Wyoming is windy! Our Annual Wind Festival starts 1 January and ends 31 December. Wind speeds often exceed 40 mph and gusts sometimes reach 90 mph. If your tent is not properly tied down it will blow away or be damaged. Don't tow a travel trailer during a high wind warning. I've seen too many get flipped over by the wind. Just find a rest stop or truck stop and wait it out.
The Rockies are the backbone of North America, some of our mountains exceed 14,000 feet and they intercept weather fronts moving from west to east. The fronts tend to pile up on the Western Slope until spilling over the top. Storms increase in intensity and, once over the divide, move rapidly. It is not unusual for the mountains to receive snow even in July. The day can start out warm and sunny and quickly turn windy and cold. Windchill is a real danger in the mountains, always carry warm clothes to change into. Layer your clothes for warmth and as the day warms up you can remove excess layers. My personal experience has been that a fleece vest or sweater is warmer and less bulky than a wool garment. A knit hat is just the thing on a cold morning. You know the old saying "if your feet are cold, cover your head"? Well it works! (I'm not bald, I have advanced solar heating.)
Always carry plenty of water with you. At these altitudes you dehydrate quickly. Consider all backcountry water sources as contaminated, use a good filter or boil the water.
Remember to use a good sunscreen, there is less atmosphere to screen out the sun's rays. Use sunscreen even in the winter since snow will reflect the UV rays back at you, increasing your exposure.
Summer temperatures in the mountains generally range between 40 deg.F - 80 deg.F. The high plains can get as hot as 100 deg. F. Winter temperatures in the mountains run -20 deg.F - 35 deg. F. Windchills can reach as low as 50 deg.F BELOW zero during a blizzard. If your car gets stuck in a blizzard, STAY WITH THE CAR!. Run your engine to keep warm. Check the tailpipe every so often and make sure it is clear. The Wyoming Highway Patrol recommends that travelers carry a winter survival kit in their vehicles. The kit should include:
*blankets or sleeping bags
*some high energy food such as hard candy(peanut brittle works good and it keeps well)
*matches and some candles
*two coffee cans, a 1 lb. can and a 2 lb. can. You can make a stove from the coffee cans and the candle. Punch some holes in the bottom and top sides of the 1 lb. can. Light the candle and place it in the can. Place the 2 lb. can on top as a pot and you can use it to melt snow for water. Leave a window slightly open for fresh air. Check your tailpipe often to make sure that snow is not blocking it.
Wyoming winters can be brutal, it is not uncommon for the Interstates to be closed due to white-out conditions. If you encounter a white-out while traveling it is best to pull off on the side of the road and wait it out. Turn your flashers and lights on so other drivers can see you. If you can see the right side of the road you can proceed SLOWLY.
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