Nature & Environment
By Makena Klinge
Just taking a look at the state’s license plates, it’s not hard to find out how big of a deal the mountains and snow are in Utah. The claim to having the “greatest snow on earth” is no joke, and it’s something that the winter-loving residents of Utah pride themselves on. Utah’s famous mountain ranges and snow-to-liquid ratio research-tested “greatest snow”, have impacted the winter sports culture immensely.
After an interview with Larry Dunn, former head Intermountain region weatherman for the federal government and an experienced skier, we got more supporting information as to why Utah has some of the greatest snow on earth. Mr. Dunn explained how the snow in Utah falls “right-side up”, meaning heavy snow falls first and light snow falls last when there is snowfall. Other states have “upside-down” snowfall, meaning that light snow falls before heavy snow, and that isn't as good of snow to ski on. He also stated that frequent snow storms play a key role in the quality of the snow on the mountains, which helps explain Utah’s snow quality, because we tend to get quite a bit of snow up in our mountains. From these environmental factors, some of the most well-known ski resorts have formed in the state and continue to grow and thrive.
The landscape and nature in the state help to create a special culture here in the West and it’s incomparable to any other place in the world. The outdoors and winter sports aren’t just a characteristic of Utah, they are a lifestyle.
Hi! My name is Makena Klinge and I’m from Boise Idaho. I not only came to Utah for school, but also for the location, atmosphere, and culture. I chose to be a part of the Block U: Work, Wellness, and the Great Outdoors class and it has been the highlight of my academic career at the University of Utah thus far. Not only does this class enable me to encounter the outdoors, activities, and ideals that are already a huge part of my life, it has connected me to a group of people that I couldn’t have found anywhere else. We joke how we’re a little family, and it honestly feels like we are. What we learn in Block U is incomparable to anything I can possibly learn in another class, but it’s the people that make it worthwhile.