Winters in Wyoming? (Sheridan, Jackson, Buffalo: ski resort, house, school)

[ElkHunter]

Jehu, you asked some very good questions but I thought I would start a new thread instead of plugging up the picture thread.

Winters? In Wyoming? Yeah, it get's cold. The wind blows. Blow's hard. Ever seen an Elk shivver?

We haven't had a bad winter in a long time. People say that last winter was bad. hahaha Those Floridians don't understand. Last winter we had a few inches of snow, a few times. We didn't have anything below zero.

Let me bring in your reality. I've seen a February that -32 was the high temp for the month. Yes, 32 degrees below zero was the high. Feb of 93. Anybody remember the 83 of 83? 83 inches of snow over a 48 hour period. We drove our snowmobiles to work, 19 miles out to Decker Coal cause you just weren't going to get around with a simple 4 wheel drive.

We went to work out at Decker one December Morn. Had to shut down operations because it was -58 by noon. Couldn't keep heaters in the tent running. We shut down and went home. The seat in my truck shattered like I was setting on tator chips.

So, winters in Wyoming? They are unbelievable. Rabbit hunting, snow mobileing. 4 wheeling. Put on your Carharts and head out side. I've heard the snow crack because it was cold. I fell in the crick. I've built a snow shelter and a fire and was comfortable. Ever killed a deer so you could crawl into the carcus and stay warm? I'm telling you, when it gets bad, the old hunting regs go out the window, if you have one. You survive the best way you can.

But you know what? Those were the good years.

[Clay Lady]

Elkhunter, I can't imagine that cold! Which is why I am not a resident during the winter months.

[shadowwalker]

I have been out when the Pine trees started spliting at the trunks and limbs falling off of some. Because the temps were cold. I have seen trout freeze before you could haul them 20 feet out of the water dishing at the dam. I have seen it so cold you could throw a hot cup of coffee, up in the air. And feel the "brown snow" falling down on your face. But this was many,many years ago. But I still have had the doors freeze up when I tried to get back in the pickup after going to the mall when it was cold. That was just in 2004.

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by shadowwalker

I have been out when the Pine trees started spliting at the trunks and limbs falling off of some. Because the temps were cold. I have seen trout freeze before you could haul them 20 feet out of the water dishing at the dam. I have seen it so cold you could throw a hot cup of coffee, up in the air. And feel the "brown snow" falling down on your face. But this was many,many years ago. But I still have had the doors freeze up when I tried to get back in the pickup after going to the mall when it was cold. That was just in 2004.

hahahahaha That was funny. I've pulled in some trout that were stiff before I got them in.

I have poured hot coffee on my ......>.To get it to drain water. Woops, didn't say that out loud did I? hahaha

I've heard trees crack because of the cold.

[jehu]

I appreciate you starting this thread Elkhunter.

For many years, I have said that I HATE winter. I think it started when I spent one winter in San Diego, CA in Navy A school, and then the next winter on the equator aboard ship. I lost all cold tolerance, and when I visited home in Michigan, the only thing I could do is sit by the wood stove.

I have toughened back up some since then. Here in TN we have cold winters too. They are just not as long or as gloomy as in Michigan. In Michigan, they have the lake affect that makes the skies overcast in winter. You don't see much sun from November to March. Not to mention cold, cold, cold, dark, ugly, and oppressively gloomy. The cold complicates life. Cars don't start, the well freezes, and things seem to break more often. The pain of the cold the cuts you to the bone keeps you inside as much as possible. When it thaws, it is mud and still cold.

How does Wyoming compare? I would say you probably don't have the lake affect with constant gloomy skies. Perhaps your cold is less humid (though I know that cold is cold). Perhaps you have a greater variance in day to day temperature? Maybe the environment and scenery make it more tolerable? I am hoping all the above apply and maybe you could add a few more things to make winter in Wyoming a little more positive than how it is in other places.

Thanks

[Kristynwy]

This is a very interesting post I have heard several stories about the 83 of 83... Never quite experienced that much snow or cold... But expected that may happen, even up in the banana belt of Sheridan/Buffalo haha

I keep hearing we are due for a heavy winter... will be interesting to see what this winter is like.

