If you love Wyoming, you better love different seasons. Sometimes you can enjoy all four seasons in one day. Especially during this time of year.

By the way, was that not just about the nicest September-October fall in Wyoming’s history?  Wow.

Here in mid-November, it is still usual to wake up to chilly weather, suddenly feel the sun come out or a Chinook-type wind warm up the place, then a big cloudbank appears, and by nightfall, a wet snow is falling.

This is common in all corners of Wyoming from Newcastle to Evanston and from Cheyenne to Powell. And everywhere in-between — including Worland, Greybull, Rawlins, Rock Springs, Kemmerer, and Riverton. 

This is the kind of fall when you might run your furnace and your air conditioner on the same day. 

Veteran Wyomingites wear layers – you start out in jeans and sweaters and by mid-afternoon, you are down to a short-sleeved shirt . . . sometimes even shorts.

I know two guys, my son-in-law Jerry Johnson, a PE teacher,  and Methodist Preacher Mark Calhoun, who try to wear shorts year-around. And they almost always pull it off.

Convertible Weather?

Guys like me who love our old convertibles just keep trying to get one more day of top-down weather before giving up. My late friend Dave Kellogg drove his VW top down while wearing a parka and big hat for years as he tried to stretch out the sunny season. And it worked.

My wife Nancy gets frustrated when we run errands because I insist on putting the top down on our ancient 2002 convertible.  She thinks it’s cold and it messes her hair. My excuse: “This might be my last chance to drive with the top down. Sit back and enjoy!”

The above story reminds me of when I was attending a Greater Yellowstone Coalition event in Cody and managed to get loose from the activities early.  I had always wanted to drive through Yellowstone Park in a convertible with the top down. So off I went.

I wrote about this trip in a recent column. I liked the ending: “It appeared that I had experienced all of Wyoming’s seasons during this trip.  It was sunny when I left Cody. It was cold and windy throughout the park with rain spitting.  As I left the National Park area and headed over Togwotee Pass, it even snowed a bit.

Must Love Seasons

Back in the mid-1980s, Wyoming suffered a terrible bust and Lander was hit the hardest of any town in the state. We lost 2,500 good-paying iron and uranium mining jobs. It was awful. 

As president of the local economic development group, The Leader Corporation, I dreamt up the idea of recruiting retirees to our town. 

We had 600 homes in foreclosure, a wonderful climate (least windy place in the Rockies), and wonderful medical care.

In our nation-wide promotion, I wrote up a brochure selling the benefits of Lander. But I said we were looking for “vigorous” retirees. This was not for the Sun City crowd. The ads also said “Must Love Seasons.”

By the end of the first year, we had 99 of those homes sold and we were on our way.

IBM and the military were both laying off large numbers of workers and we focused on these folks plus anyone else we could attract. The idea was that it was impossible for us to lure a $6 million business to town, but if we could recruit 200 people, each with an annual retirement of $30,000, it would mean the same.

An added bonus was that most of these folks had the time, talent, and inclination to get involved in the community. They contributed greatly. 

Weather Will Get Colder 

Despite this wonderful fall weather, we all know that it is going to end soon. Thanksgiving can often be brutal, especially for folks trying to home for the holidays. 

It is good news that the national government just reopened, which will make flying more practical to a lot of people.

My tips for people this time of year consists of three things:

1.   Wear layers and throw in a stocking cap. Wear dry shoes or boots.

2.   Always carry an emergency kit in your car – a big blanket, some bottled water, some trail mix or cookies or other snacks. Make sure you have a good scraper and a functioning flashlight.

3.   When you take a trip, always leave early. If possible, watch the weather and try to travel in nice weather and despite the short days, drive as little as possible at night. And watch for our poor deer on the road.

Bill Sniffin can be reached at: Bill@CowboyStateDaily.com