After two overnight stops, we arrived in Twin Falls, Idaho and I have no idea why. The beauty of these trips is most of the time, I never heard of these places that Jim has picked out and each place is a real adventure. Well, Twin Falls is one of those places where I was very pleasantly surprised by all the fun things to see and experience.
We got here mid afternoon on Friday and went straight to the Visitor Center where we found out about the Perrine Bridge that extends over the Snake River. The Snake River feeds into the Columbia River through Oregon and out into the Pacific Ocean. The bridge sits over 500 feet above the water with some very dramatic views down into the canyon. 
View of golf course in the canyon from the Perrine Bridge
It also serves as the favorite spot of base jumpers in the area and we needed to come back for that. The city maintains over 200 acres of parks and trails and a number of impressive water falls so we decided to check them out.
The Shoshone Falls is the premier falls in the area and we wanted a peak, so off we went with our map in hand because we were told our GPS would not work. It was overcast, so the pictures don’t do it justice, but really beautiful to see.
With this sneak peek, we knew what we would be doing on Saturday. Back to the bridge and we were just in time to see a group of six base jumpers leap off the bridge with their parachutes and land very close to their target flag. One jumper actually did a somersault as he left the bridge.
Landing right next to the river
Once all six had gone down, the crowd thinned out pretty quickly. But you know us, we wanted to see how they got out of the canyon and stood watching them. We marveled at the steep trail they had to follow which went up and over rocks to get back to the level where they left their cars. 
Not sure if this is called Extreme Sports or Insanity!
Next, since we were being blessed with sunshine, we stopped to pick up some lunch and drove back to Shoshone Falls where the sun mixed with the water to create rainbows. 
Look for the house that overlooks the falls
After our picnic lunch, we stood watching the water fall with over 20 separate features that were absolutely mesmerizing.
Upper part of Shoshone falls
View of river just below the falls
Then I noticed a house set in the side of the canyon. 
How about that for a view! The falls had the same effect as watching the ocean or a fire. This waterfall is one of the tallest waterfalls in the US plunging 212 feet into the river. Obviously no Niagara Falls but worth the stop.
One last stop before we ended the day took us outside Twin Falls about 40 miles towards Shoshone. There is a place out in the middle of nothing called the Indian Ice Caves that was discovered back in 1880. It was created by a lava tube from a volcano thousands of years ago and probably used by the Native people in the area for thousands of years but I guess was rediscovered back in 1880. Various stories say how it was discovered and by whom, but it was just a 2 foot by 18 inch hole in the base of this lava tube with icicles hanging off the edge. The water from the surface was dripping into the tube and there was just the right airflow to create a freezer effect keeping the temperature between 26 and 30 degrees year round. It was estimated to contain over 20,000 tons of ice at one time.
Once discovered, the local people used it in their ice boxes and in the 1930’s Uncle Sam got involved. As is often the case, while trying to preserve it, they altered the airflow and much of the ice melted. In 1953, a local man got the government to give him a 50 year lease on the property and he worked on correcting the airflow to bring back the temperature and freezing effect and open it as a tourist location.
Getting ready to enter the cave, entrance directly behind and below our guide
Ice in the cave
During his work, they actually found the complete remains still frozen of a bear and two cubs estimated to be 1,200 years old.
Right now the ice is between 16 and 25 feet deep depending on the location in the tube. We walked down this dimly lit ramp into the cave which was kind of cool (no pun intended) thinking about how all this happened and how long it had been there.
This entire area is volcanic lava covered with 4 or 5 feet of soil thanks to the wind. Who knew Twin Falls, Idaho had so much to offer.
The rain continued which made the view less than optimal, but we were dry (for a change) and comfortable. In fact, on a few pictures you can see the rain on the window. Occasionally, we even saw an animal or two but not enough warning to get the camera.
Maybe the hard life of Alaska is better for your health. As the train pulled into the Talkeetna Station we realized it was raining so we were in for a wet night. At least the Mt McKinley Princess Lodge had guest laundry facilities so we would have clean clothes for the ship.
The underbelly fur of this animal is softer and more valuable than Alpaca fur. Most Alaskans only make hats or mittens from it because you couldn’t afford a coat of that fur. The animal itself is not attractive and actually looks ratty. Gross!
Mind you, it’s still raining. What we found out is Mount McKinley was given it’s name as a political gesture before President McKinley was elected and has been trying to change it’s name back to the Native name (Great One) until it finally succeeded during President Obama’s administration. Talk about political bureaucracy! Unfortunately, we also found out that only 30% of the visitors actually get to see the mountain because of the weather. That’s something they don’t put into the travel brochures either.
Unfortunately that would be the extent of the animals we saw during our trip into the park. There were stops along the route when we would get off the bus and walk some but it seemed like every time we got out of the bus, it would rain hard. Our first stop was a cabin with a guide giving a presentation while she stood on the covered porch and we stood in the pouring rain. I have no idea what she said only that it seemed to me that she didn’t shorten her speech at all given the rain.
Before we started, however, we had to go to the 40 Below Room in the gift shop for a picture with our new friends and the sense of what that temperature feels like. Needless to say, we didn’t stay in there long.
that makes me think of the “dry” cabins we’ve seen elsewhere with no water, plumbing, or electricity. Definitely a land of contrasts. Then we watched a prearranged takeoff and landing of a seaplane right in the river near the boat.
We were told that 84% of the population has an airplane of some kind. We listened and watched while eating wild blueberry donut.
Check out the picture of the two moose with locked horns. 
They were found locked together in the ice where they died because they could not unlock themselves.
Jim and I combined took home $22 worth of gold. Of course, they then wanted to sell you a $50 locket to put it in. I’ll pass.
There are even games and tables for folks to gather to play cards. It is located on 200 acres right outside the Wrangell-St Elias National Park which is larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite and Switzerland combined and has higher mountains. Because the lodge is so close to the Ranger Station, there are regular presentations at the lodge about the park. This is an outdoorsman’s paradise designed for hiking and fishing.
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