I Heart Idaho

This is our cabin in McCall. My great grandfather build it in 1920. I have been coming here every summer since I was born. That porch has seen many talks, parties, weddings, and great meals. Our cabin in McCall is truly my favorite place in this entire world.

For the past 2 weeks, I have been visiting family in Idaho. I truly think that Idaho is one of the best kept secrets of the United States. So shhhh, don't tell anyone. The photograph below is the view you see from that big porch.




I usually visit Idaho at least twice a year. My dad, and most of my dad's family lives in Boise, which is the capital. We have a cabin up in McCall, which is about a 2 hour drive from Boise, into the Payette National Forest. My cousin Carrie, who is on my mom's side, has a cabin in the same general area. Her cabin is on Warm Lake, about an hour from McCall. I wish that I could convey to anyone who reads this, what the Idaho mountain lifestyle is like.

At my cousin's cabin in Warm Lake, there are no phones. No computers. Her cabin is so hard to find that I have gotten lost each time I have driven there for the past 3 years. The days are centered around meals, swimming in the lake, and drinking coffee. No one ever knows what time it is. The major event for the day usually involves rowing a boat to the North Shore Lodge, which is the only place with a payphone, and a fantastic bar with karaoke.

To get to Warm Lake, one must pull off of Highway 55 and drive into the mountains for another 45 minutes. In McCall, things are a little different. It is still a mountain town, although not as remote because it's located off of the highway. In McCall, things are changing rapidly. A new luxury ski resort opened about 3 years ago in a neighboring town. It is something that locals have predicted would happen for the last 15 years. And it finally has. The ski resort has opened, and for 30 miles north and south of it, for sale signs sit on the land where ranches and farms used to be. I try not to think about that will occur over the next ten years.

Tractors and trucks are already bulldozing and flattening this land. Condos of all price ranges have popped up out of no where. Of course this development is inevitable. And of course it has created wonderful opportunities for these depressed logging towns to become prosperous again. But nonetheless, what this development is doing is really sad to me because the environment is changing. There are three story summer homes that sit empty, where there used to be pastures and wildflowers. There are SUV's with out of state licence plates everywhere you look. A Verizon cell phone tower was erected across the lake from our cabin, and now anyone can reach us, anytime. Technology has finally reached one of the most sacred natural spaces I have known. I kept my cell phone off for the 2 weeks and just pretended like things were the same as they have always been.

The following photographs are a mix from my entire vacation.

This is my cousin Carrie and her friend Anna, up at Warm Lake. This is one of our favorite hot springs. It's called Molly's. It's just a handful of old bath tubs that sit on this riverbed. Hot springs come out of the rocks. We fill up the baths with a mix of the hot springs, and buckets of cold water from the river. It's all natural. Only locals know how to find it.

Bergdorf Hot Springs. Bergdorf is a hot spring located about 30 miles north of McCall. It is commercialized, but still very authentic. It was opened in late 1800's when there were miners looking for gold. It was a hot spring resort built for them. They would come to Bergdorf to relax and cleanse themselves after weeks of mining. There is an old hotel on the premises as well as a handful of old cabins.

This is Justina, my Aunt Mary's niece. I am not related to Justina by blood, but I feel like she is my cousin or niece. I lived with her family when I was in Santa Barbara.

My dad driving his 60's speedboat in McCall.

This is my brother, Andy. He lives in the East Village in New York City. But his second home is in McCall. That's the face he makes when he is telling a story and cracks himself up.

This is Justina again. She was so patient with me. I was always snapping pictures of her.

This is my cousin Chelsea. She grew up in Boise, Idaho. But in less than a week, she is off to Geneva for a an internship. Then she is moving to Paris for another 6 months. I am so proud of her.

My brother driving my dad's boat.

Justina, on her 12th birthday..or 25th? She is much ahead of her time.

My cousin Bobby, also a Boise native.

My uncle Randy, on the day we celebrated his 60th birthday.

My brother Andy dancing at my Uncle's birthday party.

My cousin Carrie, and her niece Olivia, playing dress up. These are the kinds of things we do for entertainment when we are up there with no phones, clocks, or tv's.

This was one of the most beautiful nights in McCall. There were several forest fires across the lake. Thankfully, a rainstorm came in and cooled things off. After the storm, we had an hour of incredible colors and cloud formations.

Andy and Bobby singing along to "Blinded by the Light"... Also at Uncle Randy's 60th birthday Day party.

Aunt Mary (married to Uncle Randy) rockin' out..

Above: This is probably one of my favorite pictures from the entire week. To the left of me is my cousin Bobby, my brother is to my right, and my dad is behind him. We were driving the boat back to our cabin after water skiing.

Andy and Eyal, cooking in the kitchen in McCall.

My favorite Aunt Mary, and her mom, Francis. Again, I lived with Francis in Santa Barbara.

Above: Justina. This time I caught her thinking. She had no idea I was taking a picture of her. I love this image.

On Monday I am off to Los Angeles to continue my roadtrip. My final destination will be San Diego. I will be shooting women surfers all the way down the coast.