Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
steve shea
climber
|
|
|
May 20, 2015 - 02:13pm PT
|
Welcome to the Wyoming Wind Festival. Celebrated annually, Jan 1 to Dec 31. Oh, wait a minute, that is Farson. Some of the best fishing on the planet is west of Kaycee. There are two mom and pop ski areas in the Big Horns. loads of climbing. The magnificent Beartooth Highway where you can cram more sports into one day that just about anywhere. Take your skate skis up there for some fantastic crust cruising. It is windy but sailing and windsurfing has quite a following. And everything else said above.
|
|
johntp
Trad climber
socal
|
|
|
May 20, 2015 - 03:02pm PT
|
Welcome to the Wyoming Wind Festival. Celebrated annually, Jan 1 to Dec 31.
True but funny. That depends if it is a leap year.
edit: and the dudes in 4WD pickups think the 4WD works when they need to stop on snow/ice. Give them LOTS of space.
|
|
storer
Trad climber
Golden, Colorado
|
|
|
May 20, 2015 - 06:02pm PT
|
Karen, ignore the negativism about the wind. Having ridden most of the Wyo roads I can tell you to start your bike ride into the wind. Turn around and ride right back to the Wonderbar downtown for a burger and beers. Then ride home while you admire the Milky Way which maybe you've never seen.
|
|
the museum
climber
|
|
|
May 20, 2015 - 08:07pm PT
|
Karen good for you. Like Jaybro said - we'll be at the Tower, Vedauwoo, Rushmore and the Needles several times each this summer. Let us know if you care to meet up. We have plans for the Bighorns too.
Have fun!
the museum
|
|
Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
|
|
|
May 20, 2015 - 08:10pm PT
|
4 hours to Boulder? We'll have to have a Boulder-area Happy Hour when you get there! Join us!
|
|
Karen
Trad climber
So Cal urban sprawl Hell
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 20, 2015 - 09:46pm PT
|
Thanks everyone and appreciate all the beta.
What's the deal with having to plug in your engine when it is really cold, lol, clueless. Does it get so cold your engine won't start?
Crimper, look forward to meeting you along with the rest of you climbers!!!!!!
|
|
John M
climber
|
|
|
May 20, 2015 - 10:09pm PT
|
Hi Karen..
http://www.cars.com/articles/2014/01/tips-to-start-your-car-in-the-cold/
I'm not familiar with Wyoming temps, but cold can make it harder to start your car.
The cold makes the oil thicker, thus making it harder to crank the engine.
It also makes the battery less effective and it can freeze the other fluids in the car, especially if you don't have enough anti freeze in your radiator. Plus you windshield wiper fluids. Thats a different fluid then the radiator.
Some things to check or change..
A winter battery
Winter grade oil
New antifreeze in radiator with amounts set for the cold instead of the hot.
Antifreeze for your windshield wiper
All of these things are easy to check and to change.
As for plugging in your car, there are three things that one CAN get for ones car that need plugging in. A block heater, which keeps the engine block warm so easier starting. An oil pan heater, heats the oil, easier starting, and a battery warmer.
Which ones you need sort of depends on how cold it gets. You most likely don't need all three.
Let the experts in cold here guide you, I'm just providing some of the basics.
Welcome to Winter! :-)
Crimpie is a sweetie.. she will help you feel welcome up that way.
|
|
Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
|
|
|
May 21, 2015 - 12:14am PT
|
Can't wait to head back to WY this year. Have fun out there!
|
|
mcreel
climber
Barcelona
|
|
|
May 21, 2015 - 12:23am PT
|
Read some Annie Proulx stories to psyche yourself up. The times I've been in Wyo (Devil's Tower, Wind Rivers, Tetons, Sinks Canyon, 10 Sleep, Beartooth, Jellystone), normally in June, July and Aug., the horseshit and mosquitos were much more serious than the wind. I've always had a great time there, but I've never been out on the plains in winter...
|
|
Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
|
|
|
May 21, 2015 - 06:08am PT
|
Diss razor city (Gillette) all you want, but it has the small climbing wall Anywhere!! A simulation of Devils tower, by Eldorado walls, in the two story atrium foyer of the Campbell county rec center. 360° climbing open 5 am - midnight 365 days a year. The catch ( they have a couple of auto belays, btw) is that it costs four bucks!
