My Wyoming Road Trip, May 2007

You didn't even make it to Sheridan? Pfftt. You missed the best part.

This is the second forum I frequent that has people talking about Wyoming, both today. The back of my mind is screaming "SHH!! Be quiet!! It's a SECRET!"

Here's a little sample of the Tetons in winter:

Yup, Sheridan and Story are beautiful areas, Lew. I took my first CCW class ever through the Jackson PD and Teton County sheriff. They weren't CCW-friendly, they were extremely CCW-friendly. Great group of LEOs. Been a couple years (longer?) since I've seen Boysen, Travis, I guess they've had better run-off. If you make that loop trip, I'd sure head up to Dubois first, then over to Jackson and then down to Pinedale. You can enjoy that Teton view longer! Come up north back to Lander through South Pass City. Lots of people like the Pinedale area not for the town itself, but for how close it is to different points of interest. Nice pic, Str8Shooter.

Travis;

Lucky you; you didn't experience anything except a good stiff breeze. I grew up & lived in Casper for quite a while. I have literally, no hyperbole whatsoever, seen breaking whitecaps in my toilet bowl from the wind. Entire roof structures have been pulled off of houses by the wind. And then let's talk wind chill.

There's skiing on Casper Mountain, Hogadon Basin ski area. I was an alpine instructor at the ski school there for 21 seasons. The lifts have wind halos on the towers so's the chairs won't hit the towers if it starts to blow. I've seen -38 absolute up there with a chill factor bringing it down to -138, figure it out.

Did you get out to the Stuckenhoff range? Hope you did, that just may be the nicest public range in the country.

Live in Wyoming, fish in Wyoming. Live in Colorado, stay in Colorado.

900F

The nicest thing about Wyoming is that it puts a lot of distance between Montana and Colorado

Sodbuster....

You live in Gallatin Valley. You are in one of the nicest spots on earth. The only problem there now is the number of people who have moved into that valley. When I was young, it was a whole different place. Four Corners and Bozeman were not connected. There was open farmland between Belgrade and Bozeman. Springhill road was not overpopulated with Land Rovers.

I will be moving back there someday as we own land on the East Gallatin River but I dont know if I will like it as much.

Well, maybe Wyoming is the nicest place now...

oh, and if you want to get away from it all. Try north of Miles City MT. Whew. I felt like I was driving on the moon.

Yes, wyoming does have Summer, and much more of it the past few years than there used to be. I'll be moving north (Meagher County, MT) in two years becasue of the Summer in Lander.

Winters in parts of Wyoming may be tough, but the Lander Valley has been real mild the last few. 1978 was the worst Winter on record here, but it was nothing more than a "normal" Minnesota Winter ('78 was my second Winter here after moving from MN).

Boysen still has some water in the North end, but the casueway is now Boysen Meadows, as runoff has been so low for so long.

Wyoming has been a great place for over thirty years, but the growth and costs all over the state are starting to get out of control. I'll be going to a county about 2/3 size of Fremont County, but with 1900 residents in stead of 38000. May not be for everybody, but seclusion has it's benefits, I can always find people if I want them.

Had the distinct pleasure of being in Wyoming twice in my life. 1st time I hiked for a month in the Tetons/Yellowstone (Jenny Lake, Hermitage Point, all around Mt. Moran/Tetons and into Targee national forest). The 2nd time was primarily in Medicine Bow national forest on the southeast side of the state. I fished on the first trip and hunted on the second. As a New Yorker I can tell you that there is no more beautiful place on the face of the earth the the state of Wyoming. Cut-throats, and rainbow trout as large as your forearm and more game (Elk, moose, mulies, whitetails, marmonts, prarie dogs, antelope etc., etc.) than you could ever dare to shoot.

God was certainly having a banner day when he made that state.

PS - Montana and Idaho aren't too bad either...

