My Wyoming Road Trip, May 2007

[Agent 006 &7/8]

I was up hiking into the Big Horn Mountains to do a little flyfishing a couple of summers ago when I met a NYFD firefighter on the trail. During the conversation he notice (with a GASP and a point ) that I had a 1911 on my right hip. He proceeded to tell me that guns were illegal in a National Forest, that I should take it off and store it in my truck back at the trailhead. I tried to explain that 1) this is Wyoming; 2) open carry is legal for all in Wyoming (permits required for concealed); 3) Guns are legal in National Forests; 5) Hunting is legal in National Forests thus guns; and 6) This is WYOMING! He repeated that guns were illegal and that I MUST disarm. I just smiled, waved and headed uptrail. Several hours later I was coming back out and ran into a G&F officer. After discussing how I'd faired with the trout (not bad) he asked, chuckling, if I'd run into a New Yorker earlier. I admitted that, yes, I had and asked what had happened. Apperently the NYC'er encountered the officer and informed him that "There's guy with a gun up the Lake Angeline trail!" The officer asked if I had threaten him, and after insuring that there were no criminal actions he tried, in vain, to explain that in Wyoming carring a gun is legal, ethical, moral, and expected. That guns are about a plentiful as hiking boots, cowboy hats and pickup trucks. They went back and forth for a while about the legal status of armed citizens to no avail. Finally the NYC'er threw his hands up and said, "I can't believe this crazy state, I'm going home where is safe!" Boy, did we get a hugh laugh out of THAT statement!

 

[Joey]

A armed civilian right down the street a mile from my house... OMG. . Do you ever enter the store...do the employees give you a second look? I have not opened carried in Cheyenne yet, but do out on the prairie and up and the hills. Applied for my CWP back on the 6th.

Well, technically speaking I was not a "civilian" since I was active duty at the time

Never entered the store, just filled up the truck & left after waving to the SO when he pulled up and gave me the once over BEfore I retired and got busy I was a member of the local SASS club & ya should have seen the looks I got walking down the street dressed in 1880 style garb & armed with 2 Ruger Vaquero's

Had been shooting at the rage that was once behind where the Love's truck stop now is. Wonder how many people would have had a heart attack if they knew there was a small range right alongside I25

My CCW took about 95 days even though the state statue says 90 days max., but since we had PCS'd from Minot and WY honors ND's CCW I was still legal

 

[bl4ckd0g]

Wyo needs more THR folks

I'm getting worried that Wyoming is starting to be overrun by front range liberals from the Denver and Boulder area. Wyoming seems to have a healthy job market, still a somewhat reasonable real estate market, and the young kids still address you as "sir" or "ma'am" and act usually act politely.

I am listing my home for sale in Casper, but I am certainly not moving out of Wyoming (I could be convinced to move to UT, MT or the Dakotas, but screw CO.)

Besides, I'd like more free range brass to pick up at Coal Mountain.

 

[Joey]

Agent 006 &7/8, we (wife, kids and I) were up in Buffalo couple years back walking around the Wagonbox battle grounds.

Ran across a older couple from Canada (same town as the wife is from) and they about had a hear attack as I was open carrying a 1911 in a Blade Tech holster. She had to explain it to them several times that I was not a LEO, but just a gun owner legally carying a pistol.

Finally the only way she could get them to understand was by saying "he's just a American living in a Cowboy state and reliving his Cowboy childhood"

Couple months ago we were back up in Sheridan for a kids state bowling tournament & I was carrying a Sig 239 openly when out in the Big Horns & nobody said a word or looked at me sideways. However, I'd wager ya there were quite a few people in the bowling alley who were shepple and would have not been happy knowing a "gun nut" was packing a pistol around thier children.

 

[Hanzerik]

Well, technically speaking I was not a "civilian" since I was active duty at the time

Never entered the store, just filled up the truck & left after waving to the SO when he pulled up and gave me the once over BEfore I retired and got busy I was a member of the local SASS club & ya should have seen the looks I got walking down the street dressed in 1880 style garb & armed with 2 Ruger Vaquero's

Had been shooting at the rage that was once behind where the Love's truck stop now is. Wonder how many people would have had a heart attack if they knew there was a small range right alongside I25

My CCW took about 95 days even though the state statue says 90 days max., but since we had PCS'd from Minot and WY honors ND's CCW I was still legal.

Missilier, Maint, or FM?...I'm an FM at India, just got here from Fort Dix, New Jersey after PCS'ing last June. Was so happy to leave that place and get back out west. I was up at Ellsworth AFB SD from 93-95 (Loved it), after that I went to the UK and then on to NJ...11 and a half years of hell living in Un-Friendly Gun countries/states. But I think I'm home now.

