While I was not expecting a UFO connection to this research project, we must uphold the creed, "deny ignorance". I think a small course deviation is
acceptable.
In light of this new research tangent, I offer a historical synopsis of UFO activity in Southeastern Idaho. My great-grandfather was one of the first
to start ranching in the Wood River Valley, about 120 miles from Yellowstone. As a child, I can remember family gatherings where my father and several
uncles would discuss the lights they witnessed while working on the ranch as children. I haven't heard those stories in awhile, so I can't make any
detailed description of what they've seen.
These conversations also described the stories coming out of Carey and Arco, the two towns surrounding Craters of the Moon National Monument. Craters
of the Moon is the vast volcanic landscape that encompasses the remnants of the old Yellowstone Caldera, which erupted 600,000 years ago. There are
interesting volcanic features all over this area, most of which are totally dormant. My favorites are the Ice Caves, located on Highway 75 and are
open to the public.
The stories that were relayed to me, described multiple sightings of UFOs dating back to the 1940's. The surrounding area has a large Basque
population and most of the sightings that my family had heard outside of Wood River Valley were from Basque sheep herders working the area.
In 1998, I met some Carey residents while in Sun Valley for the weekend. The UFO topic came up over some drinks and they immediately reacted, "oh,
you mean the Arco Lights?” The phenomenon has taken on such proportions, that the townsfolk have named it. Since then, I've had at least three
conversations with different individuals, who have all claimed to have either seen or heard of the "Arco Lights". I've run the name through several
old archives and can't find any newspaper articles regarding these lights.
The other feature of the area that raises my suspicions is Idaho National Environmental Engineering Laboratory. Arco is adjacent to the boundary of
INEEL, which happens to be home to 32 experimental reactors. This is the largest concentration of nuclear reactors in the world. There's a good
discussion on INEEL, www.abovetopsecret.com..." target="_blank" class="postlink">here. INEEL opened in 1949, so it is possible that
all of these sightings can be attributed to work and happenings at INEEL.
Until now, I hadn’t heard any stories about red glowing orbs flying through the forests. That’s a new one to me.
*returns to quake monitoring*
[Edited on 17-11-2003 by kukla]


