Atomic Idaho

I can't believe my little car actually made it up to Idaho. It chugged all the way through the scrub of Texas through El Paso, up to arid Albuquerque, over the Rockies and through the most hypnotic, alien landscape I've ever seen in Utah. We arrived in Idaho Falls after spending the night in Provo, and I am just getting accustomed to the local, um, culture.

Idaho Falls is a small city in desolate Southeast Idaho, situated on the Snake River, and comprised of a largely LDS population. Up until about 1950, the economy of the city was primarily agrarian, until the Atomic Energy Commission (precursor of the DOE) established the Reactor Testing Station and Idaho National Lab. Also, it is the birthplace of US Senator Mike Crapo, and they don't sell liquor on election days. (Disclaimer: the picture above is not of Idaho Falls, but the San Juan Mountains as viewed from Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado)

From what I can tell so far, there is a distinct palpable divide between lab employees and locals, the mix of several thousand nuclear engineers with many Mormons and the assorted hunting, fishing, wilderness people. I went to a bar yesterday and the hick threat level was very high, like at least orange, but today I was exploring the city a bit, and saw multitudinous spotlessly groomed excessively friendly LDS (LDSes?). I'm still not sure where the scientists are hiding.

A few nice things about Idaho Falls: lots of cheap Alaskan beer and fresh fish. Any big box store you could hope for along with some of the most absurd local businesses I've ever seen (more on that later). The city is the home of the first ever nuclear power reactor, and sits just on the edge of the Grand Teton Mountains and Yellowstone Park in Wyoming.

Things I'll have to learn to love: the movie theater really is an entertainment highlight of this city. Some of my colleagues at work achieve a dork quotient that I almost forgot existed. None of my nice friends are here (except Josh P), and I am hopelessly jaded about most things. I guess it's time for an attitude adjustment!