Ps my main car right now is a Camry that lived in Gillett efor sixteen years, it has plug in block heater, and the drivers door is sprung, from the wind!
|
|
steve shea
climber
|
|
|
May 21, 2015 - 07:18am PT
|
My kids just got back from a typical WY climbing trip. 5 days, Sinks, DETO and Black Hills. Jackson High School Mountaineering Club. You gotta love a state where some of the School Districts offer climbing. They also do a Grand trip, COR, Sweetwater etc.
|
|
Captain...or Skully
climber
Boise, ID
|
|
|
May 21, 2015 - 07:57am PT
|
Stoked for ya, Karen. It's gonna be glorious!
|
|
Dick_Lugar_II
Trad climber
Casper, WY
|
|
|
May 21, 2015 - 09:11am PT
|
Actually, Casper has made some significant changes over the years. We now have 2 or 3 decent and legit Sushi options! That was unheard of 10 yrs. ago. It's odd though, for a town that has a major river running through it, there is NOT one restaurant built on it! Well, there was one, a hamburger joint on the river, overlooking the man-made whitewater park for kayakers to be exact, but it went out of business last year! Don't ask me how you can make a crappy hamburger, but they mastered it! Which brings up a strange phenomenon...it's hard to find a "good" hamburger or steak in this town! Don't ask me how or why, you'd think in a state that plays up the cowboy myth and free roamin' cattle that they'd know how to...but most restaurants fail at this seemingly easy task!..sigh.
But I digress, we're hear to talk about climbing and not food (although, being older and wiser, I find they go hand and hand). Karen...you'll love the climbing and x-country skiing (downhill not so much, but it ain't bad)! But, I'm not going to divulge ALL our climbing secrets. Half the fun is discovering those special, quiet, out of the way places on your own. Good luck and enjoy!
Btw Karen, what and where will you be working? I work on an oil rig...one of the last ones standing in the state! The depressed oil prices hasn't seem to lead to a mass exodus of "riff-raff" out of Casper though as I was hoping. I think oil field workers are holding out to see if the prices rebound soon. There does seem to be more houses for sell of late, but the prices still seem way overpriced to me. I'd wait a few more months to see if they come down once the reality of oil prices being sub $60 cause more people to flee. But, where will they go? There aren't many other places in the U.S. to go anymore for good paying, blue collar jobs, so I reckon' folks will stay here and find other jobs...just a hunch.
There are more rentals available it seems, and the prices seem to have dropped a bit. My wife and I were paying $1100/mo. for a 2-bedroom w/1 car garage last year thanks to the recent oil boom...outrageous compared to the 90's when I paid $200/mo. for a studio!!...ahhh...those were the days, living off a substitute teacher's salary and climbing at will!! ;)
P.S...My dad went to H.S. with both Dick and Lynn Cheney. According to my dad...he was even a "Dick" back then...no surprise there! lol
P.s.s. Hey Jaybro...that Devil's Tower replica looks sweet! Had no idea it existed...may have to give it a go soon! Cheers.
|
|
SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
|
|
|
May 21, 2015 - 09:21am PT
|
Don't forget to visit Yellowstone when you get a chance.
Knot much climbing, but wow, the scenery, wildlife (lions and tigers and bears, oh my)! hot springs, geysers, waterfalls, and the best, mudpots!
