it’s those people,” she said.

Walters and BASE are hoping to expand sport access to adaptive athletes in the nonwinter months. She is the race director of the Treasure Valley Triathlon, which held its inaugural event last June and will be held again June 22, 2024 in Boise. Adaptive athletes can enter for free—about 30% of the rst event’s participants had a disability.

RIght:

PHOTO COURTESY OF BASE Below: The Treasure Valley Triathlon is a USAT sanctioned race open to all abilities, founded by BASE Idaho. PHOTO COURTESY OF BECKI WALTERS

New Opportunities for Athletes

IDAHO OUTDOOR FIELDHOUSE

In November 2023, construction was completed on a 55,000-square-foot facility in southeast Boise to bene t former military members through local nonpro t Mission43, along with the Challenged Athletes Foundation-Idaho.

e Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse will include a training facility, housing, and medical wellness services. Facilities will include climbing walls inside and outside, an indoor pool, a cycling room, a track, and more.

Walters said BASE has and will continue to work with both groups—in addition to hosting CAF-Idaho’s Alpine Camp, BASE also hosts a special event day for veterans.

As the headquarters of MIssion43 and Challenged Athletes Foundation-Idaho, this 7-acre campus provides a place for athletes to practice, play, perform, and compete.

PHOTOS OURTESY OF IDAHO OUTDOOR FIELDHOUSE

A BALANCING ACT

Idaho Department of Fish & Game celebrates 125 years of protecting, preserving, and perpetuating Idaho’s wildlife

BY JODIE NICOTRA

1899. Nine years after Idaho entered the Union as the 43rd state, the Fifth State Legislature established the Fish and Game Department. The State Game Warden has one job—to keep the state’s wildlife from being wiped out by overenthusiastic hunters and fishers.

A lot has changed in 125 years. Rapid urban development, climate change, and new science and technologies all make a state wildlife manager’s job more complex.

As the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) has learned over the years since it was founded, fulfilling its mission to the state’s wildlife in the face of these challenges requires one thing above all else—balance.

“I think the one thing we’ve learned about wildlife management over the past 125 years is that nothing is ever fixed,” said Roger Phillips, an IDFG public information specialist. “We can’t just say, ‘Oh, we’ve got that one figured out, now we’re going to walk

away from it.’ It’s always evolving. And we’re adapting to changes, we’re always trying to listen to the public’s wants and desires and balance that with the needs of wildlife in our state.”

WORKING FOR THE IDAHO PUBLIC

Ever since it was formed, the IDFG has embraced its nature as a public agency.

“We work on behalf of the public, and all of the wildlife belongs to the public. We’re just the ones that manage it for them,” said Phillips.

IDFG is governed by a commission of seven citizens appointed by the governor. The commission authorizes IDFG to gather public feedback on proposed plans. The commission reviews the feedback, then either approves the plan or sends it back to IDFG for reworking.

“The hunters and anglers and the general public are very much a part of how we make these decisions,” Phillips said.

PHOTO BY TERRY THOMAS

WORKING FOR ALL OF IDAHO’S WILDLIFE

While most people associate IDFG with hunting and fishing licenses, the agency’s duty is to protect, preserve, perpetuate, and manage all wildlife in the state—not just game species.

“We want to make sure there are healthy habitats, healthy ecosystems, and healthy wildlife populations for all of our citizens to enjoy,” said Ian Malpeai, a marketing manager for IDFG.

Getting that balance means drawing up six-year plans for fisheries and elk herd management, of course. But it also means projects like the famous 1948 IDFG program that parachuted “problem” beavers into the Idaho backcountry, where they got busy creating a good riparian habitat for ecosystems that benefit all species.

More recently, the IDFG created a wildlife overpass over Highway 21 outside Boise to allow safe passage for migrating mule deer, moose, and elk herds.

But the department also embraces more cutting-edge methods in its efforts to conserve wildlife.

