My Strange Idaho Falls Experience

[norcalmom101]

Wow, that is really weird, trailhiker. Our experiences here have not been anything like that, and I get around alot, at all times of day and all over town. I see pedestrians all the time. Not like in a big city, but still, pedestrians aren't aberant. Very strange.

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by norcalmom101

Wow, that is really weird, trailhiker. Our experiences here have not been anything like that, and I get around alot, at all times of day and all over town. I see pedestrians all the time. Not like in a big city, but still, pedestrians aren't aberant. Very strange.

Yep, true enough. The craziest encounter norcalmom has had, is me

[norcalmom101]

And I'm still here!

[Sage of Sagle]

Was probably a transplant from SoCal...they 'escaped' to Idaho and don't want anyone else coming...hahaha....

[stingraynm]

Wow, trailhiker... yeah, I'd probably figure on the missed meds or mistaken identity theories as well. I've had a lot of what I like to call "special" experiences in my travels, so they're everywhere... but it definitely sounds like you got a heavy dose of wacky considering the population of that area and time you were there. In all circumstances, I try to utilize a sense of humor first, and if that fails... I kick the wits/vigilance into high gear, 'cause prejudiced jerks will do crazy things before you can even figure out what the heck their deal is.

One other question, not so much reflective of Idaho as reflective of a portion of the rural population... do you have long hair?

As someone who hung out with a lot of rugged folks (i.e., hard-core outdoors enthusiasts) in high school and college, I've seen both sides of the long hair issue, from watching friends face prejudice to hearing other friends assert prejudice. One can find quite the heavily polarized lifestyles/ideological viewpoints in the outdoors demographic for sure. If you have long hair, it wouldn't surprise me that two out of the several thousand people in that area were assertively stupid/crazy toward you.

Glad a job situation worked out for you, and by your user name I have no doubt you'd quickly come to love Idaho in spite of an occasional crackpot.

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by Trailhiker

Not long ago, I made a trip to Idaho Falls to check out a possible job. While I was there, I had some rather uncomfortable experiences that make me wonder if this is symbolic of Idaho Falls or just a rare set of events.

I did not have a vehicle during my visit, so I stayed in a hotel near the job site. On the first full day, I was walking across a public parking lot near the Grand Teton Mall when I noticed a lady (40s-50s) in an SUV seemed to be watching me. At first she was heading the opposite way, but then looped around and started back toward me, but in the next row. When we got to where she could loop around and come over to my row, she literally pulled in front of me to block my path. She rolled her window down and asked what I was doing. I said I was walking to my job, and she then said "I'm going to be keeping my eye on you!"

Then, two days later, I was walking down a sidewalk between the Grand Teton Mall and the the Hitt Rd. Wal-Mart, and another car pulled up along side me and said "Where do you think you're going?"

I have to say I have never felt so uncomfortable in my life. It was like I was a suspect or something. I have never had this problem in any other city, and I travel a lot.

Am I missing something? Is walking not normal in Idaho Falls, or is everyone always suspicious of everyone else? Anyway, I would like to know if anyone has any thoughts on why this happened and if it is something I would have to deal with a all the time.

Trailhiker,

So sorry to hear about your experiences! I have never heard of anything like what you experienced.

Were you giving out $$$$?

Seriously, I'm sorry you experienced some weird behavior from some people. Really does make me wonder if someone had a case of mistaken identity?

Didn't you post here a few months back asking us about Idaho Falls? If not that is ok. I remember questions from before that were similar to where you spent time. I want you to know that everyone who gave you any tips (if indeed that was you) gave you honest tips. We don't have wacko relatives/friends we let out to roam around at odd hours.

I like what Sage said.....possibly someone who escaped from CA.

If you come back our way let us know. Maybe some of us here who don't scare me could make it a more pleasant experience for you.

BTW - I know the owner of two of the hotels. Any chance the person who talked to you could have been related to potentially having seen you at your hotel? If you don't mind, will you send me a PM and give me the name of the hotel as I will go to the top with this info. Trust me, this is a large firm in Idaho Falls and the managers, let alone owner of this Development Group would fire anyone who may have been connected with their hotels!!!!!!! Besides, I should alert the managers if weird people are driving around.

FWIW, I was hundreds of miles away Idaho Falls last night and someone in Washington license plates was parked at 2:00 a.m. in the parking lot of my other office with his SUV running. I called security!

Weirdoes everywhere, I guess.

Take care and let us know how we can help!

MSR