Wyoming?

[williamtii]

The girlfriend and I are headed to WY in early July to see some family. After that our plan is to drive around and see all that the high and wide has to offer.

Here is the plan: Rent Mountain Bikes and drive from Riverton WY to Jackson on route 26 riding and fishing and camping for free along the way. I am told that this is normal and completely doable. Where I am from (CT) it would not be without local knowledge or extreme creativity.

Is it true? Are there really no laws? Anyone familiar with the area?

[mrsleeve]

LOL well compared CT, your going to find the lack of constraints on what your allowed to do either unnerving or refreshing.....

Things to see in WY, Yellowstone/Teton National Parks, Jackson Hole is nice place to visit. Dont forget hit Devils Tower on the east side of the state.

Do your home work on what your going to want to do. There is only one way to really describe the amount of wilderness VAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You will have untold amounts of Forest service roads to explore in all the National Forests near there on both MT bikes and by car. There will likely be very spotty cell coverage once you get away form the main road and more than likely on a large portion of the main highway it self. Yup you can camp all over in on all that National Forest lands, when you hit the parks is when you will have to pay nightly fee..... There are still rules and regs about what you can do in some places an where might be closed to fishing or something, also maybe call the Offices for each of the Forests or parks or BLM regiones you will be in to get themost up to date closures and warnings a week or 2 before you set off. I would look into getting a good map of the areas in which you intend to do most of you hiking, biking and what not, with all the local F/S roads and preferably a good Topo map. Oh a few basic 1st aid supplies, a small thing of supper glue, and few feet of decent duct tape........

I have not been down in that area since I was much younger, but I live in an area that is very similar in climate, terrain and Vast amounts of undeveloped wilderness . But Remember your heading out into Several MILLION acres of NOTHING. You will need to be prepared for a lot of things if your going off the beaten path at all, even though you will likely run into a few people every couple of hours if you sticking to F/S roads or popular rides or hiking areas. Always have a some warmer clothing in your pack ,its the Rockies and it can and DOES get cold at night even in the summer time....... even on a short planed couple hour hike or day hike have something warmer with you, some food and water. I would also carry something to make water drinkable and at least 2 ways to make fire, a decent knife (or 3) , and good mulitool is highly recommended as well as a dozen or more feet of 550 para cord. BEAR SPRAY is a 100% must if your heading out into the back or front country, for BOTH OF YOU, a decent compas and knowing the basics of how to use is a good idea as well, even if you have a good GPS system those can fail, batteries go dead and shit happens There is lots of shit out there that can and will try to eat ya, not likely to be an issues but its still a must have.

This all the shit that just lives in my pack, or the emergency bag I keep in my truck in case I end up somewhere and having to hoof it back to someplace more civilized. You dont really need lots of local intel (other than maybe fishing holes), just some good preparations, planing, and some advance research about where your going. Hell that takes a lot of the adventure out of something like this. Hell last week I was 15 miles into the back country parked at the snow line hiking/snow shoeing in a couple of places I have never been to before. Even though I have been on the other side of draw, or top of mountain on the back side, just so I could see it and for the adventure..... I even trimmed a lot out my pack for day hikes would have made for a long night if we had gotten turned around some place or had an injury, *crosses fingers* never happened so bad to result in a unintentional over night out, but have gotten back to the tuck a bit latter than planed on occasion before ;)

Much of the items I have listed above you can put in a couple of zip lock bags, it will take up less room in your pack than you think it will. If you both are going to be carrying a pack even if its a small day pack, split it up between you and its even less in a small pack.


Oh what kind of camping/woodsy/back country experience do either of you have. IF your planing on camping a bunch it might behoove you to do a couple of camping nights at home before you leave even if its at a local camp ground to get an idea of other things your going to want or how to pack for your trip..... Its going to be a great trip and experience you will remember for a long time, but mother nature is a unforgiving bitch, if you screw up!!!! We lose people in the back country every year around here some with very extensive survival training and back country experience, some just city people looking for adventure and biting off a bit more than they could chew.

I guess if you take nothing more than this away from this long ass post: Is the wilderness is still a dangerous place, especially if you underestimate it, are ill prepared, and over confident of your "luck" and your own skill sets.....

[MF DOOM]

Yeah, pretty much what sleeve said. Be prepared for anything. I woke up just now and theres snow on the ground. And im only at 5000 feet. You should be good as far as snow in july (Note i said should) but pack warm stuff just to be safe. You should stop and check out the big horns as well. One of my favorite places in the state. Yellowstones cool and you should see it just because but theyve kinda gone all bureaucrat on it.. "Dont go off the path, can only camp at certain camp grounds, blah blah."

Ive actually never made it to Jackson so I cant tell you much about that.. I hear its beautiful though. and expensive. If youre in Riverton you might as well hit the casino. Pretty sure theres that and bars there. The north eastern part of the state is really nice and I always enjoy driving through there. They did have a fire a few years back though and I dont think everything has recovered yet. If you make it to Shoshone (a patch of about 20 buildings on the 26) stop and grab a malt. Maybe hit Thermopolis and hit the hot springs and check out some buffalo. Id highly recommend you see the hot springs. Coming from Riverton you drive through a really nice twisty canyon.

[einhander]

Is Wyoming where they filmed Brokeback Mountain?

Dick Cheney is from there.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Where at in Wyoming will you be? Wyomings a pretty boring state.

[einhander]

Isn't it full of aliens?

Like, space ones.

[z31maniac]

Where at in Wyoming will you be? Wyomings a pretty boring state.

Says the guy in Omaha.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Wyoming?

Says the guy in Omaha.

Believe me both these states suck there isn't shit here. That's why I'm moving to SoCal after I finish school. The Midwest sucks nothing but corn and rusty ass cars.

[gwb72tii]

my home state

driving my e92 home to the PNW from Colorado, pulled out in front of a Subaru and an f150 from the side of the road. they were a long way off when I pulled out and found out quickly they were buzzing along at a cool 105 mph. Like it was no big deal, and it wasn't really.
probably the best roads in the country. the two lane main lines are wide and smooth so 100 mph works.
most conservative state in the country, and I think the least populated.
as with Colorado, don't go down dirt roads without an invite. lots of folks that don't want to be found.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Everything I'd say has been said, but, I'd suggest, for the length you speak of to think about a trailer on one of the bikes, maybe you can pull the majority of the gear and let the gf ride unencumbered.

[ST1G]

The only law is have a better gun than every one else.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

my home state

driving my e92 home to the PNW from Colorado, pulled out in front of a Subaru and an f150 from the side of the road. they were a long way off when I pulled out and found out quickly they were buzzing along at a cool 105 mph. Like it was no big deal, and it wasn't really.
probably the best roads in the country. the two lane main lines are wide and smooth so 100 mph works.
most conservative state in the country, and I think the least populated.
as with Colorado, don't go down dirt roads without an invite. lots of folks that don't want to be found.

That is one of the great things about being in the middle of no where. When I drive to go see family it's all two lane highway with zero cops. So you can cruise around 100 no problem sometimes you'll see a cop doing the same to haha

[QUKBMER]

Believe me both these states suck there isn't shit here. That's why I'm moving to SoCal after I finish school. The Midwest sucks nothing but corn and rusty ass cars.

LOL

[ThatOneEuroE30]

LOL

tis true I'm going to school for mechanics once I'm done with that i wanna move to socal and work for Bmw specialty shop.

[Farbin Kaiber]

tis true I'm going to school for mechanics once I'm done with that i wanna move to socal and work for Bmw specialty shop.

Ya know, EVERY car in SoCal is either a BMW or a Prius, right?