Altitude, Climate, Terrain and Culture

The millions of world travelers who visited Utah before, during and after the Olympic Games dispelled for themselves some of the really strange and bizarre notions about our beautiful state and its citizens. One truly wacky misconception is that the whole state is an arid desert wasteland populated by Mormon pioneers, the men-folk wearing dusty coveralls, his wife (or wives!) decked out in a full-length gingham dress and a bonnet, while riding to town in a handcart pulled by a team of oxen. Yeah, right!

One thing about Utah is true. Utah is diverse. Diverse in altitude, climate, terrain and culture. The following is a short treatise on all four.

 Altitude.  Almost the entire 54 million plus acres that make up the state sit on a plateau above 4000 feet. Many trails, mountain lakes and streams and wilderness areas are at 6,000 to 7,000 feet, several at 8,000 to 9,000 and more than just a few at over 10,000. Gasp! Hiking, mountain biking and backpacking at these elevations is quite different than at sea level, to be sure. Altitude sickness? Sure, it happens and it has disrupted outdoor adventures before. But with a few simple precautions and some horse sense, it shouldn’t disrupt yours.

Go easy the first day. Begin with less severe riding, hiking, paddling or climbing and work up in altitude/difficulty. Get good rest the night before, and drink a lot (water, that is).

Before your Utah outdoor vacation begins, tone up your machine with a healthy diet and exercise. A little regular aerobics and conditioning will do wonders for your energy level and frame of mind when tackling the great outdoors.

If you’re booking a trip with a tour operator, guide service or river company, give them some valuable info: your age, experience in the scheduled activity, any physical limitations, and even the altitude you’re coming from. They’re really good at factoring in this kind of information to make your visit more enjoyable.

Climate. Utah’s four-season climate is stimulating and healthy. The average daytime temperature for Utah’s metropolitan area ranges from 37 degrees F (2C) in January to 93 degrees F (33C) in July. While skiers are still enjoying the “Greatest Snow on Earth,” hiking, cycling, flyfishing, climbing, canyoneering and backpacking are excellent in many parts of southeastern and southwestern Utah. In late spring, the desert blooms and the mighty rivers reach peak flows. Central and eastern Utah trails and mountains come alive with recreation. The slot canyons and red-rock country are vibrant. And the rivers cascade with all that snow that always piles up in the mountains of the intermountain west. River running begins with a thunderous ovation each spring!

In summer, high alpine ski resorts are usually up to 20 degrees cooler than valley floors. Utah’s national forests and recreation areas are truly outdoor playgrounds. Whitewater rafting and kayaking is still superb, with only slightly diminished flows. In the fall, pick your spot. High country forests are a riot of color and red rock country literally glows. In the fall most trails, byways, rivers, trout streams and the backcountry are uncrowded and inviting, making autumn a great time to vacation in Utah.

In late fall, early winter, the snows fly once again in higher elevations. The seasons cycle begins all over again. In Utah, one never needs to put outdoor toys in storage.

Terrain:  Variety to the Nth degree. Rollicking singletrack, world famous slickrock, lift served and van-shuttled mountain biking at resorts. Scenic road cycling on back roads and through national parks and monuments. Gentle climbs and descents for day hikes. Slot canyons so narrow you need to squeeze through, yet hundreds of feet high. Massive, vertical granite and sandstone walls to climb. Mountain streams and rivers, lakes and reservoirs loaded with trophy catches. Whitewater cascading in the mighty rivers.

Culture.  Ancient and modern. Shaped and nurtured by so many, so diverse. The Anasazi and Fremont of yesteryear. The Ute, Navajo, Paiute, Shoshoni and Goshute of today. Fathers Escalante and Dominguez. Mormon Pioneers. Major John Wesley Powell. Upscale (yes, upscale) Salt Lake City and Park City. Rural central and eastern towns and villages. Small communities with services for outdoor recreation just outside national parks, national recreation areas and boating venues. State-of-the-art ski resorts offering the highest quality warm-weather recreation and facilities. Petroglyphs and pictographs left as a reminder of the ancients. Archeology, paleontology and geology to boggle the mind.

Finally, Utah citizens are the first to admit that this is not Paris, London or San Francisco. But contrary to popular opinion, you can get a drink here, and Mormons don’t dress differently. We do have fine restaurants and private clubs, but probably not as many as you have at home. But we have welcomed the world, and we welcome you now. Come to Utah. Come to see why we think it’s the top of the world.