Originally published in the: This part of the season is referred to as the ‘dead’ of winter for good reason. Even right now, sun shining brightly off beautiful snow-covered pines, it’s preternaturally quiet, a quiet we notice here because it only happens on the rare occasion when the Creek freezes entirely over and there’s a blanket of snow on the ice. This is the time when the mettle is tested of first-winter Creekers, and they’re deciding whether or not there’ll be a second for them. These mountains, and all of Idaho really, are places where it’s either for someone or it’s not. There are places in the world where people can go and stay for a while, live there but not particularly want to be there, just find respite and happen to stay for a while, enjoying it well enough but not passionate to stay. These are not those places. Without a deep desire to be here, these places will not appeal for long. It’s not just winter, there’s a mindset required. People take root here, or w
