SOMEWHERE IN IDAHO/WASHINGTON STATE -- It's still dark Saturday morning when the bus rumbles down the side of the mountain, onto Seven Devils Road and turns left on Main Street in tiny Riggins, Idaho.
The Vander Esch Express pulls in ahead of schedule to a lot behind the Chevron gas station. As the bus door huffs open, family and friends emerge from their parked trucks and cars and climb onboard. They chug coffee now and lug beer coolers for later.
This is the first pilgrimage to see Leighton Vander Esch play in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, who drafted the local legend in the first round of April's draft.