First off - ever traveled through southern Wyoming on I-80? Yeah--this is where randomness comes in.
I ask because I got stuck in the town of Rawlins, WY in March 2011 due to high (something like 50mph) winds. I passed through there returning from my 6 week trip around the Western US, but needed to get home since a friend from California would be visiting Springfield a couple days later. Around 5pm, I got a 2 mile warning that the interstate was closed. Since this was Wyoming, there weren't other roads to use to get around the closure. I studied a state map in the hotel where I stopped. When I went to the front desk to ask about getting to a road that would lead me out of there, the guy pointed out that it was a dirt road...
Tonight, while plotting out another drive to Portland, I checked WYDOT website, and surprise! Once again, 150 miles of the highway are closed (Rawlins - Cheyenne).
So, this random intro story is my little PSA to anyone who may plan a driving trip that takes them across this route. Be aware that there's something about Wyoming that lends itself to having nearly hurricane strength winds in late winter/early spring, and you may could be
