In June I'll be flying in the Rawlins, WY area, arriving from Spearfish, SD, on a cross-country. Seeking any insight from those that fly this area. Insights on terrain, morning vs. afternoon weather patterns/winds, and any advice would be appreciated.
(Operating a M5 Maule with O-540)
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"Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of 80, and gradually approach 18."
- Mark Twain

MS Pirate wrote:In June I'll be flying in the Rawlins, WY area, arriving from Spearfish, SD, on a cross-country. Seeking any insight from those that fly this area. Insights on terrain, morning vs. afternoon weather patterns/winds, and any advice would be appreciated.
(Operating a M5 Maule with O-540)
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"Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of 80, and gradually approach 18."
- Mark Twain

Coming from where you live there is a 100% chance of headwinds out here and 75% of them chance going home. From Spearfish to Rawlins will be scenery like you have never seen before.. Look down and you will swear dinasours are still roaming the earth.. Fly in the mornings only ,if you can , smoother and safer. If the ridgetop winds exceed 30 mph stay far away from mountains. If the tops of the hills are obscured by clouds stay the hell away from them... IMHO.

Have fun.....

You would think June would be nice in southern Wyoming I mean after all it's not Texas, is well North and there are mountains and such... I know I did last year on my way to Johnson Creek from Oklahoma...and just to prove what an idiot I was for thinking that nowhere can be that rough all the time, I came back the same way! Most important lesson, and I don't care how high up you are, don't fly over or anywhere near the sand dunes unless you want a thermal that will send you to the moon (even in the morning)!

If I have to go that way this year I'll be seeing the sun come up while flying!

Definitely fly early, I've gotten the s*** kicked out of me by some bad turbulence flying in the afternoon around here. I'll be flying right by Rawlins next week on my way to CA, I'm going to be taking off at sunrise so hopefully it's smooth.

I flew in early a few years ago and when I went to leave, the wind was 37kts. We were loitering around, hoping for the wind to back off a little and the fuel kid questioned us about it. When we told him we were waiting for the wind to calm down a little, he suggested we leave before it got "bad." We did, ground roll in a 182 was about 100 feet and the trip home Northbound was at about .99 Vne.

Going to RWL..just be ready for some wind...or a lot of wind. Stopped there coming and going the last 4 years to ID..the lowest I've seen is 18 knots. I agree about the sand dunes..stay the hell away. Your best bet is early in the morning..oh and by the way..a little south of your path is Elk Mountain...stay well away from it, especially if there are much for winds in the area..it will kick your ass! (Elk Mountain is a large sloped moutian from the west, SE of Rawlins. If your fly by it on the east side when the wind blows, be ready for a ride.)

So, when is it not windy in WY?? Ahhh, not too often I've trucked across I-80 in WY a bunch of times. I can't remember when I didn't hit much wind.

My first rip through was back in 1987 during the winter. That was the longest 400 sum miles I've ever driven. I can see "United Van Lines" in my mirror about the whole way across that state. And no, I'm not talking about another trailer in the lane next to me. It was mine

One other time running across I-80 in WY. I must have counted about a half dozen rigs flipped on their sides around the Elk Mountain area

Be careful out there.

Thanks for all the info.
I'll take my camera and all the recommendations given.

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"I've been on the verge of being an angel all my life, but it's never happened yet..."
-Mark Twain