You know for so long I've resented roadside campsites like this and staying in this one
I've come to really appreciate them and really appreciate Idaho for having them.
Chad and I didn't have a plan for this, we didn't pick an itinerary, we didn't do anything and I was
like "where are we gonna stay?" And Chad's like "Don't worry we'll find something there's camping all
over the place," and I'm like "where?" And sure enough there is and whoever takes care of this place it's
like holy cow this place is immaculate. It's all clean, fire pits have been cleaned out, the grates
have been cleaned, the bathroom is clean, stocked full of toilet paper. The little touches that have
gone into this place I really appreciate it. If that highway wasn't there I can't imagine
this spot it's just it's so crazy you're up against these rocks and in this beautiful
canyon and you have the Salmon River going by you and it's been really cool
just spending two nights here and just having our base camp set up and being able to just kind of
almost have a little company retreat going on out here. Just hanging out, but
it's been cool. So here we are, back in the car, back on the road, back to the voice over. We still
don't have much of a plan but I have something most people don't have access to or should I say
someone. To this day I've never met a person with more knowledge about this state than Chad Case.
You can't find the information he has in a book or online, trust me I've tried. He grew up here,
the family pastime was riding dirt bikes deep into the woods. He got older, he left for Alaska,
did some commercial fishing like the stuff you see on deadliest catch. When he came back, he came back
with his camera. Back then being a professional photographer meant selling photos to magazines
so chad hopped in the car, traveled Idaho, and built his photo library. 20 some odd years later he's got
me tagging along with him everywhere he goes. I doubt he ever imagined that. But anyways home
is home. You can't leave it, run from it, it'll always be a part of you no matter how far you
go. I don't know how many of my Idahoan friends or other friends have been up to Custer and Bonanza.
You're eight, ten years old. Your parents tramped you through these places and showed you how people
lived in the mining days, know how hard it was and all I really wanted to do was ride my motorcycle.
But I don't realize the memories here and much like there are ghosts of the past of this town
of Bonanza next we're going to see the town of Custer, of these people this hard life
we still have ghosts. My dad used to bring me here he's gone now
my mom's still with me and it's just kind of a cloudy day and a great time to reflect on the past
so as boring as I thought this was when I was 10 years old
I didn't realize how damn big it was going to be when I got older, sorry. Anyways
Dad if you're listening, I'm at Bonanza. Thanks for showing me the mining town love you.
Hey Jon!
This is one of the cool things about having Chad Case around is that the man is blessed with a
rolodex of connections. Having to set up camp and break it back down in the morning in the
snow didn't really appeal to us so we called an audible. Actually Chad just kind of went
let me see, let me see, let me reach out to someone and sure enough we were able to get this
sweet condo. Now the other thing if you're the young photographer on these things, age before
beauty as the young one it is your obligation young photographer out there to take the crappier
of the two sleeping situations. Here are the bunk beds next to the refrigerator in the
kitchen now I'm not complaining this is an amazing place and I'm glad we're not out on the on the...
Chad you don't have to defend yourself it's okay. Here's Chad's bedroom and see just again
the man with the contacts gets the bed okay don't fight him for it, don't roshambo for it, but T
did totally agree to these bunk beds before I saw them. They redid the pantry didn't they. No dude you
know this is my jam we talked about it in Corsica it's like what was your favorite place it's like
not the nice hotels it's Girolata sleeping on bunk beds in a hostel. It's just like remember that time
I got that pantry bunk bed situation under Baldy Mountain in Sun Valley I'll remember it forever.
It's a little chilly out.
It's nice when it's snowing because
it just adds another little element little flakes falling through the air.
Our lifespan is you know, 80 years give or take.
And that about wraps her up. We hung out in Sun Valley a little while longer. Then we slowly
made our way back to Boise. We got a lot of work done the week after but Chad was different that
last week. He was the old Chad, the pre-2020 Chad, the excited about life Chad. And when he left it
wasn't sad, it was a hug, a big smile, good to see you and I'll be back soon and this time
we both believed him. I don't know what Chad found out there on the road to nowhere, maybe he just
needed some peace. Some reassurance that no matter how far he goes, home will always be here for him.
That's a little dramatic. Actually it's probably more like after spending a week in the Idaho cold,
staying with your in-laws, working with your crazy colleague,
who wouldn't want to go live on Maui for a little while?