Almost Paradise In North Idaho

Ted Ludlum
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In the beginning, God created a paradise. And then we messed it up! Today, living in North Idaho is almost paradise. ALMOST. Yes, the weather is often fantastic. There are 4 distinct seasons offering hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, canoeing, rafting, ATV trips, snow skiing, and more. Lakes and streams are everywhere. Mountains dominate the horizons, The forests are endless. Small towns (2 traffic-lights in our county!) dot the area. Independent minded, (mostly) conservative people live in these towns. But... summers are short and can get hot for a while. Smoke can fill the air from area wildfires. Winters are long, cloudy, snowy. Those days are short with the sun rising late and setting early. Liberal ideas are creeping in. The Good Old Boy Network is strong. Even here there is conflict. But Jesus reigns! Living in North Idaho is ALMOST paradise.

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 213: Halloween Special - The Ghost Of The Jameson Hotel

    An old hotel. A room at the top of the stairs. And a woman named Maggie who may never have checked out. In this Halloween edition of Almost Paradise in North Idaho, Ted Ludlum visits the history and unsettling legends surrounding the Jameson Hotel in Wallace, Idaho. Nestled in the Silver Valley, this historic establishment has inspired stories of mysterious footsteps, unexplained perfume, unexpected visitors, and nighttime encounters that leave even skeptics reaching for the light switch. Who was Maggie? A woman waiting for a sweetheart who never returned? A traveler whose final train journey ended in tragedy? Or a young woman whose visit to Missoula became her last? The legends disagree—but perhaps that disagreement opens the door to an even stranger possibility. Blending published accounts, local folklore, imaginative storytelling, humor, and atmospheric sound effects, Ted introduces a chilling adventure involving his friend Terry, a whispered confession, and a secret that others were too frightened to reveal. Could telling the truth finally release those who have waited so long? And what happens to the person brave enough to tell it? Settle into your chair, turn on another light, and join us for a North Idaho tale with an unsettling finish.

    Episode 213: Halloween Special - The Ghost Of The Jameson Hotel

  2. 6d ago

    Episode 212: Finding Peace & God at Roman Nose

    After a challenging month, Ted and Joy set out for a quiet Sunday morning in the Selkirk Mountains. Their destination: the beautiful Roman Nose Lakes near Bonners Ferry. Beneath a clear blue sky, surrounded by fall colors and mountain scenery, they found a place to pause, pray, hold hands, and spend some peaceful time with God. In this personal Morning Brew, Ted reflects on the comfort that can come from stepping away from life’s noise and finding a little solitude in God’s creation. Sometimes the troubles are still there when we return home, but our hearts feel a little lighter.

    Episode 212: Finding Peace & God at Roman Nose

  3. Oct 26

    Episode 211: Morning Brew - Guns On The Ballot!

    Idaho voters have some serious decisions to make—but choosing an official state gun offers an opportunity for a little laughter. In this Morning Brew, Ted introduces six historic firearms as candidates campaigning for the job, each with its own personality, qualifications, and imaginary slogan. From the Winchester that “won the West” to the aptly debatable “Peacemaker,” nobody escapes a little good-natured ribbing. There’s even a neglected Gatling gun demanding recognition. Along the way, Ted considers how firearms connect us to family memories, military service, and history—and reminds us that thoughtful voting and neighborly kindness still matter beyond Election Day.

    Episode 211: Morning Brew - Guns On The Ballot!