Have fun up there, Karen!
|
|
10b4me
Social climber
|
|
|
May 21, 2015 - 09:40am PT
|
^^^^+1
|
|
Brokedownclimber
Trad climber
Douglas, WY
|
|
|
May 21, 2015 - 10:40am PT
|
Karen-
There are always nay-sayers here on Super Topo, so just be prepared to form your own opinion of the City. There is definitely much to do in the area, and the climbing is pretty much related as to how far you consider driving. There's a Climbing Gym in town that I've visited on rare occasions. Some sandstone outcrops and a bit of granite are available on the Casper Mountain Road, although there have been access issues in the past. The pride of place is Fremont Canyon, with literally hundreds of routes available; a possible downside is a dearth of easier routes, but a myriad of good 5.10-5.12 climbs. Allow around 45 minutes to get there from Casper.I haven't kept up with Fremont route development since I actually live 65 miles from town on a ranch now. Branching out from there, Vedauwoo is about a 3-3 1/2 hour drive depending on the route taken. There's also climbing on Dome Rock. Vedauwoo is justifiably well known for OW climbs these days, but there are some tough face/friction routes as well. Not much is written about the Sweetwater Rocks area, maybe an hour and a half on Wyoming 220/U.S. 287, but there are some possibilities there. Jaybro has already mentioned the DT, which is ALWAYS worth the drive; allow 5 hours from Casper. Wild Iris, near Lander is a sport climbing area. Three and a half hours--maybe less. Boulder and Eldorado is a 4 1/2 hour drive. City of Rocks is a more lengthy trip of 8-8 1/2 hours. I haven't mentioned several of the smaller and less well known spots that offer decent rock.
Food and Culture:
Most national chains of fast food are represented (McD, Wendy's, Burger King, Dairy Queen, Taco Bell, Taco John, etc.) More upscale eateries are Olive Garden, Red Lobster, On the Border, Village Inn, Outback, etc. Better local places include Poor Boy's Steak House, and Armour's, but there are quite a few others.
For a real cowboy style "dive" with live music, don't miss The Beacon in Mills.
Casper College has a decent drama program with plays, and the Wyoming Symphony is a decent small city orchestra with frequent guest performers.
Medical care in the community is actually first rate, and there are more lawyers per capita than can be imagined.
Thus endith the Epistle...
BDC. Now I'll go back to lurking...
|
|
feralfae
Boulder climber
in the midst of a metaphysical mystery
|
|
|
May 21, 2015 - 11:23am PT
|
Karen,
Yes, if you are going to Billings (which is in Montana) on the interstate, you will go right past the place of the Battle of Greasy Grass, which is also in Montana. And as long as you are coming up this way.
Definitely go play in the Big Horns, check out Ten Sleep Canyon, the Sinks of course and all of the Winds.
If you are over around Laramie, it is worth the scenery to check out the Snowys. Of course, between Laramie and Cheyenne is that preferred playground for many. :)
Wyoming is just a great place to live, all over the state, and I even like Gillette, but not as well as Buffalo, Laramie, Lander or Dubois.
Gillette has a super restaurant, the Prime Rib, just off the interstate, which has great steaks and prime rib. :) Laramie has the Cavalryman out south of town, and Buffalo has a nice restaurant with a "weather rock" out front, but I don't remember the name of the place. The weather info is that if the rock is wet, it's raining. :)
And at some time, you'll get over to the other side of the Winds. There is a restaurant in Pinedale that has the BEST rhubarb/strawberry pie, made right there.
If you are coming up to the Helena Montana area, PM me and although I am not that much in the mountains these days, or even climbing, I can hook you up with some of the young climbers around here, all very super people.
I hope you have too much fun, and keep us posted on your adventures.
Climb on!
feralfae
|
|
Karen
Trad climber
So Cal urban sprawl Hell
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 21, 2015 - 01:18pm PT
|
Thanks guys & gals for all the info, it is really appreciated. Tomorrow I begin my drive and doing it over a three day span to somewhat enjoy the drive.
I will keep you'll updated!!!!
Karen
|
|
donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
|
|
|
May 21, 2015 - 05:17pm PT
|
Wyoming:
No State income tax
Highest per capita gun ownership
Lowest population density in lower 48
Most Pronghorn Antelope
Second in average height above sea level
Least likely State (along with Idaho and Utah) to vote for a democrat for president
Home of Dick Cheney!!!
|
|
Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
|
|
|
May 21, 2015 - 06:05pm PT
|
But I bet it legalizes Weed before Utah does!
And, Hot of the presses, well a couple months back...
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!