Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Wyoming bar, but you never know what the group of cowboys in the corner is thinking.
Sadly, this is where Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered in 1998 for no other reason
than because he was gay. Montana and Wyoming still have a long way to go in terms of
recognizing and celebrating alternative lifestyles. In general, “don't ask, don't tell” is the
safest policy to assume when traveling here.
That being said, there are thriving—although often underground—gay communities in
many Montana and Wyoming towns, particularly college towns like Missoula, Bozeman,
and Laramie. Two excellent resources for gay and lesbian travelers are the
Western
Montana Gay and Lesbian Community Center
(406/543-2224,
www.gaymontana.org
)
and
the
University
of
Wyoming's
Rainbow
Resource
Center
(307/766-3478,
While medical services and health care in many of the larger Montana and Wyoming towns
are excellent—and in some cases on par with bigger cities—it's important to remember that
when traveling around, you'll mostly likely be far away from emergency medical services.
Rural and mountainous highways are especially troublesome, as cell-phone coverage can
be spotty. Most small towns have a local clinic, and there are services in the national parks.
Refer to specific areas of the text for emergency numbers, and remember that calling 911
doesn't always work in many rural areas.
In general,
weather, altitude,
and
insect bites
pose the greatest risk traveling here.
The summer sun can get extremely hot, and it is easy to get dehydrated, so make sure to
drink plenty of water during the day. Hiking—and just walking, for some people—can be a
strenuous activity as the altitude increases. It's best to carry plenty of food and water, and
take your time getting to your destination. The earliest and most obvious sign of altitude-
related health problems is a headache, and the best remedy is drinking water and moving to
a lower elevation if possible.
The common insect nuisances are mosquitoes and ticks. While Montana and Wyoming
mosquitoes rarely carry any diseases, they can be annoying at certain times during the sum-
mer. While West Nile virus is becoming an increasing threat to livestock across the West,
human infection is less common. Still, it's a good idea to carry bug repellent with DEET, es-
pecially when hiking or camping near water. Ticks can pose a small threat of Rocky Moun-
tain fever or Lyme disease, and they seem to have become more pervasive in the last 10
years or so. It's a good idea to check every part of your skin after a day of hiking or fishing
