Road Trip

After a long and productive week at work, I took a few hours off so Mike and I could do a road trip to Soda Springs, Idaho.  One might wonder why anyone would venture off to this non-descript, not known for much, dusty little town.  We drove up and over Tin Cup Pass, saturated with the spring melt off.  Folks are worried about water this year.  There is water everywhere and a whole bunch more in the high country.

The two lane narrow road winds and curves its way toward Soda Springs.  "No Gas for 77 Miles".  The sign holds true.  Two "towns", unworthy in my estimation to be called towns, are observed on the way.  Henry and Wayan.  Gray's Lake National Wildlife Refuge sits atop this pass in what looks like a giant caldera.  We note to research the geologic past of this area, curious how this big flat valley came to be atop this mountain.  Water pushes through culverts and seeps closer and closer to the road.  Geese wonder where to nest.  Sandhill cranes flap their long wings across the lake.  Ducks bounce happily atop the abundant water.  This place makes one want to drive up and visit during the summer to see how it will look then.  See more about the refuge here Gray's Lake Refuge

Man made benches of tailings welcome one to the tiny town.  Phosphate mining is big here and Monsanto keeps many of the 3K populous employed.  There is a diner with good food, an old hotel, a Dollar Store, a Morman insurance salesman, and a steely blue eyed lawyer in this town.  The town is known for its soda water, found by those coming across the Oregon Trail, bubbling out of the ground.  The story of the town's attraction, a spouting geyser playing copy-cat to Old Faithful, but indeed, quite predictable, as it is on a timer, and really does go off on the hour, 24 times a day!  We hang around to watch.  We were not disappointed!

 

I will say - with a bit of disappointment - the history of the town Soda Springs, ID History is more interesting that the town.  It's kind of a sad, run-down place with people living in houses that appear to be just getting by.  A couple of gas stations, two grocery stores, two Mexican restaurants, and the place within reach of Jackson (!) where one can go to get the paper work and finger printing done to get one's TSA prepass. 

 

Now you know why we ventured off to Soda Springs, Idaho!