Shoshone Ice Caves

August 11, 2024.

August in Southern Idaho is similar to weather you might find in a desert. Mornings start off cool, but the temperatures quickly rise to near 100+ in the afternoon. The fact that it's a dry heat doesn't matter. It's hot, and you'll need plenty of water wherever you are traveling.

The crystal blue skies that glittered in my Idaho guidebook were nowhere to be found. Instead, I experienced the milky haze of pollution from distant wildfires.

To escape both the heat and the smoke-laden skies, I headed toward the Shoshone Ice Cave. A road sign advised me that it's "one of the great wonders of the world with over 20,000 tons of ice!"

I was so busy reading the sign that I missed the turn and ended up at the Bear Claw Trading Post. They have a nice parking lot with bear statues. It reminded me of the touristy places that I used to visit along Route 66.

Not to be outdone, the Shoshone Ice Cave parking area has a few quirky figures of their own. The first is a giant, alien green brontosaurus known as, "Dino," ridden by a cowboy caveman. Many visitors have their selfies taken with Dino. I was content to experience the scene from afar. As for the snake sign, I didn't see any. I suspect it's there to deter people from climbing on the statues.

Another figure is the 10-ton Chief Washakie, a famous leader of the Shoshone people. He is the only Native American to have a U.S. military outpost named in his honor. The outpost is called Fort Washakie and is located near Riverton, Wyoming.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the lava people statues on the trail leading to the ice cave. They are mentioned in the book, "The Story of the Shoshone Indian Caves," by Russell Robinson. He theorizes that some of the lava people made their homes in the caves while others temporarily sought refuge there during storms.

Besides rehabbing the Shoshone Ice Cave, Robinson spent a lot of time exploring other Southern Idaho caves. Some of the items he found included, "arrowheads, lances, beads, and pictographs." Visitors will want to explore the on-site museum and gift shop to find out more.

The lava people statues are somewhat cartoonish in appearance and have not fared well being out in the sun. Their once brown skin now appears white. Their lower limbs look like melted wax. And the male figure has a 20th-century hair clip! Maybe it's to keep his wig from blowing away in the wind. Anyway, these time travelers are just another part of the experience.

In addition to statues, there are a number of totem poles like the bright and colorful one below.

Even though these figures have little to do with the Shoshone Ice Cave, they gave me something to do while I was waiting for the tour to start and before I descended into the ice cave.