“We’d like to talk about some of the innovative science we’ve done,” said Malepeai. “We can talk about Lonesome Larry and creating a whole salmon population from one fish that came back and being able to make them genetically diverse. That was world-class research pioneered here in Idaho that’s now being used all over the world.”

The department also has developed a way to estimate wolf population sizes using artificial intelligence. Rather than the more dangerous method of flying biologists in with helicopters or having people count individual animals, IDFG has set up remote cameras to track populations.

The department’s anniversary celebrations include the release of a moving video that imagines a world without Idaho’s “wild others” and celebrates the IDFG’s legacy in conserving Idaho’s wildlife for all.

“It’s always a balancing act, a juggling act,” Phillips said. “We drop things sometimes, and sometimes the public has unrealistic expectations. But for the most part, I think we’ve done a pretty good job over the years.”

Left: Frank and John Craighead radio collar grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park. PHOTO BY CRAIGHEAD INSTITUTE Center: Conservation officers conduct an elf calf survival study. Right: Native to North America, the Western Small-footed Myotis weighs only 5 grams. PHOTOS COURTESY OF IDAHO FISH AND GAME

Left: Conservation officers capture a mountain lion in Idaho’s wilderness. Right: Idaho conservation officers lead summer youth camps around the state.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF IDAHO FISH AND GAME

BEYOND THE RODEO

EhCapa Bareback Riders Showcase Idaho’s Equestrian Spirit

BY ZACHARY VINEYARD

No matter how long you’ve lived in Idaho, you’ve probably discovered its thriving horse community, full of cowboys, performance riders, milliondollar reiners, and ranchers. The cultural connection between Idaho and horses is undeniable. Nestled within this diverse scene is one of the most unique horse riding clubs in the west. It’s a club dedicated to youth riders under 18 where the riders perform without the security of bridles or saddles. Read that again— no bridles or saddles. Showcasing a breathtaking display of trust between rider and horse, The EhCapa Bareback Riders have been performing throughout the west since 1956, including, within the last five years, in Steamboat Springs, CO, Tehachapi, CA, Prineville, OR, and various cities and towns in Idaho. They are a staple in Sun Valley’s Wagon Days celebration and a unique part of horse culture within the Gem State.

The particular magic in this club comes from the style of riding adopted by its riders. Requiring a proven connection between horse and rider, loping a drill bareback takes serious skill. As many as 30 riders at once enter a rodeo arena and perform, at the lope, a series of drill maneuvers that includes pinwheels, crossing formations, and evenly spaced circles. Some riders take their horse-rider connection to the next level and jump during live performances in front of rodeo crowds. The drill can also include Liberty riding, where riders walk, trot, and lope their horses without any tack and control their horse with only leg and voice cues.

Kaycee McFarland, club president of EhCapa, didn’t think twice about having her kids join the club as soon as they could. “My oldest daughter fell in love with horses and I knew the best thing for a fantastic foundation would be riding with EhCapa. I rode in the club as a youth for eight years,” she said.

The generational impact of this club is real and club families learn early on that, as McFarland said, “the most exciting part is traveling with the group and family to various locations and rodeos, and seeing the smiles on my kids’ faces as they perform in front of thousands of strangers.”

EhCapa is a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) approved entertainment act, but it isn’t your typical rodeo act. Instead, it is a testament to dedication, courage, and the deep respect these young riders have for their horses. They push boundaries within horsemanship, accomplishing feats that would impress even seasoned equestrians.

“This group is extremely important because it teaches responsibility to our youth. It teaches them how to love and care for someone other than themselves, and it teaches camaraderie. The time riders put into the horses and club will pay for lifelong lessons and memories they will cherish for years to come,” McFarland said.

So, next time you’re looking for a taste of Idaho’s unique spirit, forget the bull riders, clown antics, and roped steers, and keep an eye out for EhCapa—an entertainment act disguised as the dazzling display of youth, talent, and the incredible bond between horse and rider. These kids can ride!

