Behind the Stories
Planes & Pack Trains Converge
By Bruce ReichertJuly 22, 2010
“On Wilderness” airs October 21st & 24th
“Flying Idaho” airs December 5th
It’s not often that two OUTDOOR IDAHO stories we’re working on converge so nicely. But it’s happening this summer with “Flying Idaho” and “On Wilderness,” two programs currently in production. That’s because there are two things Idaho has in abundance: airstrips and wilderness.
Idaho is one of the most pro-aviation states in the union. In fact, we have more airports and airstrips per capita than any state in the lower 48. And many of those airstrips are in the backcountry.
One of them, Indian Creek airstrip, is sometimes busier than the Boise airport, hauling in rafts and tourists who can’t wait to float the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. 
Bart Welch, the former director of aeronautics, told me that he used to spend a high percentage of his time keeping the 50 or so backcountry airstrips open. “Years ago, Montana had almost the same number of airstrips that Idaho has,” he noted. “Today, they have four open to the public.”
His point is that it’s a constant struggle, a constant fight to remind folks that pilots and airplanes have a place in the wilderness, too. It’s one of the reasons that Idaho pilots volunteer to work on backcountry airstrips, clearing brush and filling gopher holes. And it’s why the Idaho Aviation Foundation hosts “Wilderness Within Reach,” a program that flies the handicapped into places like Sulphur Creek Ranch, free of charge, for a weekend in July.
Craig Gehrke of the Wilderness Society told us that airplane noise is the #1 complaint he hears from his constituents. But in 1980 the only way to win enough votes in Congress to create the River of No Return wilderness was to ‘grandfather’ in the many airstrips. That happened also in 1964, with the creation of the Selway-Bitterroot wilderness. The beautiful airstrip at Moose Creek ranger station was part of the deal.
Our Wilderness show will feature a segment on the iconic Moose Creek ranger station. But earlier this summer, we weren’t sure we’d be able to show you this special place. We were told that wilderness precluded cameras. It wasn’t until the Chief of the Forest Service reversed that decision that our cameraman, Jay Krajic, got the go-ahead to land on the Moose Creek airstrip in an airplane, with his camera.
Pack trains and small planes seem to co-exist well at Moose Creek. And that’s part of the story we’ll be telling.
A Culinary Adventure
By Thanh TanJune 28, 2010
I always tell people one of the pleasures of working at
IdahoPTV is the fact that producers get to pursue projects they are passionate
about. In my case, I love food. I cook for myself. I cook for my friends. For
me, making a delicious dish from scratch is incredibly therapeutic. I believe
the act of sharing food brings people together and sparks great
conversations.
So when I got the green light to produce an Outdoor Idaho about the local food scene in Idaho - I was ecstatic! Production began in the summer of 2009. Since then, we've traveled all over the state to gather video and sound. We will continue to put the finishing touches on the show right up until the July 15 premiere.
What does it mean to eat local? For some, it's a 100-mile
diet. For others, it's sourcing food that's grown or produced within the region
they live in. The overall message? It's about supporting local farmers, building
local economies, and eating healthy, nutritious food that does not rely on lots
of fossil fuels to get to our tables.
I was pretty shocked to learn that most of our food travels about 1,500 miles before reaching the supermarket shelves. According to food experts, Idahoans bring in about 98% of our food from out of state. If disaster were to strike, it's not clear we would be able to feed ourselves because we have lost so many processing and canning facilities.
In the course of reporting for this documentary, we learned there is a growing number of Idahoans who are passionate about reversing the problems that have become inherent with the food system, including rampant food poisoning and diet issues related to the prolific use of high fructose corn syrup and soybeans in processed foods.
Our crew had a lot of fun meeting the farmers we
feature in the program. Their transparency and commitment toward sustainable
farming practices made it easy for us to shoot some really great video of life
on the modern farm. Janie Burns of Meadowlark Farm is one of the leading voices
in the local food scene and raises sheep using organic methods. Mary Rohlfing of
Morning Owl Farm introduced us to her flock of ducks. They are the cutest
creatures! They eat the weeds on her farm and lay eggs. Josie and Clay Erskine
of Peaceful Belly Farm grow dozens of various crops on their organic farm and
showed us how community supported agriculture (CSA) shares are nourishing
families every week.
To see what can be done with local ingredients, we headed to Hailey to meet Chris and Rebecca Kastner of CK's Real Food. They offer a seasonal menu, grow their own garden, and pride themselves in developing unique dishes that highlight the best that area producers have to offer. Idaho's Bounty, the online co-op, is using online technology to find new markets for local food and to distribute that food in the Treasure and Wood River valleys.
All around the state, farmers markets are becoming places where people
can connect again. We met too many producers and local "foodies" to list here,
so I look forward to sharing their stories with viewers in July!
What struck me about all the people we interviewed is how they are driven by business motives that are balanced with a sense of duty to feed people healthy, wholesome food using sustainable methods.
After watching "Eating Local," you may never look at your food the same way again! At the very least, I think you'll be inspired by what Idaho farmers have to offer - and wonder whether we're capable of producing even more of our own food.