Geography
Located on the North American continent, the United States of America comprises 48 adjoining states which are bordered to the north by Canada and to the south by Mexico. The 49th state of the USA is Alaska, a huge wilderness territory which lies to the northwest of Canada. Taken as a whole, the continental USA has a land area of approximately 9 and a half million square kilometres (3 and a half million square miles). The 50th state of the USA, Hawaii, lies 4000 kilometres (2500 miles) off the country's western coast, in the middle of the Pacific. Across the length and breadth of this huge country, there is every type of landscape imaginable, from snowy wastes to burning desert and from ocean beaches to rugged mountain peaks. The biggest mountain range in the USA is the Rockies, which forms the continental divide, extending 4800 kilometres (3000 miles) from northern Mexico, through the USA and Canada into Alaska. Further west, close to the Pacific Ocean and on the border between California and Nevada, the Sierra Nevada is the second most important mountain group in the USA.

Central Rocky Mountain – Wyoming
Located north of centre amongst the contiguous states of the USA, Wyoming is the 10th biggest state and its location, astride the Rocky Mountains, gives it an average elevation of 2500 metres (6700ft.). Two of the geographical highlights of Wyoming are Yellowstone National Park and the nearby group of mountains known as the Grand Tetons. Home to elk, bison, wolf and grizzly bear, Yellowstone was the world’s first national park and is noted for its geothermal activity. There are more than 10,000 hot springs and geysers. Rising 1800 metres (6000ft.) above the valley of Jackson Hole, the rugged, snow-capped Grand Tetons Range is one of the most impressive parts of the entire Rocky Mountains and culminates in the 4197 metre-high (13,770ft.) summit of Grand Teton.

Sierra Nevada – Yosemite
Established in 1890, the Yosemite National Park includes some of the most dramatic scenery in the USA - soaring rock walls, thundering waterfalls, giant granite domes and spectacular natural vistas. Known as the “Range of Light,” Yosemite is one of the most inspirational landscapes on earth and was the prime influence on the writings of John Muir and the stunning photography of Ansel Adams. Each year, millions of day-trippers enter the park and gaze in wonder at the towering monoliths of El Capitan and Half Dome. However, it is only by taking a longer hiking excursion into the hidden ranges and valleys of Yosemite that this wilderness area can be seen at its very best.

Alaska
Alaska is vast, bigger than Britain, France and Spain combined, and yet only half a million people live in the state. This is one of the world's last great wilderness areas and the traces of its colourful pioneering (Gold Rush) history can still to be found amongst the numerous old mining settlements which are scattered through the Alaskan territory. One of the most varied and spectacular parts of the state is the huge area known as “The Interior” which lies between Anchorage in the south and Fairbanks in the north. This “Last Frontier” territory includes a number of important mountain ranges, amongst them the Denali (Mount McKinley) group and also the coastal Chugach Mountains which sweep eastwards from Anchorage for 400 kilometres (250 miles). This impressive and rarely-visited range offers almost limitless possibilities for alpine style climbing in a remote wilderness area where most peaks remain unnamed and unclimbed.

Time Zone
Because the USA is so extensive east to west, it has a great range of different time zones. During the daylight-saving period of April to October, the time in Alaska is GMT – 8 hours, for instance. In California, the time is GMT – 7 hours. In Wyoming, the time is GMT – 6 hours. And, for reference, in the most easterly states, which include New York, the time is GMT – 4 hours.

Climate
Across the he land area of the USA, there is, quite obviously, a great variety of climate type. Generally, it gets hotter towards the south and vice versa. Towards the north and away from the coasts, the variation from one season to the next becomes more marked.

Wyoming. The weather is relatively stable in late summer, but the mountains do generate their own weather and short-lived storms can occur. The daytime maximum temperatures low-down (2000m. – 6500ft.) will range from 15 to 25 degrees centigrade (59º – 77º F). At night at our highest camping places, the temperatures will typically drop to around 5 degrees centigrade (41º F).
Yosemite. Yosemite National Park experiences a Mediterranean type of climate with long, hot summers and mild winters. Annual precipitation is low and mostly falls as snow between October and April. Late summer, including September, is the best time to visit Yosemite. At this season, temperatures in the valley (1220m. - 4000ft.) vary between 25 and 30 degrees centigrade (77º – 86º F), falling to around 10 degrees centigrade (50º F) at night. In the backcountry (2440 – 8000ft.) the daytime temperatures will be close to 18 degrees centigrade (64º F), falling close to freezing at night. There is little rainfall during the summer.
Alaska. With its northerly location, and being surrounded on three sides by oceans, Alaska has a very variable climate. The interior, which includes the Chugach Mountains, is blessed by generally good weather in the summer months, but short lived storms are a possibility and these can put down a couple of feet of snow in a few hours. The daytime temperatures are surprisingly comfortable, ranging between 3 and 20 degrees centigrade (37º – 68º F), falling to around freezing point at night.

Currency
The unit of currency in the USA is the US dollar. As of February 2006, the exchange rates are:

£ 1 = $ 1.75
€ 1 = $ 1.19

Sterling and Euros are easily exchanged in the USA. Credit cards can be used widely and you will also be able to obtain currency at cash machines (ATM’s) at larger banks in the usual way.

Visas
Citizens of the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland do not need a visa for a stay of up to 90 days, if they have an onward ticket

Additional Sources of Information

Books
Lonely Planet – USA.
Lonely Planet – Hiking in the USA.
Bonney’s Guide to Jackson’s Hole and Grand Teton National Park. Lorraine G. Bonney.
Windows into Earth: The Geologic Story of Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks.
Robert B. Smith, Lee J. Siegal.
Yellowstone Country: The Enduring Wonder (National Geographic Park Profiles).
Seymour Fishbein, Raymond Gehman.
The Complete Guidebook to Yosemite National Park. Steven P. Medley.
The Yosemite Handbook. An Insider's Guide to the Park by Susan Frank, et al.
Alaska’s Parklands. Nancy Lange Simmerman.
Climbing in North America. Chris Jones. (Historical).
Organisation of an Alaskan Expedition. Boyd Everett.
Alaska’s Mountain Ranges. George Wuerthner.
“Alaska Ascents”- Bill Sherwonit. (Great short stories on historical Alaska ascents).

Maps
Grand Teton National Park Recreation Map. Earth Walk Press.
Yellowstone National Park Hiking Map & Guide. Earth Walk Press.
Topographic Map of Yosemite National Park and Vicinity. Wilderness Press.
US Geological Survey, 1:250,000 scale, Anchorage and Valdez sheets.
“The Alaskan Atlas and Gazetteer” 1:300,000. Delorne Mapping.

Our trip dossiers/itineraries give details of books and maps that are specific to a particular trip. Click here for details of book and map retailers.

Web
Lonely PLanet - www.lonelyplanet.com
Rough Guides - www.roughguides.com