In its 2024 season, you’ll have opportunities to see EhCapa perform on June 28 at the Treasure Valley Lions Rodeo in Meridian, on Fourth of July weekend at the Haines Stampede in Haines, OR, and on July 18 as part of the Snake River Stampede’s pre-rodeo events. More information, including other event dates, can be found at ehcapa.com.

COURTESY OF GRYFFIN ANTONIUK

PHOTO OURTESY OF KAYCEE MCFARLAND

PHOTO COURTESY OF GRYFFIN ANTONIUK

Chasing First Descents

Lowman’s own Sean Glaccum

BY MIKE MCKENNA

PHOTOS BY GINGER GLACCUM

When people find out what Sean Glaccum does for fun, they usually think he’s crazy.

Traveling around the world in search of first river descents in a kayak is not normative behavior for most of us.

But the more you get to know Sean, the more you realize he’s not totally deranged. No, he’s more like a delightfully “mad scientist,” and running wild rivers is the focus of his studies.

“I’ve always loved the thrill and the challenge of first descents and I still do,” Sean said over coffee in Ketchum one afternoon. “My brain just loves the challenge.”

Sean’s record of first descents runs from the backcountry of Idaho, at places like Lady Face Falls and rafting the Secesh River, to the Himalayas. He has chased after them in moving waters from India to Africa, from Peru to New Zealand, including nearly a dozen trips to Nepal, where he worked as a river guide early in his career.

As Sean explained, the process of first descents or running any river can be a lot like life. It involves following a well thought-out plan, while being prepared for some chaos.

“You scout it and create a plan. Taking what you’ve learned and following your plan out on the river is the main skill, because it always looks different once you’re in it. And sometimes you have to roll through Plan A, B, C or D,” said Sean, who wrote the guidebook, Idaho Paddler

“Water is a funny thing,” he added. “Once you start going down a rapid you can’t just hit the stop button. It’s going to happen whether you want it to or not.”

Sean grew up in Triumph, Idaho (where another famous resident was his former babysitter, Olympic skier Picabo Street). His dad first took Sean rafting on the Main Salmon River when he was just six. By the time Sean was nine, he was paddling inflatable kayaks on multi-day whitewater trips and started hardshell kayaking when he was 12.

As is often the case in extreme sports like whitewater kayaking, Sean had a few key mentors who helped guide him along his journey.

Sean credits the late Tom Montgomery, a former U.S. Marine and Ironman triathlete, with pushing him to become a strong kayaker. They ran the Murtaugh section of the Snake River countless times, but Sean will always remember his first run on that swirly stretch.

“I must have rolled a hundred times that first time,” he (somewhat) fondly recalls.

As soon as Sean graduated from Wood River High School in Hailey, he started working as a river guide and safety kayaker, including spending six years on the world-famous waters of the Middle Fork of the Salmon. At just 19, Sean became a lead guide on the South Fork of the Payette River. That’s about the time Sean became friends with a couple other mentors in his kayaking life, Gerry Moffatt and Guy Robins.

Moffatt is a world-renowned kayaker originally from Scotland who’s called Idaho home for nearly four decades. He hired Sean to be a guide in Nepal where he also worked with Robins, who is originally from England and has now long been a popular fly fishing guide. Sean and Robins racked up countless river miles chasing first descents in Nepal.

“I’ve always loved the thrill and the challenge of first descents and I still do.”

Those experiences really helped stoke Sean’s passion for rivers and it was on just such a trip that he met his now wife, Ginger. A friend had asked Sean to keep an eye out for Ginger. And as she explained, “24 years later, he’s still looking out for me.”

Ginger is the one who is often looking after Sean,

serving as both photographer and bank-side support for their whitewater exploits around the globe.

“I really thought he was going to grow out of it, but he hasn’t,” joked Ginger, who grew up by the banks of the Coeur d’Alene River in Harrison.

The couple spends their winters either in Ketchum, where Sean has been a ski patrolman for Sun Valley for almost two decades, or traveling and chasing waters around the world. They spend their summers in Lowman, running Payette River Company (PRC). Their “mom-and-pop” rafting company offers day trips on both the Kirkham and more rugged Canyon stretches of the South Fork of the Payette as well as a combo overnight option that includes camping on their custom built campsite.