  4. Oct 23

    Episode 210: When The Mountains Roared Part 2

    Trapped inside an old mine tunnel near Wallace, Idaho, more than forty firefighters face a terrifying question: Has their refuge become their tomb? Outside, the Great Fire of 1910 roars through the mountains. Inside, smoke, heat, and fear threaten to overwhelm them. Ranger Ed Pulaski must hold his men together while fighting to keep the tunnel entrance from burning. In Part 2 of “When the Mountains Roared,” we follow that desperate night through Pulaski’s own recollections, including his famous revolver warning and the exhausting struggle to survive until morning. Meanwhile, Wallace burns, families flee aboard evacuation trains, and railroad crews help carry frightened residents toward safety. Morning brings survival, heartbreaking losses, and a painful journey home. For Pulaski, reaching town is only part of the ordeal: injured and temporarily unable to see, he still needs to find his wife and daughter. We also consider the fire’s lasting effects on forest management, the tool that carries Pulaski’s name, and the human cost behind a legendary rescue. With moments of humor, history, and faith, this episode honors those who served and those who died—and reflects on the enduring importance of bearing one another’s burdens when the road home becomes too difficult to walk alone. Sources and further reading E. C. Pulaski, “Surrounded by Forest Fires: My Most Exciting Experience as a Forest Ranger,” American Forestry, August 1923, pp. 485–486. First-person retrospective account; public-domain original. https://foresthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Surrounded-by-Forest-Firest-By-E.C.-Pulaski.pdfElers Koch, “History of the 1910 Forest Fires—Idaho & Western Montana,” reproduced in the Forest Service's When the Mountains Roared: Stories of the 1910 Fire (1978). https://npshistory.com/publications/usfs/region/1/idaho-panhandle/r1-78-30/sec1.htmForest History Society, “The 1910 Fires.” Regional totals, other participants, and the complicated policy legacy. https://foresthistory.org/research-explore/us-forest-service-history/policy-and-law/fire-u-s-forest-service/famous-fires/the-1910-fires/Joe B. Halm, “The Big Fire,” reproduced in When the Mountains Roared. https://npshistory.com/publications/usfs/region/1/idaho-panhandle/r1-78-30/sec2.htmSmithsonian, “Timothy Egan on The Big Burn,” September 16, 2009; author interview describing the book's larger scope. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/timothy-egan-on-the-big-burn-141529464/U.S. Forest Service, “The True Story of the Pulaski Fire Tool,” Fire Management Notes 47, no. 3 (1986). Historical discussion of the tool's antecedents and development; see also the Forest History Society overview in source 3.

    Episode 210: When The Mountains Roared Part 2

  5. Oct 21

    Episode 209: When The Mountains Roared - Part 1

    A campfire warms your hands. But what happens when the whole mountain catches fire? In August 1910, the people of Wallace, Idaho, were about to discover the terrifying answer. Their bustling mining town of three thousand residents sat among forested slopes that had become dangerously dry. Smoke filled the skies, firefighters struggled in the hills, and everyone hoped the worst would pass them by. Then the wind arrived. In Part 1 of “When the Mountains Roared,” we step into the summer that became the Big Burn, following forest ranger Ed Pulaski as a battle to protect the woods becomes a desperate struggle to save lives. With more than forty men depending on him, Pulaski must draw on his knowledge of the mountains when fire cuts off their escape toward Wallace. Somewhere ahead lies an old mine tunnel. But can they reach it? And will going underground offer safety—or something far worse? Join Ted for a Northwest campfire story filled with courage, mounting suspense, a little humor, and a thoughtful look at trust when the path ahead disappears. Pull your chair closer, pour some coffee, and discover why this chapter of North Idaho history still commands our attention more than a century later. Sources for editing Elers Koch, When the Mountains Roared: Stories of the 1910 Fire, USDA Forest Service historical account, especially “Wallace burns” and “Pulaski's Crew—Placer Creek,” the latter reproducing Supervisor W. G. Weigle's June 24, 1911 report. https://npshistory.com/publications/usfs/region/1/idaho-panhandle/r1-78-30/sec1.htmForest History Society, “The 1910 Fires,” regional context and Pulaski overview. https://foresthistory.org/research-explore/us-forest-service-history/policy-and-law/fire-u-s-forest-service/famous-fires/the-1910-fires/USDA Forest Service, “The Great Fire of 1910,” regional extent and August 20–21 chronology. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5444731.pdfUSDA Forest Service, “2013 Script for the 1910 Fire,” Pulaski household and historical overview. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5444735.pdfUniversity of Idaho Library, Big Burn Collection, “Emma (Mrs. Edward C.) Pulaski and Child.” https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/bigburn/items/bigburn60.html

    Episode 209: When The Mountains Roared - Part 1

  6. Oct 19

    Episode 208: Morning Brew - When Did Having Fun Become So Much Work?