 

[Joey]

Missilier, Maint, or FM?...I'm an FM at India, just got here from Fort Dix, New Jersey after PCS'ing last June. Was so happy to leave that place and get back out west. I was up at Ellsworth SD from 93-95 (Loved it), after that I went to the UK and then on to NJ...11 and a half years of hell living in Un-Friendly Gun countries/states. But I think I'm home now.

None of the above, but close

Was a FSC and a Flight Sgt in the 319th and then the 400th before retiring.

Went from Offutt to Kadena & then up to Minot and here. For some strange reason I could never get away from the midwest no matter how hard I tried :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

 

[Hanzerik]

Hehe, I saw that you went from Minot to Warren and figured you were in one of those jobs where you only have a few choices of bases.

 

[Joey]

PRP was a wonderful thing :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: (to get away from)

 

[Joey]

Were you Phoenix Readiness out at Dix?????

 

[Texshooter]

I would love to visit that great state someday, God willing.

 

[Hanzerik]

Were you Phoenix Readiness out at Dix?????

Yes, I was an Instructor for Phoenix Readiness from 2002-2003 when they canceled it, then moved on to Eagle Flag, Contingency Skills Training, Convoy Operations, and Phoenix Raven. And no I'm not a cop, but us TALCE guys were some of the few that loved to help the cops teach their courses.

I was a TALCE guy on McGuire for 3.5 years before moving over to Instruct.

Video of last PR course we taught from a TALCE perspective.
Just the Fire Power Demo From Last PR

If you follow the links, I have some more videos from a few hours before the fire power demo when we were doing foreign weapons familiarization.

 

[Sodbuster]

I'm heading to Encampment WY

I hate to keep saying this. But... that's a nice area. Encampment, Saratoga, Woods Landing, all very nice. Years and years ago there was a tavern called the Mangy Moose in Riverside, don't know if it's still around. There were some nice backroads that crisscrossed the WY-CO border north of Steamboat amd Walden CO. Maybe you've been on them, Trailgator.

Agent 006 & 7/8 Good thing the NYFD didn't try a citizen's arrest!

 

[Joey]

Some of the best "high speed" guys in the AF were from other career fields, but loved to get down and dirty. Those are some cool vids, with we had the chance to video Crow Valley in the PI.

Sidebar: is the cadre wearing the blackhawk H harness with the camel back pouch??? I had one for years & loved it. Went to a SOE vest, but the powers that were hated it and would not let me use it until I was out in the field. They also were dead set against my Safariland 6004 drop holster, but relented when I had em convinced it was issued equipment.

Sorry to see ya stuck out in the field as a FM, that's not exactly a high speed kind of job. I personally hated the complex, but for family life it was worth staying in the complex instead of going to Korea. Got to admit, Wyoming is not exactly what we had pictured when we moved down here, but it's now home & we have adapted to the Wyoming way of life and love living here. For raising a family it's a great place & the VA hospital is wicked outstanding & ya could not ask for a better VA hospital.

We were camping out past Encampment few years back on Battle MT and a black bear came wandering into camp, good thing the food was at one end & we were at the other Also got stuck in "rush hour traffic" as a sheep herder was moving his herd down the highway, but it was cool.

Saratoga has the free hot springs, it's a fun motorcycle ride & then ya can soak in em all day & then get a superb meal and some cold beer at the old hotel in town Course then ya have to make a side trip to Waldon & have another cold beer or two

 

[Hanzerik]

Sorry for the Sidebar conversation fellas, just chatting away here with a fellow Wyomingite

Sidebar: is the cadre wearing the Blackhawk H harness with the camel back pouch???

Yes we were issued H-Harnesses, and I still have mine with some of the other gear. Has been one of a few units that has stuck to the "Wear it in the field, get it dirty and it's yours" mentality. Most of our gear had to be replaced every so often because we wore it so much. We did get some other "Gucci" gear that we were allowed to keep; Benchmade autos, Oakley Shooting sets.

Sorry to see ya stuck out in the field as a FM, that's not exactly a high speed kind of job.

Ya, it was a big change, but I like the job and it's pretty good on the family life when our schedules are squared away, 3 on 5 off. I just need to get used to working with the younger cops and officers. Last 8.5 years I very rarely worked with anyone below E-5, and my Commanders were O-6s through O-8s. It was not big deal for me to brief a auditorium at HQ AMC or Fort Dix full of E-5 through O-6's on Air Force doctrine, but trying to get these youngsters to clean the bathrooms and take out the trash is driving me crazy.

