Idaho Falls

6 IDAHO FALLS MAGAZINE JUNE 2018 Robinson Creek Incident by Steve Smede Download the free app and scan Steve's photo above to see a video. Publisher Jason Harris Editor Steve Smede Advertising Chris Sheetz ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Linda Carter Beck ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Marketing Director Leanna Kotter Secretary Magdalene Mercado Production Janet Chase Jim Donovan Graphic Designer Del Moss Circulation / IT Dept. Chuck Harris Newsstand Sales & Distribution ProCirc Retail Solutions Group Accounting Clayton Ward Laura Rafferty Contributing Writers Katie Burke Kris Millgate Susan Stucki Gregg Losinski Jessica Hallam Michelle Munoz Brady Kay Vanessa Oler Principal Photographers Steve Smede Leanna Kotter Harris Publishing, Inc. Jason Harris—PRESIDENT Chuck Harris—VICE PRESIDENT Ryan Harris—VICE PRESIDENT Steve Janes—VICE PRESIDENT Greg Larsen—VICE PRESIDENT Janet Chase—SECRETARY Clayton Ward—TREASURER Members of Better Business Bureau of Eastern Idaho Community Magazine Network Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce Rexburg Area Chamber of Commerce Blackfoot Area Chamber of Commerce Yellowstone Teton Territory Idaho Falls magazine is published 12 times per year. ©2018 Harris Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. Back issues are available at $5 per copy. Quantities are limited. Freelance and photography submissions should be addressed to editor with self-addressed stamped envelope. Queries preferred via email to steve@ harrispublishing.com. Unsolicited manuscripts are discouraged. Publisher not responsible for content of material submitted or advertising claims. Printed in Idaho Falls, ID by Falls Printing, LLC. Mailed under a third-class mailing permit at Idaho Falls, Idaho and at additional mailing offices. CORPORATE OFFICES 360 B Street, Idaho Falls, ID 83402 (208) 542-2244 Fax (208) 522-5241 www.harrispublishing.com Founded by Darryl W. Harris Area Magazines Published Idaho Falls magazine Idaho Falls Area Visitor Guide Idaho Falls Area City Map Idaho Falls Parks & Recreation Activity Guide GIFCC Independence Day Parade Program Eastern Idaho State Fair Guide To Subscribe: (208) 542-2244 idahofallsmagazine.com The story begins where it ends— in the sweltering confi nes of my 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It was a special day in June, 2006. And like any good day-trip tale, this one includes a horde of blood-sucking beasts chasing a very stupid man and his children through a remote forest. The Jeep's A/C was toast, so both of the girls dropped their windows as we made our way into the upper Robinson Creek drainage. The idyllic setting looks like something out of a Thomas Kinkade paint- ing. One caveat: Just as I put the vehicle in park, a thick cloud of mosquitoes came swirling in. We rolled up the windows and swatted away the interlopers. Then the real fun began. The temperature inside the Jeep began to skyrocket. So I thought of a plan, and I thought of it quick. I jumped out, untied the kiddie raft off of the roof, and beckoned my children to follow me to the creek bank. Here was my logic: Where don't you fi nd mosquitoes in an eastern Idaho forest? Sometime long ago, I had been told that your best bet is to wade into the middle of a good-sized stream. Most bugs love the fl ow of water. Not mosquitoes. They are just swamp dwellers, right? I dropped the raft into the creek, dropped my daughters into the raft, let out some slack on the tow rope and—bon voyage! In addition to the kids still being con- sumed by skeeters, the raft had a hole in it. In addition to the raft having a hole in it, the tow rope got tangled up in the willow bushes. Now the current was spilling into the raft. Panic ensued. I tied the rope to a tree stump, waded out into the current and plucked my daughters from the rag- ing waters. From there, the three of us ran back to the jeep screaming bloody murder. I'd like to see Thomas Kinkade paint THAT picture. Back onto the pavement of civilization, it was time for damage control: ice cream at Dave's Jubilee in Ashton, a long stop at Yellowstone Bear World and a lot of bargaining to keep the whole shebacle just between the three of us. When we rolled up the driveway, I offered one last apology. In unison, like they had it planned all along, my daughters answered me by sim- ply wishing me a Happy Father's Day. I'm sure there are a lot of dads out there with similar tales from the trenches. It's the small, teachable moments that make the whole exercise of parenting worthwhile. We want the best for our kids, but some- times, we get in the way of our own inten- tions. And if we can laugh about the ordeal and learn from it? All the better.

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