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Wasatch RangeThe Wasatch Range (also seen as Wasatch Mountains and Wahsatch Range) is a mountain range that stretches from southern Idaho and Wyoming south through central Utah in the Western United States. They are generally considered the western edge of the greater Rocky Mountains, and the eastern edge of the Great Basin region. The northern extension of the Wasatch Range, the Bear River Mountains, extends into Idaho, constituting all of the Wasatch Range in Idaho. The name Wasatch is derived from an eponymous Native American tribe in the region. Eighty-five percent of Utah`s population lives within 15 miles of the Wasatch range. This concentration is commonly known as the Wasatch Front. Salt Lake City lies between the Wasatch Range and the Great Salt Lake. At 11,928 ft (3,636 m), Mount Nebo, located at the southern end of the range near Nephi, Utah, is the highest peak of the Wasatch. Other notable peaks include Mount Timpanogos, a massive peak which looms over Provo, Utah, and Lone Peak, Mount Olympus, and the Twin Peaks, which overlook Salt Lake City. Although the peaks are not especially high compared to the rest of the Rockies, they receive heavy falls of snow, in many places over 500 inches a year. There are many ski areas in the Wasatch, including Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, and Sundance. Due to the low humidity the snow has a dry, powdery texture, which is often considered good for winter sports. The 2002 Winter Olympic Games made good use of the snow powder. Several of the Wasatch canyons in the Lone Peak area, most notably Little Cottonwood Canyon, have a number of high-quality granite outcroppings, and make up a popular climbing area. Further north, Big Cottonwood Canyon features tricky climbing on quartzite.
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