Now in their 19th year as owner-operators, nearly 80% of PRC’s guests are return visitors and have become like family to the Glaccums.

Sean serves as the bus driver, lead guide, safety kayaker, photographer, and chef and he didn’t miss a single trip last season. He was happily on the water for 90 straight days.

“It’s so much fun, I couldn’t miss one,” he said.

While big whitewater certainly isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, for the Glaccums and Sean especially, it’s a big part of what makes life here in Idaho so great. If you talk to him, it’s pretty easy to see why he’s so crazy about rivers,

“Not everybody is as stoked as I am,” Sean said. “So anytime I can share these places with other people it’s super special.”

WANDER

The State of the Union: Downwinders Edition

(Part II)

Led by Tona Henderson, the Idaho Downwinders have spent two decades advocating for federal recognition and compensation for those a ected by nuclear testing.

BY MICAH DREW

Tona Henderson was in the U.S. Senate gallery when a bill expanding bene ts to radiation victims passed with bipartisan support. She, and other members of the Idaho Downwinders, were instructed to make no noise.

ey weren’t allowed to take photos. eir phones had been taken from them upon entering the gallery overlooking the U.S. Senate chambers, and even writing down the vote tally on a piece of paper earned a sharp rebuke from the Senate sta er who oversees the gallery.

e gallery visitors were entirely comprised of members of myriad Downwinders groups from across the country, activists who have spent decades ghting for the federal government to recognize the extent of the damage caused by nuclear fallout from the United States’ above ground nuclear testing in the 1950s and 1960s.

“I still get chills thinking about it,” said Emmett City Councilor Tona Henderson, founder and director of the Idaho Downwinders. “We couldn’t believe it was happening and we were watching it unfold.”

e Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), passed in 1990, recognized the impacts of radioactive fallout on individuals living in 21 counties spread across Nevada, Utah, and Arizona during the height of testing, commonly called “Downwinders,” and provided $50,000 in compensation. RECA also compensates Uranium mine workers in 11 states, including Idaho. However, RECA fails to recognize dozens of counties across Idaho, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, and Guam, where some of the highest concentrations of the radioactive isotope Iodine-131 were measured following the tests. e Downwinders

activists, including Henderson’s Idaho Downwinders who have a strong presence in Emmett (one of the top ve contaminated counties), are seeking to expand those bene ts to all a ected counties and extend the existing law, currently set to sunset in June.

ree U.S. Senators—Josh Hawley (R-MO), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Ben Lujan (D-NM)—have been the primary proponents of RECA legislation during the current Congress. Crapo has been behind several similar bills in the past, but none have made it through the political body.

Henderson said the Downwinders in the gallery knew they likely had the support of all Democrats (two ended up voting against the bill) and both of Idaho and Missouri’s Republican senators, but needed a dozen more to reach a 61-vote threshold.

One by one, each senator walked up to the front of the Senate chambers and spoke with or shook the hand of the three primary sponsors who had each given impassioned remarks on the importance of the bill. Without a live tally, and without being able to identify the party a liation of each senator, the onlookers could only wait and hope their mental calculations were holding up. e nal tally was 69-30. “All of a sudden, we hit the overall number we needed and everybody just started sobbing,” Henderson said. “When we stepped out into the hallway you could hear the triumph and ‘Hallelujahs’ just echoing up and down the chambers. I couldn’t think of a single thing to say to a reporter at that moment. I was just speechless.”

Henderson has been to Washington D.C. with her counterparts from other Downwinder groups multiple times in the two decades she’s been on the crusade to expand RECA. Since the rst rally she helped host in Emmett in 2004, she’s testi ed before the Senate Judiciary Committee and met with Senate majority leaders and Speakers of the House. But even with bipartisan support in the Senate, and a statement indicating President Joe Biden’s agreement to sign a bill if it arrives on his desk, progress has been slow.

