January 2023 - 4

A COUPLE PENNIES
WYOMING
WILDLIFE
VOLUME 87, NUMBER 1 * JANUARY 2023
State of Wyoming
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission
Governor
President
Vice President
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Icy highways make travel difficult and often keep the author at home for much of the winter. (Photo by Patrick Owen)
Still searching
for an answer
By Robert Gagliardi, associate editor
A new year means new adventures,
experiences and memories, at least that
is the hope. But for me there is one thing
that remains unsolved, and it usually
comes up in the early parts of each year -
why does winter go by slowly yet summer
and fall go by so fast?
What about spring? In Wyoming
spring is so unpredictable that aside from
a few days here and there it feels more like
winter transitions into summer.
I'm open to suggestions to this question
I've tried to solve most of my life,
although I have some theories about winter's
marathon.
One, winter is normally the longest
season in Wyoming. Depending where
you live, half the year could be considered
winter. Two, I don't do a lot of winter
activities, and most of my outdoor fun
involves things more conducive to summer
and fall like fishing, camping, hiking, golf,
etc. I have a friend who invited me to go
ice fishing the last three years. I've come up
with excuses ranging from a book signing
to shoulder surgery.
That leads to my third, and probably
the biggest reason why winter lasts so long
for me - I don't want to go anywhere.
4 | January 2023
I've gotten to the age where driving around
town in the winter is a chore, let alone
get on the highway and roll the dice with
Mother Nature and Wyoming's roads.
I've had my share of harrowing experiences
ranging from accidents, sitting in
line at road closures to taking three hours
to travel what normally takes about one
with good road conditions. Honestly, I'm
over all that and will go to great lengths to
avoid those scenarios if possible.
I sound like a grumpy, old man don't I?
But no sense hiding from the truth. Like
bears, winter is like hibernation for me.
The only difference is bears come out of
hibernation with less body weight. I tend
to go the other way with that.
Aside from finding the answer to my
question, what do I do about it? Maybe I
will take a tip or two from Lisa Ballard's
feature in this issue about cures for cabin
fever. Perhaps trying something new, or
getting out of my comfort zone, is what's
needed to bust out of the winter doldrums.
Even if this winter is the best yet, and
the bar isn't set real high for that to happen,
I'm skeptical. However, it's a new
year so why not be positive. I still would
like to know why winter goes by slowly
and summer/fall go by fast. Any help is
greatly appreciated.
Kenneth Roberts, Kemmerer
Ralph Brokaw, Arlington
Pete Dube, Buffalo
Gay Lynn Byrd, Douglas
Richard Ladwig, Manville
Mark Jolovich, Torrington
Ashlee Lundvall, Powell
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Director
Deputy Director
Deputy Director
Chief of Fiscal
Chief of Wildlife
Chief of Fisheries
Chief of Services
Chief of Communications
and Education
Brian Nesvik
John Kennedy
Angela Bruce
Greg Phipps
Richard King
Alan Osterland
Eric Wiltanger
Nish Goicolea
Magazine Staff
Editor
Associate Editor
Creative Director
Mark Gordon
Tracie Binkerd
Robert Gagliardi
Patrick Owen
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January 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2023