First in a five-part series on the Wasatch Mountains.

Had there been no mountains when Brigham Young rolled into what is now the Great Salt Lake Valley, the LDS Church leader might simply have said, "Drive on."

The valley would be just another barren spot in the Great Basin between the Colorado Rockies and the Sierra Nevada. Without the tons of rock majestically jutting thousands of feet above the valley floor, early settlers would not have had the resources to make life on the frontier viable.

No timber or stone for buildings. No silver or gold for commerce. No game for clothing and food. And most important, no water.

The mountains are not only Utah's backbone but its heart and soul. Within them is the power to sustain life — and to take it away.

"I think everyone in Salt Lake should ask himself what life would be like without the Wasatch Mountains," said Gale Dick, a retired college professor who moved to Utah 44 years ago because of the mountains. "It would be Fresno."

Dick, president of the conservation group Save Our Canyons, recalled a hike in Albion Basin with his wife and 2-year-old son shortly after arriving in the state. "We decided we were in the right place."

Without the Wasatch Mountains, though, this wouldn't be the place.

"It's an interesting question, what Salt Lake would look like without the mountains," said Jim Wood, University of Utah Bureau of Economic and Business Research lead economist. Probably "like Winnemucca."

Geologists say an earthquake fault plane formed the rugged Wasatch Range some 12 million years ago. It stretches roughly 220 miles from Mount Nebo — the range's highest peak — in Juab County to jagged Sheep Rock Point near Soda Springs, Idaho. It is generally considered part of the Rocky Mountains, though that is subject to some debate.

To the naked eye, the range appears to go on forever. But it does not. As much as it has to offer, it is a limited resource.

"This is just a little matchbox of a mountain range," Dick said.

Deseret News graphic Page: 1 2 3 4 Next > Comments You can be the first to comment on this story. Add your comment 3 photos Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News The Wasatch Front keeps watch over the Salt Lake Valley. If it weren't for the mountains, the area would be just another barren spot in the Great Basin between the Colorado Rockies and the Sierra Nevada. Gallery (3 photos) Related content Articles Million-dollar views Safeguarding streams started early in Utah Latest updates Most popular Most commented Exhibit serves Old Masters revisions 3:21 p.m. Cheat Sheet: Shoveling snow 3:18 p.m. 50-plus crowd loves Web dating 3:18 p.m. Why do we hate? Academics ask 3:18 p.m. Palliative medicine draws doctors 3:18 p.m. Relationship: Thanksgiving 3:18 p.m. Survival strategies for 'Black Friday' 3:18 p.m. A garden fit for a Hobbit 3:13 p.m. Green Bay beats 49ers 30-24 3:00 p.m. Lions beat Browns 38-37 2:58 p.m. Glenn Beck to enter politics? BYU records with win Jazz outlast Pistons in overtime Cougars turn focus to dreaded rivals Police link alcohol to murder Utah Utes whip SDSU Former BYU professor remembered Cougars put the fun back in football Kirilenko heating up for the Jazz Y. coach Hill up for Portland State job Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws200 Palin plans tour stop in Utah174 Glenn Beck to enter politics?170 Palin's book shows she's unqualified123 BYU records with win120 Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case103 BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.100 Jazz finally win in San Antonio98 Utes knock off rival Aggies93 Huntsman pleased with Obama87 Astronomy: Great Balls of Fire! A little after midnight Wednesday morning, about 21 hours ago as I write... Dad blog: Are you overparenting? You've heard it called "helicopter parents." News yule use: Sneaky credit tactics There's a lot of reason to leave your plastic home as you shop: Latest comments Hatch criticizes immigration comments Brittanicus said: NO MASS EXPENSIVE DEPORTATION IS NEEDED? E-VERIFY IS VASTLY BECOMING THE... Cougars cruise to victory in Hawaii Joe said: I believe this, and the next few, will be among the best Y hoops years ever.... Students protest animal testing TEST THE STUPID OWNERS said: How about testing the brain power of the owners who have animals which end up... RSL dancing with soccer stars Fer Rill! said: I'm a stoked to watch RSL tear these clowns to pieces. BOOYAH! Jazz outlast Pistons in overtime Boozer said: Boozer is doing great and some people are talking about trading him. He is a... Police link alcohol to murder Anonymous said: The US may be number one in gun violence but think how much worse it would be... Cougars put the fun back in football Anonymous said: "Only that Mendenhall tapped into an important component of his team for the... Utes turn attention to rivalry Classless Fans said: I have been to a couple Utah-BYU games in Provo. Both times, I was subjected... Letters: 'Feminist bigotry' John? said: Are you a little confused today John? First...divorced men being compared to... Chad Lewis gives great message ramper said: Re: Give it a rest Who do you call if you have an emergency on Sunday? Advertisements Advertisement deseretnews.com: Home | Subscription services | Contact us | FAQ | Feedback | Jobs | Purchase photos | RSS | Privacy policy Advertisement