In 2023, the Senate passed an expansion of RECA as an amendment to the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, the nearly $900 billion spending bill that covers the defense and energy departments. e amendment passed the Senate 61-37, but was stripped out of the nal bill in negotiations with the House of Representatives in December just before the nal vote.

e e ort to expand RECA gained new momentum in the last year with the support of Sen. Hawley, a vocal member of the GOP whose district includes St. Louis.

During and after the Manhattan Project, radioactive waste from a re nery in St. Louis was dumped in a nearby land ll where it contaminated a local creek, around which was subsequently developed into subdivisions.

Sen. Hawley has committed to passing the RECA expansion, which also expands bene ts to Missouri residents, by any means. e standalone vote on the bill in March, a rarity in congress, was successful, but if it doesn’t work its way through the House, Sen. Hawley stated an intent to add it as an amendment to as many bills as possible.

“I am not going to sit back and watch [RECA] expire. We’ve got to get it reauthorized. We’ve got to get it updated,” Sen. Hawley said in a statement earlier this year.

As part of her trip, Tona Henderson and her sister toured areas of the Capitol that are typically closed to the public.

Downwinder advocates from around the US pose with Senator Hawley before the Senate vote.

With the release of the Oscar-winning blockbuster “Oppenheimer,” a dramatic retelling of the scientists who worked on the original Trinity test, there has been a renewed and broadened interest in the e ects of the early nuclear age. Henderson said that anything that o ers an extra opportunity to bring the issue up in conversation is bene cial, especially when most people are oblivious to the extent of the damage.

Henderson has cataloged 1,140 individuals living in Gem County, a non-RECA covered county, who have died from or received treatment for advanced forms of cancer linked to radiation exposure. A 2023 study from Princeton University sought to quantify the nuclear fallout from the testing, which the federal government signi cantly underestimated in the early days.

“ e extent to which America nuked itself is not completely appreciated still, to this day, by most Americans,” said Nuclear Historian Alex Wellerstein in a New York Times article about the study.

e vote to expand RECA wasn’t on the schedule when Henderson ew to D.C. in early March. She was there, instead, to attend the State of the Union address as the guest of Sen. Crapo.

“Tona has been a tireless advocate for Idaho Downwinders and our work in Congress to ensure all victims of Cold War era above ground weapons testing receive the compensation they rightfully deserve,” Sen. Crapo said. “Her engagement has been critical in telling the true, personal stories of Idahoans who have su ered without recompense.”

Henderson said that being able to hear the State of the Union in person was one of the greatest experiences she’s had, and yet it paled behind witnessing a vote that brings her life’s work one step closer to fruition.

“It hasn’t gone the way I thought it would when I started this 20 years ago,” she said. “I was foolish thinking this would be a quick, obvious x in the Senate but every time the bill comes up we’re getting closer.”

“I’m really hopeful,” she continued. “I told everyone when we left the Senate gallery, we don’t use the word ‘if’ anymore. It’s not if it’s going to pass. It’s when it will pass.”

is is the second part of a series on the Idaho Downwinders, the e ects of nuclear fallout on Idahoans, and the push for federal recognition for victims. e rst part ran in the March issue of IdaHome, and a third part is expected when RECA passes.

Downwinder advocates Tona Henderson, Billie Jean King, and Tina Cordova.

Henderson and her group board the train ahead of the Senate vote.

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT: Justice Field’s Drama on the Bench Constitutional Conversations

BY DAVID GRAY ADLER

Historically, the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court have avoided drama off the bench. A bookish group, the Justices are removed from the madding crowd, the hurlyburly of politics and civil strife, and mark their time in the tranquility and elegance of their chambers, deciding cases and writing opinions. One exception to this institutional serenity—the Terry Affair—captivated the

attention of the nation and the citizenry’s lurid interest in sex, scandal, and murder.

