Montana in October, what dangers do I need to be aware of?

[WaywardBound]

I'm hoping to pass through and do some camping in Idaho and Montana in mid-October this year, and since I've never been to either area I'd like to know what sorts of things do I need to be on the lookout for? Is it too early for bears and snowfall to be an issue in the mountains? Is there any special gear I need to be packing with me just to be safe? What are the temps overnight going to be like in mid October?

I'll be heading down to Moab, UT from MN for a get together the week before Columbus Day, camping my way across South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado on my way down...I'm hoping to cannonball up to Idaho on Columbus day or the day after and spend a few days there, then make my way over to Montana by the next weekend before heading back home the following week through North Dakota...any helpful information for any of those places during that time of year is greatly appreciated!...

(For reference, I have a 2006 Nissan Xterra, lifted, 33's, rear seats removed and sleeping platform built in, slide out kitchen with Alpicool CF45 fridge, 12k lb winch, recovery boards, solar panel/battery, onboard compressor, etc...I've been on a couple trips with the vehicle, but grew up camping all my life, so I'm pretty well prepared and prefer to know as much as possible before heading to a new region)

 

[MMc]

Cold and snow are very possible. Most likely wind too. Bears might be still out.
It is a transition time, so go prepared.

 

[GreggNY]

I did a trip to Glacier, Montana at the end of September last year and then drove down to Jackson, WY and was there until the first week of October. The east side of Glacier National Park got hammered with a blizzard dropping around 4’ (yes, feet) of snow while I was there. The west side where I was staying luckily only got a few inches. By the time I got down to the Yellowstone area, the high road through the park got shut down from a winter storm with snow and ice. I had to backtrack an hour north and exit through the West entrance, into Idaho, and south to get to Jackson. It snowed probably every couple days while I was in the Grand Teton area with lows in the 20s at night. So yes, snow is definitely a good possibility around that time. On the plus side, the snow made the mountains and landscape look amazing. Well worth the trip.

 

[WaywardBound]

You would think that someone from MN who's spent almost 25 years driving in snow wouldn't be the least bit concerned about encountering snow off road, but I've watched enough recovery videos to know that I shouldn't be out there by myself regardless of what equipment and supplies I have...I'll have to plan a trip out there for summertime next year, just to be safe...

Last year when I was geared up and ready to head out that way they had 2 bear attacks 2 weeks before I was leaving, and then a snowstorm a couple days beforehand...clearly my late season plans aren't the brightest ideas ever, hahaha...

 

[USStrongman]

THere was a fire SE of Jackson when I went through in late Sept and it forced me back to Jackson, cut across the mountains to Idaho, south to the Snake River and then cut east across Wyoming. Glad I did. The drive through was gorgeous.

Here is late August at 8,500' in the Canyon area of Yellowstone. Snow is possible year round.