Brought by Boise State Radio, StoryCorps Mobilebooth West came to Boise, Idaho and found the kind of beauty that you expect in the West. Parked outside Boise’s city hall, in the hub of the downtown (pictured above in the distance), we built a home among the conversations and the hills that surrounded us. Here are some of the folks who came to see us during our visit:

The stories were as diverse as they were honest. Participants Madonna Lengerich and her friend Whitney Rearick came to the booth to talk about Madonna’s career fighting fires and her love of challenging outdoor adventures. Annette Lewis talked to her friend Sherry Lamb about her career as a midwife for 30-plus years in the small community of Salmon, Idaho. Tulug Salahifar came with his three-year-old daughter Aylin, brother Cem and father Behcet to honor the memory of his wife and partner Gesa, who he lost tragically this past spring. Hazel Pace talked with her son James about being an army nurse in Menlo Park, California during World War II and meeting her husband in the hospital there. Ross Fenner talked with his daughter Erin about growing up in Rapid City, South Dakota, finding a lifelong partner in Erin’s mother and the wonderment of fatherhood. Jeffrey and Brenda Wilson came to talk about all of the surprises and lessons learned in raising their son Jeff, who is 25 and has Down syndrome. These are just some of the many families and friends who recorded their stories in Boise.

Click here to listen to some more Boise stories airing locally on Boise State Radio.

Boise is a hard place to leave. Stunning scenery is not far in any direction; it is no wonder the city’s population is estimated to have grown nearly 11 percent between 2000 and 2004. The city sits at the bottom of the foothills and has nearly 25 miles of green trails lining its river. The Modern Hotel and Bar, a converted 1960’s TraveLodge in Boise’s up-and-coming Linen District, where we were lucky enough to reside for the month, is no doubt the swankiest joint ever to house StoryCorps facilitators. And when we needed respite from the city, it wasn’t far away. Enjoy some photos of the ever-captivating Boise River.