Latitude. I know what you're thinking, duh? But there are distinct differences as you change latitude. Think Jimmie Buffet for a moment--changing attitudes, changing latitudes--or however the words go. This is so true for animals! Montana has scary animals that eat you whereas those in Colorado run from you. Wyoming features choruses of coyotes, actually quite lovely in song, scary with Sam. Other subtle differences in latitude include tree lines. In Montana your trees stop at about 10,000' and in Colorado there are forests up to over 11,000' and I'm not sure what happened to Wyoming and its trees. Let's focus on rocks for a moment. Rocks in Montana tend to be a little more crumbly that in Colorado and Wyoming. Let's just say you can definitely pull over along the roadside for some easy bouldering. Why? Here's my biology degree at work (keep in mind I'm not a geologist, so if there is a geologist reading this, please feel free to jump in). Freeze-thaw. In Montana there is ice and much colder temperatures than where I am in Colorado. Water squeezes into the cracks and crevices of the rocks and slowly begins the freeze-thaw cycle, crumbling bits and pieces of granite into DG, decomposed granite.
Split Rock, Wyoming rest stop
As my friend Bob from Lander points out, until proven otherwise, one must believe the story put forth.
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