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Wagon, riders cross Snake River during pioneer reenactment
"I've never seen anything like it," exclaimed Stephanie Plummer after watching one wagon and five horseback riders cross the Snake River during the 22nd Annual Three Island Crossing last Saturday at Three Island Crossing State Park in Glenns Ferry.
"I think its one of the most exciting things I've seen in my lifetime," Plummer said smiling.
The Orlando, Florida woman was visiting friends in Sun Valley and, along with those friends, and her husband, Harry, decided to attend the Crossing. Mr. Plummer was as enthusiastic about the event as his wife. "I'd rather have seen this any day than Disney World," he exclaimed.
Participation was scant this year. Although upwards of 25 people had attended practice sessions beginning in July only seven people took part in last Saturday's Crossing.
Roy Allen was wagonmaster for this year's Crossing and drove the only wagon to cross this year. During practice sessions Allen had led the team of draft horses, belonging to the Three Island Crossing Committee, across the river but they had never been driven across until Saturday.
The evening before the crossing Allen had spoken to the man who was to drive the wagon across. But Saturday morning that man did not show up for the actual event. That left Allen with the only option he had; to bring the team across himself. Although a veteran of the crossing, Allen had never before driven a team across the river.
"I don't have any choice," Allen said. "Somebody's got to do it."
It is three miles from where the riders and wagons begin their journey from Slick Ranch Road to the river's edge. Allen admits that he was nervous.
"I was shaking when I started (crossing the river) and I was still shaking when I got out," he said.
But the trip across the river was without incident. In cooperation with the Three Island Crossing Committee, the water level had been dropped by Idaho Power, which regulates river flows upstream at Milner Dam. The moss was thick but not much of a problem for the wagon and horses.
"I think it went perfect this year," said Julie Jeffrey, who has participated in the crossing for the past seven years.
She and her husband, Lloyd, were prepared to join this year's event but one of their draft horses came down with an illness, forcing the couple to sit out this year's crossing.
Mrs. Jeffery said that watching from the sidelines was "hard." She said that when crossing the river "you are so focused on what you are supposed to be doing that you don't have time to worry."
But watching from shore is a different story. "You have no control (of what is happening out in the river) and you worry about everybody."
This is the first year Kuna residents Dave and Tracy Dineen have participated in the crossing.
The Dineens and their two children moved to Idaho from Las Vegas, Nev., just two years ago. The first year in Idaho the Dineens, both teachers, came to see the crossing and decided they would become a part of the historical re-enactment.
"It was great," said Mr. Dineen after making his first crossing. "It's even more exciting than skydiving... because you have to put your trust in your mule."
When asked whether they would be back for future crossings, Mr. Dineen replied emphatically, "Yes, we're hooked. We're here every year, and our kids will do it when they are old enough."
Noticeably missing from this year's crossing were Native Americans from the Duck Valley Reservation. Allen didn't know why they had not come. Dale Smith, president of the Three Island Crossing Committee, was told by a tribal representative that the crossing conflicted with other events.
The committee is looking for someone to take Allen's place next year as this was his last year of being wagonmaster. Smith is hoping younger people will come forward to carry on the 22-year tradition of the Three Island Crossing, which has been held on the second weekend in August since 1984.
Besides the actual river crossing, this year's event featured a Friday night All-Equestrian parade followed by live entertainment from local musicians.
Songbird Karolyn Gaines and her brother, James Wright, sang original songs from Wright's CDs. Bud Allen, who was this year's crossing honoree, performed with his group, Allen Ranch Rendezvous, and the Old West Players held a shoot-out.
Saturday's entertainment included a second performance by Gaines and Wright, local fiddlers, The Rosin Wranglers, Boise Cloggers, Ozark Mountain Music, Emily and TJ, and Trey Michael Warren.
The Mountain Man encampment was sparse with only two camps. However, mountain man Lerry Heath kept visitors entertained with tall tales and tours of his teepee.
Vendors offered everything from quilts to rocks, and food vendors kept very busy serving the hungry visitors.
Overall, Smith is pleased with this year's event. "I thought it was successful, and attendance was up from last year," he said, adding that between 1,200 to 1,500 people attended last weekend's crossing.