Heavy Snow Made Scenery The Enemy

The scenic tree-covered hills in the Boise Basin are one reason Jack Craig has lived there off and on for more than 70 years.

But, covered with a foot of heavy snow on Christmas morning, the trees became falling projectiles that severed electric lines, cutting power to homes and stores during most of the winter holidays.

“It was sheer hell,” said Craig, proprietor of Placerville’s general store.

Idaho Power Co. crews worked around the clock, beginning Christmas Day, and finally restored power in time for New Year’s Eve.

Spokesman Dennis Lopez said the company did not send teams to help with extensive outages in the Portland and Seattle areas because places like Placerville had so many problems.

“We’ve thrown a lot of resources in there,” he said.

Residents of the former mining town relied on one another for essentials such as water and firewood during the blackout.

“Fortunately, it hasn’t been that cold,” resident Mike Vetter said. “If we’d be out this long with sub-zero temperatures, it would have been real tough on everybody.”

The experience was tough enough for the 30 wintertime residents of the community 4,400 feet in elevation and about 30 miles northeast of Boise.

Residents are now worried that warm weather will cause flooding and block the winding dirt roads that provide access to Idaho City, Garden Valley and Horseshoe Bend.