In the summer of 1889, Justice Stephen Field, an iconic 19th century conservative jurist, who sat on the court for 34 years, found himself at the center of the most wild, violent, and dramatic moment in the court’s history. Field, who had moved west from New York in 1849 as part of the California Gold Rush, was a colorful, stubborn, pistol-

packing figure who had the habit of wading into controversies that alienated colleagues and earned enemies. While in California, he speculated in lands, threw himself into state politics, practiced law, and, in no time, became the mayor-judge of Marysville. In 1857, he was elected to the California Supreme Court and served for six years until he was named to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln.

Hon. Stephen J. Field PUBLIC DOMAIN

Hon. Salmon P. Chase, Chief Justice, U.S.; Hon. Nathan Clifford, Maine; Stephen J. Field, Justice Supreme Court, U.S.; Hon. Samuel F. Miller, U.S. Supreme Court; Hon. Noah H. Swayne, Justice Supreme Court, U.S.; Judge Morrison R. Waite, Supreme Court, U.S PUBLIC DOMAIN

The Terry Affair emerged in the context of a judicial ruling and the anger that it inspired. Field, an anti-slavery Democrat, had sat on the California bench with Chief Justice David S. Terry, a slave owner from Texas who had served with the Texas Rangers. Terry, who also rushed to California in 1849, was a violent man who knew no boundaries, freely brandished a bowie knife, displayed a quick temper, and burnished his reputation as a brawler who beat up newspaper editors who offended him, stabbed litigants in the courtroom, and killed California’s anti-slavery U.S. Senator David C. Broderick in a duel. A partisan judge dismissed murder charges at his trial.

In 1884, Terry represented Sarah Althea Hill, a flamboyant, 27-year-old described as a “Missouri beauty,” who claimed that she was married to William Sharon, 60, a multi-millionaire widower and former senator from Nevada. She had sought to validate a “secret” marriage to U.S. Senator Sharon to secure a divorce and half of his $30 million estate. Sharon denied that they were married and asserted that he had paid Hill $500 per month, standard payment to all his mistresses. The salacious case captured national headlines. U.S. Senator Sharon fought until his death and left instructions for his heirs to continue the fight. He lost in state court but won in federal court.

While the legal wrangling took its twists and turns, Terry and Hill were married. In 1888, Justice Field, carrying out his duty to ride circuit, became involved in the case. Field delivered an opinion that invalidated Hill’s former marriage, adding from the bench his own editorial comments about her less than spectacular lifestyle, explosive temper, and violent ways. True to form, Hill exploded, accused Field of taking a bribe and threatened the justice, who ordered the marshal to remove her from the courtroom. The marshal grabbed Hill’s arm, which led Terry to knock the court’s security official to the floor and he pulled out his bowie knife. When order was restored, Terry and his wife were arrested

for assault and for threatening Field. Hill was sentenced to one month in jail and Terry to six months.

On August 14, 1889, shortly before the Terrys were to be released, Justice Field was riding a train to preside at a hearing in Fresno, California. Field had been advised to defer the trip, but he declared he would not be deterred by a “ruffian” who “made threats to my body.” The U.S. Attorney General arranged for Field’s security by appointing David Neagle to be his bodyguard. As it happened, the Terrys were aboard the same train. While eating breakfast, Field, Neagle, and Mr. and Mrs. Terry saw one another. Field sat at a table between the Terrys and the door, but an encounter seemed inevitable. Mrs. Terry walked past Field and left the dining car. Within a few minutes, Mr. Terry walked

Who is who? In short, Terry represented Hill in a lawsuit, Hill married Terry, Field invalidated the marriage, the Terrys were arrested but on a train with Field, Neagle (acting as Field’s bodyguard) killed Terry. ALL

to Field’s table and struck the Justice in the face, twice. Neagle, believing Terry was drawing a knife, shouted, “Stop, stop,” and shot Terry two times, killing him. Moments later, Mrs. Terry returned to the dining car and found her husband lying on the floor, dead. She had returned with a satchel, which contained a gun.