[HighlandLady]

I remember 1983...what is impressed onto my memory most were the amounts of cattle, antelope, and deer pinned against the fences, frozen stiff. It was horrid. Between the amounts of snow and the winds, they didn't have a chance and the snow-fences were moot.
Windchills were horrible. There have been a few instances since then when the windchills have been mind-boggling. Last winter, we were ice-fishing on the Pathfinder and it was almost 30 below windchill factor. Caught some lovely fish - and they froze fairly rapidly.

[MRVphotog]

Weather can be very diferent in diferent parts of Wyoming. Sometimes it can be similar, too. While last winter might have now brought much snow to the Bighorns in northwest Wyoming it was a near record snowfall. Jackson reported over 400" in the valley, over 500" at the ski resort last winter.

I remember a cold winter in the early 80's. I was living in a cabin so old it was on the Jackson's historical tour and there was a plaque outside. No central heat but a awesome Vermont Castings stove and about 5 cords got me thru just fine. It was alot of hard work too.

The winter started cold, in the last two weeks of October, yup, October, high was -20F, low was -40F. There wasn't alot of snow on the ground so many pipes froze up. It seemed that winter the real cold temps were in 2 week increments.

New Year's Eve was -59F, that's air temp, not wind chill. Personally I think the wind chill temps are hype the weather people came up with. It only matters if your naked. No one paid much attention to wind chill back then.

Wierd things happen to your vehicle. Strange noises, my speedomter would spin until the vehicle warmed up...sort of. One morning I was driving to work and my engine seezed up. The gasket on the oil pump leaked the cold air into the oil pump, so no oil, engine seezes. I just heard on the radio from a gal in Wilson that the air temp was -51F. Hello, new engine.

Plugging the engine in at night back then was a given, you did it every day, every winter. It was usually bright and sunny on those cold days, that did help abit in the afternoon.

I lived in that cabin for 12 years. I am now always prepared for cold weather. Now when we get some cold weather in northern Vermont some people really go nuts. The older farmers in Vermont, their prepared too.

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by MRVphotog

Weather can be very diferent in diferent parts of Wyoming. Sometimes it can be similar, too. While last winter might have now brought much snow to the Bighorns in northwest Wyoming it was a near record snowfall. Jackson reported over 400" in the valley, over 500" at the ski resort last winter.

I remember a cold winter in the early 80's. I was living in a cabin so old it was on the Jackson's historical tour and there was a plaque outside. No central heat but a awesome Vermont Castings stove and about 5 cords got me thru just fine. It was alot of hard work too.

The winter started cold, in the last two weeks of October, yup, October, high was -20F, low was -40F. There wasn't alot of snow on the ground so many pipes froze up. It seemed that winter the real cold temps were in 2 week increments.

New Year's Eve was -59F, that's air temp, not wind chill. Personally I think the wind chill temps are hype the weather people came up with. It only matters if your naked. No one paid much attention to wind chill back then.

Wierd things happen to your vehicle. Strange noises, my speedomter would spin until the vehicle warmed up...sort of. One morning I was driving to work and my engine seezed up. The gasket on the oil pump leaked the cold air into the oil pump, so no oil, engine seezes. I just heard on the radio from a gal in Wilson that the air temp was -51F. Hello, new engine.

Plugging the engine in at night back then was a given, you did it every day, every winter. It was usually bright and sunny on those cold days, that did help abit in the afternoon.

I lived in that cabin for 12 years. I am now always prepared for cold weather. Now when we get some cold weather in northern Vermont some people really go nuts. The older farmers in Vermont, their prepared too.

One word. Experience. You got that word down pat, your living life.

[shadowwalker]

I like the days with no wind, below freezing temps, and no clouds. It seems like I am the only one "being". I see with unbelievable clarity, crisp views of everything. And the silence......deafining. Then that lone sound from something or some critter,seems like it will carry for miles.
Oh, and if I am not out of the city. You soon get the "bong,bong,bamm" of a boombox or loud pipes on a vehicle. Then it brings me back to reality. But it was good to feel the other way for awhile.
I like winter in wyoming. It gives me house time with my wife or I get to catch up on some projects, honey do's, puruse catalogs, plan garden and such for next year. On the outside I get to hunt, ice fish, maybe take a trip with my wife somewhere. We really like to visit the hot springs in Thermop for a day or maybe two. And then theres the trips to Billings or Deadwood doing the tourist thing. I am looking forward to visiting the casinos on the Wind River Rezzzzz.
I might even limit myself to a whole FIFYT BUCKS each day!!!!! But that will be on for the first visit only. I aint made of money, ya know..