The Snake River Canyon in South Central Idaho is an awesome creation by nature that has existed for thousands of years. It was significantly altered, deepened and widened, and scoured throughout by the Great Bonneville Flood 25,000 years ago.  In prehistoric as well as historic times, it provided a mild and relatively safe wintering spot.  While most of the canyon in the central part of the state had steep basalt walls, there are select places where people could get down to the river level to make camp, fish, or spend a safe winter protected from the icy winds above.  This is such a camp.  I was raised about 10 miles away to the North.