I personally hated the complex, but for family life it was worth staying in the complex instead of going to Korea. Got to admit, Wyoming is not exactly what we had pictured when we moved down here, but it's now home & we have adapted to the Wyoming way of life and love living here. For raising a family it's a great place & the VA hospital is wicked outstanding & ya could not ask for a better VA hospital.

I didn't want to leave it up to AMC to pick my next duty location so I volunteered for FM duty. I hadn't touched an Aircraft since 98 and didn't want to go back to the flightline this close to retirement. I feel the same way, I can retire next year at 20...but whether I stay in or get out, I'm calling Wyoming home.

 

[Joey]

but trying to get these youngsters to clean the bathrooms and take out the trash is driving me crazy.

Somethings never change

 

[The Viking]

Hanzerik: AFAIK, the court ruled it to be justified. The guy should be happy that the police used FMJ's back then...now they use Gold Dots. I remember those riots. I was working (had my first job during the summer that year ). Thus, I didn't have time to protest against this and that, unlike all the middle class revolutionaries. Now I'm glad I didn't have time.

 

[Iggy]

Hanzerik & Joey,

Looks like we need to start the Wyoming Chapter of THR.

I'm in Cheyenne too. P-1,2,10 were on the ranch where I grew up.
I now run between ranches at Meriden, Chugwater, and Rock River.

 

[Hanzerik]

Hanzerik: AFAIK, the court ruled it to be justified. The guy should be happy that the police used FMJ's back then...now they use Gold Dots. I remember those riots. I was working (had my first job during the summer that year ). Thus, I didn't have time to protest against this and that, unlike all the middle class revolutionaries. Now I'm glad I didn't have time.

That’s good news.

Hanzerik & Joey,

Looks like we need to start the Wyoming Chapter of THR.

I'm in Cheyenne too. P-1,2,10 were on the ranch where I grew up.
I now run between ranches at Meriden, Chugwater, and Rock River.

Sounds good to me.
Got any PD you need thinned out on your range?

 

[Joey]

Ahhhh yes, I've worked the Papa flight area many a time & was once able to get around back there without getting lost The old Quebec flight area is just South of Chugwater and I've worked that along with when I was on the VFD we went up there for a couple structure fires & that HUGE grass fire a couple years ago.

Was told about the old Atlas site up past Meriden & spent a couple hours poking around on it several years ago. Shame how it's been vandalized.

We really like the old west history of the area, that's part of the Wyoming experience I'd have to say!!!

Loots to see and do round these parts ifin ya just look.

 

[trailgator]

oops! double post

 

[trailgator]

Encampment, Saratoga, Woods Landing, all very nice. Years and years ago there was a tavern called the Mangy Moose in Riverside, don't know if it's still around. There were some nice backroads that crisscrossed the WY-CO border north of Steamboat amd Walden CO. Maybe you've been on them, Trailgator.

The tavern is still there. We shoot on the Silver Spur Ranch between encampment and Riverside. It's 50000 acres at last count, and surrounded by BLM land. Or, as I refer to it, HEAVEN!

 

[Dr.Rob]

I'm getting worried that Wyoming is starting to be overrun by front range liberals from the Denver and Boulder area

I swear I only come up to hunt!

Wyoming is a gorgeous place, but if you don't like the wind, stay home.

 

[Agent 006 &7/8]

"I'm getting worried that Wyoming is starting to be overrun by front range liberals"

Ah, don't you remember the Pace Salsa ad where one cowboy says' "Get a rope."??

Exactly where do you think they got that idea? "Oh, you're from Boulder and would like a double latte? Hey, Charlie... get a rope!!"

 

[bl4ckd0g]

Keep in mind that my only internet access is either in the Natrona County Public Library, or the Metro Coffee House.

I doubt many Boulder-ites will move this far north due to the wind and harsh summers ruining their backyard marijuana crops. Perhaps the vegans of the bunch would make decent "beef" jerky.

 

[Iggy]

Hanzerik, We got a few at Medicine Bow. Three big name gun guys went up there for a week.. They had a suburban full of guns and a U-haul trailer full of ammo.. They ran out of ammo, killed so many PD's that the coyotes, hawks and eagles couldn't clean them all up. We didn't notice decrease in the numbers.

Joey, After that base at Meriden was abandoned, about 50 hippies moved in there. There has always been a big mystery about how it happened, but one night about a 100 rattlers decided they wanted to live there too.. They all crawled down a vent pipe. The hippies decided the snakes wanted the place more than they did....

Always wondered about that!!