I just clicked your profile page - I guess Wyoming isn't having the mudslides and flooding. The only time I've been in your state is driving through in the winter and it was the scariest car ride I ever had. Blizzard, and are there really a road that's at 9000 ft elevation? I swear I saw a sign that said that. A trucker pulled in front of us and saved our lives; we could see him but not the road. Snow was blowing sideways from every direction. Actually I would have sworn it was blowing up, too.
Mountain driving requires a few changes in driving habits and equipment, but it's not that bad after a while. The snowboarding is awesome!