    When did having fun become a test we have to pass? In this Morning Brew, Ted reflects on tennis, sky-high expectations, and the frustration of knowing you can play better—even when you’ve made it to the championship. With humor and honesty, he explores how the pressure to perform can squeeze the enjoyment out of something we love. Whether you struggle on the tennis court, in the workshop, or with everyday mistakes, this conversation offers a reminder about patience, perspective, and grace. Winning matters, but so does enjoying the game—and learning to forgive the imperfect person holding the racket.

    Episode 208: Morning Brew - When Did Having Fun Become So Much Work?

  7. Oct 16

    Episode 207: Molly B'Damn - An Unlikely Angel In A Gold Rush Town

    Gold fever brought fortune seekers into North Idaho’s mountains, but one unforgettable woman left a legacy measured in something besides gold. Meet Maggie Hall, better known as Molly B’Damn, a frontier madam whose colorful reputation shared space with remarkable generosity. In this episode of Almost Paradise in North Idaho, Ted takes listeners back to the rough mining communities of the 1880s, where dreams were enormous, comforts were scarce, and a good story could grow faster than a prospector’s bank account. Along the way, we explore competing explanations for Molly’s nickname, the famous legend of her rescue of a mother and child in a snowstorm, and accounts of her kindness toward hungry, homeless, and sick neighbors. With humor, whimsical observations, and a careful distinction between history and folklore, this story introduces a complicated woman who deserves more than a convenient label. Molly’s life included controversy, hardship, and choices we need not romanticize. Yet her community remembered her compassion. The episode closes with a Christian reflection inspired by the Good Samaritan: Who do we overlook, how quickly do we judge, and what happens when we stop waiting for somebody else to help? Sometimes an unlikely neighbor gives us a timely lesson in mercy.

    Episode 207: Molly B'Damn - An Unlikely Angel In A Gold Rush Town

  8. Oct 12

    Episode 206: Six Years After Cancer: Our Story, Good News, and Gratitude

    Six years after prostate cancer treatment, Ted revisits Episode 16 of Almost Paradise in North Idaho, sharing a deeply personal conversation with Joy. Together, they reflect on their experience with diagnosis, treatment, and the uncertainty that comes with facing cancer. This repodcast features improved audio, a new introduction, and an encouraging update. Today, he continues enjoying tennis, winter pickleball, weekly bowling, chores, and time with friends and family. With humor, gratitude, and faith, Ted celebrates ordinary days and the people who helped him through difficult ones. He also reminds listeners that this is their personal experience, not medical advice. Treatments evolve, and individual concerns belong in a conversation with a doctor. It’s an honest, hopeful look at life after cancer—and finding plenty of reasons to keep smiling, here in North Idaho.

    Episode 206: Six Years After Cancer: Our Story, Good News, and Gratitude
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In the beginning, God created a paradise. And then we messed it up! Today, living in North Idaho is almost paradise. ALMOST. Yes, the weather is often fantastic. There are 4 distinct seasons offering hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, canoeing, rafting, ATV trips, snow skiing, and more. Lakes and streams are everywhere. Mountains dominate the horizons, The forests are endless. Small towns (2 traffic-lights in our county!) dot the area. Independent minded, (mostly) conservative people live in these towns. But... summers are short and can get hot for a while. Smoke can fill the air from area wildfires. Winters are long, cloudy, snowy. Those days are short with the sun rising late and setting early. Liberal ideas are creeping in. The Good Old Boy Network is strong. Even here there is conflict. But Jesus reigns! Living in North Idaho is ALMOST paradise.

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