Posted in Wyoming
November 01, 2018
12 Things No One Tells You About Surviving A Wyoming Winter
It’s starting already — plenty of Wyoming towns have seen their first snowfall of the year, and temperatures are beginning to plummet. Whether you’re a long time Wyomingite or new to the Cowboy State, here are a few things you’ve got to know about how to handle the upcoming Wyoming winter.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Or knitting, or tying flies, or any one of a number of warm and dry indoor hobbies. Winters are long here, and there's no sense in being bored all the time!
Whether you hate the snow or love the snow, you'll get the same amount of snow. Embrace our wild winters as one reason you love living out here, and the season will seem all the more pleasant.
While Wyomingites aren't big TV watchers — we prefer to spend time outside when we can — there's enough bad weather during the winter that you'll have plenty of hours to watch the latest season of Stranger Things or re-watch The Office for the fifteenth time.
As the late Yogi Berra once said, "it gets late early out there." Well, that's true for Wyoming. Long gone are the days of summer when the sun stayed up for hours. Our short, cold days mean you leave home in the dark and get home when the moon's finally peeking out.
What you wear through the winter is important. Skip cotton layers — they don't dry and you'll freeze in no time. Pick up some thick, wool stockings or hiking socks. If your feet stay dry and warm, you've got a shot at not being completely miserable outside.
A trip to Jackson is expensive any time of year, but it's worth a splurge to visit our resort city during Christmas. Take a sleigh ride in the Elk Refuge and pose for photos under the lighted antler arches. Christmas Village is in full force here all December long.
You'll need them to get down your driveway some days... but even if you luck out and don't need them to leave your house, you'll certainly need them for any outdoor adventuring once the snow begins to fall.
Trying to deal with Wyoming snow by hand is impossible. Buy a snowblower and make sure you've always got the gas to keep it going.
Some food, water, an emergency blanket, a radio, flashlights, flares, extra batteries... what else would you add to the list? Getting stranded in Wyoming is no joke, and in the winter, it can be deadly.
We can deal with 30 below, but with wind added in, some winter days can be just plain miserable. Don't check the temp, check the wind chill.
It would take a blizzard of enormous magnitude to shut down a Wyoming school. We're prepared for this weather, so leave "snow days" to those kids on the East Coast who get the day off when it flurries.
We live out here for a reason — and we truly love it.
How do you feel about Wyoming’s last few winters? According to the Farmer’s Almanac, we’re in for a Picture Perfect Winter this year. On the other hand, Albany County was just given the honor of Having The Worst Weather In America… so really, it could go either way. Bundle up and say goodbye to the grass and flowers — we’ll see them again in the spring!
