THE PERRINE BRIDGE, TWIN FALLS, IDAHO

A picture can't illustrate the tremendous height of the Perrine Bridge you cross as you go into Twin Falls, Idaho. Each time we drive through Idaho on Highway 84, we turn off toward Twin Falls to experience this splendid view once again, parking our car and walking out to the center of this bridge, 486 feet above the winding Snake River at the bottom of the canyon. It's so high that many have parachuted from the structure.

The last time we were there, we witnessed some excitement. Along the river ran four large animals. For a time we couldn't even tell what they were, it was so far down, but finally we saw it was three big dogs chasing a deer. Either the dogs were terribly fast or the deer was tiring, because the predators were gaining on their prey. Then suddenly the deer leapt into the water and began swimming across the wide Snake River. One dog stayed on the land, while two plunged in and swam after the deer. All three moved along at the same speed, and we were worried that they would catch the deer. And we were not the only ones. By that time other people had gathered beside us on the bridge, watching the action.

One dog soon gave up and circled back to the land, but the other kept on. Eventually it, too, had to abandon the chase. About a third of the way across, the dog finally turned and headed back to its defeated companions, as the deer kept on. Then all of us began to worry whether the deer could make it all the way to the other side.

The poor animal swam along slower and slower, while people 486 feet overhead bit their lips. Having outswam the dogs, the deer was now struggling with its own strength. More people gathered and watched. And finally the deer reached the other side of the Snake River, and stepped safely and triumphantly up onto the bank, no longer threatened by the frustrated dogs looking on. A cheer could be heard all along the sidewalk of the Perrine Bridge, as we all applauded the scene below and watched the deer trot off to freedom.

We'll never pass by the Twin Falls exit on Highway 84 without taking time out to walk the Perrine Bridge, experiencing the achievement of man, the awesomeness of God, and very possibly the freedom of nature.





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