Simple Things: Sandhill cranes, Idaho and your first winter

In this column two weeks ago, I wrote about my visit to the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wis. What I didn’t include in my summary is the fact that thousands of sandhill cranes migrate through and nest in Idaho each year during the spring and fall.    

Coeur d’Alene’s Sandy Emerson enlightened me, as he and Jeanne have witnessed the magic of Idaho’s migrating sandhill cranes. In the spring migration, cranes return to Idaho and surrounding northern breeding grounds, mostly in March and April.

In the fall migration, birds gather in wetlands and agricultural fields throughout September and early October before heading to wintering grounds in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Peak staging at major refuges often happens during the first half of September. 

The following are locations to see cranes in Idaho, including Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge only 74 miles away, just west of Bonners Ferry. 

• Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge (southeast of Pocatello, near Soda Springs): Home to North America's largest breeding population of sandhill cranes.

• Teton Valley / Teton River (southeast Idaho): Cranes congregate along the river and local birding subloops each fall.

• Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge (North Idaho / Bonners Ferry): Features restored wetlands and wet meadows where cranes nest and feed.

• Camas National Wildlife Refuge and Bear Lake: (southeast Idaho, north of Idaho Falls) Popular stopover and nesting habitats for regional population.

Your first winter 

I have always lived in a four-season climate. What’s my favorite season? It’s hard to beat summer, but I would also say, “The start of each season is always a refreshing change.” By September, and the close of sunny summer, a day in which a flannel shirt is comforting and it is dark by 8 p.m. is a cozy change.   

For many North Idaho residents, this is your first time living in a winter climate. I hope you’ll discover the childish joy of the first snow, the beauty of snow-laden trees and sun glistening off snowflakes, the air smelling clean and crisp, and ideal stargazing, since the cold, dry winter air holds less moisture. 

Winter is an opportunity to whine about how cold it is and for locals to tell stories of the famous ice storm of 1996 and the winter of 2007-2008 in which it snowed 172.9 inches! 

And there are more winter unpleasantries, with frequent overcast days and the sun setting at 5 p.m. In response to these challenges, I suggest developing a winter activity, so you have a way to capitalize on winter, not just to fight it. Nurture some friendships with whom you can walk on the plowed Centennial Trail, ski, snowmobile, ice skate, snowshoe or build snow sculptures and enjoy bonfires. Don’t just stay inside and avoid winter.

I remind myself every first snow that winter driving is very different. It’s wonderful that the Idaho State Police and the Idaho Transportation Department offer winter driving classes. Consider taking advantage of those offerings, go to an icy parking lot and hit the brakes to learn the effect of snow and ice, and drive even slower than you think you should.

Good luck. Winter is beautiful.

Kathy Larson

As you probably read in The Press, Hagadone Hospitality honors its employees each year with a banquet and individual awards based on years of service. Brad Hagadone, president of Hagadone Corporation, said to the employees, “We can’t do this without you.”  

One special honor was bestowed upon Kathy Larson, national sales executive, who has worked at Hagadone Corporation for 52 years! 52 YEARS!  

So, here’s to Kathy Larson, one more time: 52 years!

Amazing story about our world

Imagine starting a project in 2007 with a goal of finishing it by 2032! This is the case of the Brenner Base Tunnel,  a 34-mile underground railway mega-project connecting Innsbruck, Austria, and Fortezza, Italy. 

I learned about it on the Smithsonian Channel’s program, “How Did They Fix That?”

Key Project Details

• Length: 34 miles, making it the world's longest underground railway tunnel upon completion. 

• Travel Time Reduction: Cuts the journey between Fortezza and Innsbruck from 80 minutes down to 25 minutes, allowing high-speed passenger trains to run up to 155 mph.

• Freight Impact: Aims to shift a large portion of heavy freight traffic from Alpine motorways onto electric rail to cut carbon emissions

• Cost and Budget: Estimated at approximately $10 billion, co-funded by Austria, Italy, and a $2.5 billion contribution from the European Union. 

• Timeline: Construction began in 2007; major main-line railway tunnel tubes were connected across the border in July 2026, with full commercial operation targeted for 2032.

Wow!

Quote about life

“Don’t wait for your plane to crash.” — Andes plane crash survivor

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David Groth retired in 2016 after 37 years in elementary education. His last 17 years, the favorite part of his career, were spent teaching fifth grade and juggling at Sorensen Magnet School of the Arts and Humanities. He has lived in Coeur d’Alene since 1982 and has always appreciated the people, the geography, the climate, the rivers and lakes, and the simple things that make days special.