Need Change & WY looks great!

[Brian_M]

Do you Want to drive that much? The smarter looking route is:

Spearfish, Gillette, Buffalo, Sheridan, Greybull, Powel, Cody, Greybull, Basin, Worland, Tensleep, Worland, Thermop, Shoshoni, Riverton, (Lander.. heh, sorry, you've got to make the side trip.... I'm biased), Casper, etc...

That gets you to the towns, allows you to see the area (though cutting out some of the sights), do the least driving and giving you more time for making a quick evaluation of the towns.

For the dog, I don't see any issues. I've done similar with mine. LOTS of places in Wyoming (businesses) are dog friendly so you can bring your pup with you.

Personally, I think you'll be rushing it a bit with only 2 weeks. But I understand that most people can't just take indefinate and unlimited time to explore. That's one of the things I'm looking forward to gaining this summer (quitting my job, heading to Alaska for the summer, then no plans.. or home, after that).

Map:

fromallas to:Spearfish, SD to:Buffalo, WY to:sheridan, wy to:Greybull, wy to:Powell, WY to:Cody, WY to:Greybull, WY to:Ten sleep, WY to:Thermopolis, WY to:Shoshoni, WY to:Riverton, WY to:Casper, WY toenver, CO toallas, TX - Google Maps

Or, skipping Casper if you want, and adding Lander:

fromallas to:Spearfish, SD to:Buffalo, WY to:sheridan, wy to:Greybull, wy to:Powell, WY to:Cody, WY to:Greybull, WY to:Ten sleep, WY to:Thermopolis, WY to:Shoshoni, WY to:Riverton, WY to:Lander, WY toenver, CO toallas, TX - Google Maps

[Alpphy]

Thanks Brina_M! Lucky you - I'd love to take longer but I am in the middle of several huge projects at work and do a fair amount of travel for work (always headed back in the wrong direction, though) What will you be doing in Alaska for the summer?

But who knows what summer may hold - I am trying to down size my life considerably and maybe I'll end up having a summer to play. Hard to think of up and leaving my job but I fear if I don't start looking at my ultimate goals in life they will get pushed back to the corner just like they have so far.

It is a lot of travel (I did add Riverton to get down to Lander :-) But I do like to drive and bringing my dog with me will make the trip a bit more interesting I am sure! Thank you for the Maps, - I will save them to my google maps. I think skipping Casper will work, I can always take another trip and do it by air this time to hit some of the "bigger" towns.

Thanks again! This gives me a good idea of the trip and I can fill in the holes with camp sites and hotels.

Any must see areas in Lander?

[NVDave]

Originally Posted by sunbelt

why is it so windy in WY?

Dan

OK, an attempt at a serious answer to why it is so windy in Wyoming:

Wyoming has topological features that channel the natural winds created by the habit of the jetstream dropping south/southeast out of Canada being pushed east/northeast by the more stable airmasses over the Great Basin.

Here's more on the subject than you might want to know, but it gives a good understanding of the subject:

Have a look at Figure 3 in this paper:

http://ams.allenpress.com/archive/15...21-12-1815.pdf

That big "bubble" over Nevada is why Nevada is so dry and the air in Nevada is generally very stable. Having lived in both central Nevada and Wyoming now, I can tell you that Wyoming has much more variable weather, much higher ranges of wind, much more unpredictable weather in general. Now, combine that with the topology of the mountain ranges and elevations in Wyoming, and you can get some wind velocities that can blow railcars off the train tracks.

[GEORGIAINMT]

I think your idea of seeing as much as you can is awesome, and I think it would be doable if you don't spend too much time in any one place. A few years ago I flew into Raleigh, NC, visited a friend there for a couple of days, then rented a car for a week and drove by myself all over NC and part of SC, then back to Raleigh to see my friend again being flying back home. It was wonderful! I didn't take the interstate except for one very short part of my route after dark one night. It was so interesting to see the little towns....everything from mountain to seaside towns. Having never been there it was such an adventure. So I see your trip here as that kind of adventure! I would do some research on all the towns you'll be passing through and see if there is anything in particular in each town you really want to see. That way you can sort of plan to spend more time in some places than in others. Travel during good weather is pretty fast in Wyoming. Lots of wide open spaces, not a lot of traffic, etc. Have fun planning!!!!

[lovetheword]

Alpphy I moved here to Jackson Hole ,Wy I love it, My wife is from just north of you in OK or 1/2 hr from springtown,TX she love it here to. The people here are so nice. many things to do. It's the life style most can't do.... If you love the city life. it's not really here. even the largest cities here are small towns in TX. but people help others here. the last of the true cowboys....

[Froggie Legs]

Originally Posted by Alpphy

It is a lot of travel (I did add Riverton to get down to Lander :-)

Any must see areas in Lander?

Sinks Canyon! The Sinks is a natural wonder of the area...where the river flows into the mountains 1 mile upstream of where it emerges into a large trout filled pond below. If you check out the Lander Chamber of commerce online they have photos/postcards of some of the local sites. Also it's worth the drive on the Baldwin Creek road loop to see the beautiful red rimmed rock formations. If you have time I'd recommend a trip up into the mountains but not sure if the roads would be open yet in May? was it?. If it is there's a loop road through Sinks canyon that ends up coming out near South Pass City, and the Red Canyon Red Rock Canyon, Wyoming - Picture - MSN Encarta
which is breathtaking to stand on the edge of.

Food suggestions: Breadboard sub shop in Lander is the best in the area.. beats the chain places for certain. Gannet Grill for more of a sit down eatery complete with bullet holes in the original tile ceiling! *(when I lived there it was alleged that Jesse James visited that bar/restaurant but who knows.) (hope that's not considered advertising <g>)

Here's a suggestion.. the Riverton chamber of commerce sends out a free relocation package (or at least they did send one to me last year free, whereas Lander's had a charge, I believe). .. anyway, they sent along a map of that area and "diving tours". Hope this helps.

I know there's supposed to be a rock formation with white topped limestone? that kind of look like mushrooms near the area but I never got around to seeing them so I'm unsure. Perhaps the Lander native can tell you.