I grew up in Casper and still go to Laramie for football games frequently. Comparing a mountain town like Flagstaff to Laramie is kind of nuts. Most people will view the plains as ugly. The town has hardly grown in 40 years. There is a reason. It's windy and cold and there isn't much to do except drink. There are no shortage of bars. The weather is so bad that there are underground tunnels to go from one university building to another. Thankfully for the football team, they have an indoor practice facility.
Sydney Thorvaldson grew up in Rawlins, Wyoming. Rawlins might be the ugliest, windiest town in Wyoming. The CEO of Vestas (a wind turbine manufacturer) called Rawlins and the surrounding area the Saudi Arabia of wind. The state penitentiary dominates the town landscape. It's a testament to her toughness that she could become a great runner growing up in that environment.
