River Walk

A Canada goose finds a place to rest along the bank of the Snake River in Idaho Falls

I took our family dog for a walk along the Snake River after I got home from work today. The City of Idaho Falls Department of Parks and Recreation has created a fabulous green belt along the river which flows through the middle of the town. It is a treat anytime we walk along the paths, both asphalt and grass. But when I walk Titan, it is an experience. He wants to investigate everything, from new scents to what lives under the rocks. (I think it was a golden-bellied marmot under the rock by the way it was squeaking at us. Thankfully, Titan’s attention was easily focused elsewhere and he didn’t catch the rock chuck.)

Our dog is half Border Collie and half Alaskan Husky. I know, Huskies are Alaskan, but I don’t know the specific breed other than Alaskan. He stands nearly knee high and weighs close to 80 pounds. Walking Titan is a full-body exercise, he can easily drag me behind him, but is nice enough most of the time not to. Also, I’ve figured out how to brace myself after a couple of times of loosing my footing and ending up on my nose! But it’s a joy as well to walk with him. He is so excited about every site and every smell that its leads me to see and experience more that if I was walking by myself.

There are two bridges in this picture, but the foot bridge is behind the train bridge. A third bridge is a part of Broadway Avenue and is one of four main traffic bridges that today take people across the river. Trains no longer cross here, but the bridge remains to honor and remember our past. Idaho Falls was founded after Matt Taylor, a freighter, built a toll bridge near this sight. At that time the area was called Eagle Rock. This was where other freighters, mountain men and homesteaders headed to or from Montana could cross the Snake River.

Debris piles high on the falls during spring run-off.
Down river view from the green belt walk.

The falls are naturally made, but many decades ago the city artificially raised the edge of the river to increase the height of the first fall as a way to generate more electricity. That gives the east side of the river the flat-top affect. We are experiencing high water levels with the spring snow run-off. Later on the water will drop and if looking at the view in the second picture, there will be another lower level of rock and the water will be way down in a narrow channel.

I tried to take a picture of Titan at the river, but he didn’t hold still long enough for me to get one. But here is one I took earlier.

Enjoy the read, TC Robinson

Share this:

Like this:

Related