Neagle and Field were charged with the murder of Terry. Justice Field was arrested but released after the Attorney General put pressure on local authorities. The case was a front-page story in newspapers across the country. No Supreme Court Justice had ever been arrested, none involved in scandal, none charged with murder, and none targeted for assassination. The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed Neagle’s murder charges after the case reached the High Bench on a Writ of Habeas Corpus, on grounds that he was carrying out his official duties as Field’s bodyguard. The Supreme Court’s tranquility has not been similarly disturbed since.

IMAGES PUBLIC DOMAIN

David S. Terry

Sarah Althea Hill

David Neagle

FLATBREADS

Gluten-Free and KETO options available THE FARMHOUSE

Sliced Pancetta, Kale, Asparagus, Caramelized Balsamic Onion Jam, Goat Cheese, Shaved Parmesan

WOOD-FIRED FLAT IRON

Flat Iron Steak, Bleu Cheese, Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes, Caramelized Onions, Arugula, Fresh Parm.

APPETIZERS

BALSAMIC-GLAZED CHICKEN WINGS

Pine Nut & Scallion Garnish, Creamy Gorgonzola

BAKED GOAT CHEESE

W/ FIRE-ROASTED TOMATOES

Served w/ Fresh Baked Focaccia (Gluten-free option)

FLASH-FRIED CALAMARI

Cocktail sauce, Dragoncello Aioli

SANDWICHES

CALABRIAN CHILE BURGER

Bacon Pepper Jam, Calabrian Chile, Pistachio Nut Butter, Gorgonzola, Arugula

ROSEMARY CHICKEN

Pesto, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Artichoke Hearts, Fontina Cheese, Gaston’s Ciabatta

SPICY ITALIAN

Cold Cut Cured Meats with Thinly Sliced Posciutto, Capicola, Spicy Calabrese, Sopressata on Gaston’s Ciabatta with Basil Pesto Mayo, Arugula and Fresh Tomato

SALADS

ITALIAN WEDGE

Baby Iceberg, Red Onion, Roma Tomatoes, Sweet & Spicy Bacon, Creamy Gorgonzola Dressing

CHICKEN ARUGULA BASIL

Spring Mix, Pine Nuts, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Red Onion, Celery, Fontina, Honey-Balsamic Vinaigrette

CLASSIC CAESAR

Our Legendary Caesar Dressing, Chopped Romaine, Fresh Parmesan, Focaccia Croutons (Wood-Roasted Chicken additional)

ENTREES

BOLOGNESE

Traditional Meat Ragu, Basil, Asiago, Topped with our Signature Meatball MAC & CHEES

24-month Aged White Cheddar, Parmesan, Asiago, Romano, Fontina HOUSEMADE SAUSAGE LASAGNA

All-Natural Italian Sausage, Fennel, Marinara, Herbed Ricotta, Mozzarella, Toasted Focaccia RICOTTA GNOCCHI

House-Braised Beef Ragu, Chianti Broth, Shaved Garlic, Fresh Parmesan

MORE FINE PIE

Gluten-Free and KETO options available ALFREDO THE GRATE

Alfredo, Grated Parmesan, Chicken, Bacon, Artichoke Hearts, Roma Tomatoes, Chives CHOPPED VEGGIE

Zucchini, Squash, Asparagus, Portobello, Fire Roasted Tomatoes, Shredded Mozz, Goat Cheese CARAMELIZED ONION & FENNEL SAUSAGE

Roasted Kale, Mozzarella, Sautéed Portobello, Fontina, Parmesan, EVOO PEPPERONI, SAUSAGE & PORTOBELLO

All-Natural Italian Sausage, Cupped Pepperoni, Herbed Portobello, Fior di Latte CAPICOLA, ITALIAN SAUSAGE & SOPRESSA

Meat, Meat and some Meat… oh yeah, and Cheese! BBQ CHICKEN

Fontina, Bleu Cheese, Red Onion, Green Onion, Cilantro BIANCO MAGNIFICO

Chicken, Fior di Latte, Olive Oil, Garlic, Creminelli Prosciutto Crudo, Caramelized Onions, Balsamic Glaze