Other hazardous weather includes sudden snowfalls and hailstorms, so hikers need to be prepared.

"You have to be sure you have the proper gear," Mann said. Even when weather is comfortable at the base of the mountain, toward the top it can be frigid.

An 85-degree day in the valley could turn into 40 degrees, with strong winds and rain, in the mountains. A hiker in short sleeves and shorts could suffer from hypothermia, a potentially deadly condition.

Falls

In August, Micah Clark hiked a mile from where he had parked at the Lake Catherine trailhead near Alta, intending to take photographs of a scenic view. But he fell in rough terrain on the rainy day, plummeting 20 to 25 feet and tumbling another 80 feet. Searchers discovered his body four days later.

Steep terrain in the Wasatch Mountains is a hazard, especially for the inexperienced climber, Mann said. Lone Peak has a drop of nearly 1,000 feet on the west side. Where the Mount Timpanogos trail goes into a saddle, a huge drop is 10 feet from the trail.

The drop is 1,000 or 1,200 feet, although a hiker who slipped would hit something before falling that far.

Climbing tempts some inexperienced visitors. "Frequently what happens is it's more difficult to go down steep terrain than to go up it," he said.

A climber may keep going until he can't go any higher, then "you're cliffed in," he added. Then he realizes it's harder to climb down safely than to climb up.

Rattlesnakes

"This year, especially in the foothills, has been worse than most," Mann said. But the venomous reptiles aren't likely to slither high into the mountains.

"The higher the elevation, the lower the chances of running into a rattlesnake. . . . But when you're coming down and you're getting in the 7,000-, 6,000-, 5,000-foot range, they can be anywhere."

Coming Tuesday: Wildlife and legends

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