Author Topic: Winds in Wyoming  (Read 5917 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline rickmasoni

Winds in Wyoming
« on: March 08, 2011, 01:01:57 am »
I am planning to cycle from Astoria, OR to Glenwood Springs CO this summer. I am asking for input about the best direction to cross Wyoming as far as winds are concerned. I can start in Colorado and cycle west if the winds would be more favorable. Anyone done this section of the Transamerica?  I would appreciate any help.

Offline John Nelson

Re: Winds in Wyoming
« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2011, 09:55:42 am »
While in general across the country, surface winds are not consistent and vary by season, I think most people find winds in Wyoming in the summer to favor west-to-east travel. When I did the TransAm last summer, however, there was really only one day that this factor was significant, and that was the day from Lander to Dubois. I think most people find headwinds when going upstream along the Wind River.

I am not, however, suggesting that winds favor either direction of travel across the entire TransAm route. My wind study found that overall the winds were neutral.

Offline valygrl

Re: Winds in Wyoming
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2011, 10:02:01 am »
Eastbound is better.  Wind in WY in the Tetons-Rawlins area is generally from the northwest, calm until maybe 9:00am, then picks up and strengthens over the course of the day, dies off again very late afternoon.  I northwest-boundedthat stretch a few years ago, it was brutal.

Also, if you use the Lewis and Clark and head out the Columbia River Gorge, the west wind is phenomenal.  I did that on a different trip, really liked it.  Haven't done the TA route.

Offline litespeed

Re: Winds in Wyoming
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2011, 10:32:23 am »
Valygrl is right. I crossed Wyoming westward a few years ago on US26 and fought some ferocious headwinds. I had to take rest days in Casper and Dubois. I really wished I was going in the opposite direction. On the other hand, I crossed northern Wyoming westward over the Bighorns to Yellowstone once and had no trouble with the winds. 

Offline Pat Lamb

Re: Winds in Wyoming
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2011, 03:42:08 pm »
The worst day on our tour was the day we ran into 50 mph headwinds from Rawlins to Sweetwater Crossing.  Strangely, the people we met coming east complained they had headwinds the whole way through Wyoming.

Check out the NOAA web site at http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/downloads/climate/windrose/ -- if you follow the links to Wyoming, and Lander (which is the only city on the TransAm), it looks like most of the winds are cross-winds, with substantial SW and a hefty helping of NW winds.

Now that I've demonstrated the answer is, "it depends," if this is the only area you're worried about winds, it might be easier going generally downstream in the Wind and Sweetwater river valleys.  Otherwise, pick a direction, ride, and remember you're having fun!