Description: Destination: The Rockies The Rocky Mountains define America, in both literal and symbolic ways. The sawtooth crest of the Rockies is the backbone of the continent -- hence the Continental Divide -- and emanating from it are many of America's great rivers, born from trickles of snowmelt that gradually join forces as streams to flow east and west like veins feeding a single, massive organism. The Rockies also demarcate a line where the East ends and the West begins, a line where old-world principles segue into a still simmering ethos of manifest destiny. From 40,000 ft in transcontinental flight, you can witness in the landscape the earmarks of a cultural transformation. To the east, the orderly mosaic of wheat fields and farmlands represents a rootedness in a stay-at-home, hard-work ethic. Tothe west, the vast and jumbled open spaces of Colorado, Utah, and Idaho -- largely public lands, largely undeveloped -- suggest in spirit (if not always in fact) that there is still room in the American Dream for the buffalo to roam and for the antelope to play. And somewhere within the Rockies themselves resides the essential, unflagging soul of American ruggedness. The country may be hell-bent on urbanizing, modernizing, and multiplying, and in such Rocky Mountain cities as Denver and Salt Lake City, urban sprawl may be spreading like an incurable pox. But that won't stop Americans from hanging on to an intuitive, collective belief in a land of rough-and-tumble vigor at the edge of the frontier. That's where the Rockies come in -- rough-and-tumble geology still harboring the American frontier myth. Cycling Mountain biking, as a sport and cultural phenomenon, has a huge following in the Rockies and is more popular in the region than touring on paved roads. Keep in mind that elevations in the Rockies are high, and that they exact their physical toll in an aerobic sport such as cycling. Not only should you be physically fit, but you should be prepared to settle for riding shorter distances than you might be capable of handling at lower elevations. Hiking There are literally thousands of miles of hiking trails in the Rockies. The national parks have particularly well-marked and well-maintained trails, and admittance to all trails is free. In fact, hiking is sometimes the only way to get close to certain highlights on protected l for example, the famed Mesa Arch rock formation in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, can be reached only on foot. Hiking in the south is usually best in spring, when water is plentiful and before the heat of summer sets in. Horse-Pack Trips Horse-pack trips are a great way to visit the Rockies' backcountry, since horses can travel distances and carry supplies that would be impossible for hikers. June through August is the peak period for horse-packing trips. Skiing Skiing has enormous clout in the Rockies. In recent years, resorts have offered an ever-increasing range of special-interest programs, such as classes for women skiers, for skiers with disabilities, or for recreational racing. Rockies resorts may open their lifts as early as October and close as late as July; the ski season, however, usually runs from December until early April.

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