US topographical/geographical assistance request

[feliciakw]

Okay, so Musey is telling me she wants to write something. And she's kinda giving me an idea (which I'm not completely on board with; I don't trust her execution), but I always get caught up in the details.

I can't decide how to describe where this little ditty takes place. Is there anywhere in the US where HEAVY snow is unusual but not unheard of? The area needs to be sparsely populated (like, you can drive onwards of an hour and not see anyone, which means it can't be Ohio *g*), and spotty cell service is a plus but not necessary.

I'd originally thought Midwest, but then I started thinking of some of the rural routes (which I think were old moonshine routes) through West Virginia. Mountains get snow, but the switchbacks could be fun to play with. Then I got to thinking about the western landscape and wondering if anything out there would fit.

Any suggestions?

Comments

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. A lot of the northwest you either always get a lot of snow, or it's rare--more to do with altitude and whether you're in/near the mountains than anything else. Maybe somewhere in the Casacades north of Grants Pass? They get snow, but it's not always heavy. Lots of crazy windy roads, and mountain passes where even the interstate gets blocked off if the year is wet enough.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Hm . . . a possibility, and I have a resource. Shall I send you the few paragraphs I have? Or post them here under lock?

[scionofgrace.livejournal.com]

Western Nebraska. Case in point: right now. Eastern Nebraska is too populated, but the Panhandle can be flat-out desolate. Winters don't see a lot of snow, except every once in awhile (like this year), they get hammered.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

I was wondering if you'd have any suggestions, and I was kinda hoping you would. What does an average drive look like in that area? Trees? Hills at all? Dry? The farthest west I've traveled by land is Chicago, so I don't actually know from experience what that portion looks like.

[scionofgrace.livejournal.com]

Glad I can help!

The scenery depends on where you are, exactly. In the panhandle, you get the occasional tall hill, some topped with stone spires (like Chimney Rock), or huge, nearly vertical buttes. The land in between is flat and desolate, with sage and coarse grass. Trees are ONLY found around water or civilization. You can spot a farmhouse because of the stand of trees around it: the windbreak. The land is used for ranches, and if anybody grows grain, they're using a center-pivot for irrigation, which means each field will be perfectly round. There is also the occasional oil pump.

You could also go for north-central Nebraska, the Sand Hills, which are ancient sand dunes covered in grass with prairie flowers. Just lots and lots of rolling hills, and again, only trees where there are people.

Also, the sky is huge, and you can see any and all weather coming from miles off. And there is LOTS and LOTS of wind. Mostly from the west.

(Heh, I go on much longer I'm going to get poetic!)

[sarcasticval.livejournal.com]

Minnesota.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Elaborate?

[sarcasticval.livejournal.com]

Eh, not much to elaborate. My roommate used to live there for a while (Duluth) and from what I gather the place is a frozen tundra.