I've never made it further into WY than the interstate, but that can be treacherous enough. Wyoming weather really demands attention be paid it, or you must suffer the consequences. Every winter, I-80 turns into a graveyard of 18-wheelers, seems like.

~~~Mat

Travis,

You've got my heart achin' with your tale. My brother and I have made two road trips to Wyoming to just wander around, 1982 and 1994. Covered much of the ground you did plus the Tetons, Yellowstone and in '94 we followed the Green River up from the dam at the bottom of the Flaming Gorge up to where it starts in the Wind River Range outside Jackson. I recall the PopoAgee (sp?) when it goes under the road makes quite a detour before popping up on the other side of the road. A fella told my brother and I that a dye was put in the water and it took a long time to come out the other side. I don't remember how long, though.

Swmbo and I have been talking about going back. I'd like to show her around. Now you've just intensified that desire. Maybe we'll go mid June.

Mrs ranger and I made a trip (our first) to Casper last February (06). -34 F.

I went back in October to hunt those little goat things that are everywhere.

I covered almost the same ground as you did Travis. Stopped in Thermop to do some swimming, on the 1st trip. That canyon is breathtaking indeed. Especially for guys from our neck of the woods. Tallest thing around here is an overpass.

I loved stopping to heed the call of nature, taking my time, and seeing no one in either direction. Kinda humbling when you think about it, slide your car in the ditch and it might be some time before someone comes along to help.

Did you notice that the folks were really nice there? I know that I did.

I'm going back in September to shoot some more tasty goats. Maybe buy some property too.

Boy Travis, your story sure brought back many good memories. As a kid, from '74-'82 I spent my summers hiking and camping in Wyoming with my uncle and cousin, great times.

Travis - Great write-up. Wyoming and Montana are the prettiest places I've been. If you go back and visit Yellowstone and the Tetons, check out the Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale. It's a very nice small museum - even have one of Jim Bridger's rifles.

One of the things that most impressed me in driving there was the lack of traffic. We would drive for 1 to 2 hours and not see another car. I asked one of the natives what happens if you have car trouble (this was before cell phones were so commonplace). "Aw, no problem. The first car to come along will stop to see if you need help."

Now, back to writing - I'm ready for Phil Carson and Bob Bullard to have at it.

Jim

Travis, you don't need a concealed carry license in Wyoming unless you conceal your pistol. Wyoming is an unlicensed open carry state.

I was there a few days ago and carried openly with no problems at all in Cody. I was in a bank, a hospital, a Walmart, and a few other businesses. Nobody cares or complains.

My wife and I visited Wyoming and Montana in '03 and '05, then I visited again in Oct '06 and February'07. Of course, my breath and my heart was taken away. It is the most beautiful, inspiring, and humbling place imaginable. I am amazed that their are folks who don't see God's hands in this "prettiest place I've seen in my life". I could never get it out of my mind.
My wife passed away a year and a half ago and she told me that I was to do all the things I had always wanted to do and if I wanted to move to Wyoming then I was to do it. Last Spring I camped my way to Wyoming and spent two months camping Wyoming and Montana. Did lots of fishing, hiking, kicking back against a boulder and looking, drinking in the fabulous scenes and the "big sky". In February of this year, after some soul searching I went back out (my son, d-i-l, and g'daughter live in Evanston) and committed to living out there. I found what I think is some great property (for me) outside of Kemmerer and since I couldn't really see it (about a foot of snow on it) I am going back out June 1 and look and likely buy somewhere around 10-35 acres.
I won't be in a hurry to build a cabin as I have some property situations here in Georgia to take care of, but build it I will.
BTW, the winters don't frighten me because I have been around some cold (Alaska for a few months in the Army) and I really look forward to the challenge. Can't hurt me.
Someone said that I shouldn't come if I want to change Wyoming. Well, no way in hell I would want to change that place. I really hope it changes me.
Wish me luck and come to see me about next summer.
Mike

I think you have to EARN Wyoming

Click to expand...

.


And after you have, and someone asks you: "Were it worth the trouble?"

You'll answer just like Jeremiah Johnson did: "Eh, what trouble?"

I'll have to agree with everyone else; we went out to Wyoming around Cody 3 years ago for an antelope and mule deer hunt. Having always been around the midwest, I now understand what "Big Sky" means. Absolutely amazing!

(And yes, I'm still saving up to go hunting again...)

You didn't even make it to Sheridan? Pfftt. You missed the best part.

Click to expand...

Lew!!! Hush!!!!

Trust me folks Sheridan, Story and Buffalo are awful! The winters are long and brutal, 40 below, windy all of the time and the mountains are MILES away! Nothing to see here. Just head on over to Jackson and Yellowstone and just avoid the Big Goose valley entirely.

Actually Lew is correct, the Sheridan/Buffalo area is very pretty. Great hiking and fishing in the summers (Thursday July 17 last year ). Hunting in the fall (almost a State Hioliday here) Snowmobiling and crosscountry skiing the other 364 days. The town of Sheridan is at about 3700 feeet above sea level and the terrain rises to 8,000+ within 15 miles and is above 13,000 feet within about 30 miles. We have a Shooting club west of town which is open to the public for $5 per day with Skeet, Trap, 2 high power rifle, 2 dedicated pistol, a 25 yrd general, and black powder ranges with one 25yrd indoor range. Checking in for a flight at the Sheridan County Airport you might hear the female agents argueing over which is a better round for Elk. The local ranch supply shop has a good selection of guns. And the last time I ran into a G&F officer we ended up talking about our favourite pistols for about 30 minutes along side of the edge of upper Rapid Creek. For all but a few 'guns' is not a four letter word up here.

Nope. Wyoming is miserable. It's a terrible place to live. Ya'll just can't move here. Bad wind, deep snow in oh, MAY(yes it snowed in Casper last week, while I was gone) droughts, wolves and all those flatland enviros, too far between towns to be civilized. Nope, nothing here to see. Move along now.

can you tell I like my privacy? I just did a road trip from Wyo to Ohio and I've never been happier to see NO cars on the road, no trees to block my view, and all the freedom a man(okay-WOMAN) could want. I want no one else to come and stay. Visit, play, come up and see me some time, but head back home.

Grinning. You can come if you bring your guns to play in my backyard!

Heather in Wyoming