The “Wisdom of the Donut Hole” Podcast Episode 2: Alaska Author Ron Walden: “Influences of the Silver Valley”

 Podcast 1… Wisdom of the Donut Hole… EPISODE 2

Welcome to Episode 2. We intend present many more, digging into backdrops, characters and plots of more than a dozen books from Ron Walden: Author of True to Life Alaska Crime & Other Alaska Stories. I’m your host, Scott Walden and this is…

The “Wisdom of the Donut Hole” Podcast Episode 2: Alaska Author Ron Walden: “influences of the Silver Valley”

Welcome back to The “Wisdom of the Donut Hole” Podcast

A podcast about the novels of Alaska Author Ron Walden, a Luddite that loves donuts, friends, coffee and amazing, almost true stories.

In Ron’s life, the Wisdom of the Donut Hole has meant a choice of dwelling on failure and sadness or pursuing success and happiness. Be aware of it all but Always pay more attention to the important parts. Wish if you want but appreciate what you have.  It goes like this:

As you ramble through Life, Brother,

Whatever be your goal.

Keep your eye upon the doughnut,

And not upon the hole.

Since the 1700s, that motto has sold donuts, coffee, posters and even helped elect presidents.

It just sounds nice. Optimistic even. Like Ron.  In this episode we’ll hear about the area where Ron grew up: North Idaho’s Silver Valley and historical influences that may be reflected in his stories, style and characters.

From its unusual, accidental founding father to its OK Corral connection, boomtown violence and Martial Law, Pinkerton Agents, designation as a contaminated Superfund Site, resilience and recovery, “Rails to Trails” recreational development and the longest gondola in America, the story of the Silver Valley is captivating.

It’s a story of an amazing beginning, collapse, transformation and resurrection from “Superfund” Garbage Pail Kid poster child to a highly desirable recreational gold mine, with actual mines prospering again, rivers clear again, mountains green again and fog is now just.. fog.

Ron’s family built a business there and he helped it succeed. Alaska was calling and he resettled there.

In this episode, we’ll hear about Noah Kellogg and his jackass Bill; Famous lawman and undercover Pinkerton Agent Charlie Siringo, an explosive Cabal of mine owners and a violent miners’ strike; Wyatt Earp and brother Jim bringing peace, road building and even a circus tent to the area’s first County Seat in Murray, Idaho; kind hearted Madams and the horrible moniker “Superfund Site” the 2-edged sword that all but destroyed the area before resurrecting; the death of railroads, the birth of bike trails and the longest gondola in North America.

All right here in Episode 2, the story of the Idaho stomping grounds of Alaska author Ron Walden and what became of North Idaho’s Silver Valley after he moved on.

In coming episodes we’ll delve into each of his books, characters and plots. Some influenced by the history he grew up around, yet all are deeply Alaskan.

There's much more in the full Podcast episode, including amazing history and characters.