My home state is big, ranking thirteenth in land area of the 50
states. But when it comes to population, Utah ranks thirtieth. So, you might
think we’re spread pretty thin here. However, we rank seventh in the nation in
the percentage of our people who live in urban areas. Then again, only four of
our 29 counties qualify as “urban.”
Which means we are pretty tightly packed in
a fairly small area.
Eighty percent of our 3.2 million people live in a band some 25
miles wide and just over 100 miles long. The county I live in is home to more
than a million people, on a land area that, if square, would measure just over
27 miles on a side. I can stand on my roof and see most of it.
What’s the point?
The point is, that despite it all, it’s easy to get away from it
all in Utah. You can drive tens, scores, even hundreds of miles on mostly empty
roads. Get off the road, and there are vast areas where you find little, if
any, trace of mankind.
A few days ago, we went hiking. My oldest daughter took the
photograph above. You would be hard-pressed, I think, to find a more beautiful
picture or place anywhere. It’s calm, it’s quiet, it’s restful, it’s serene.
As the crow flies, it’s about three-and-a-half miles from my
house.
Three-and-a-half miles.
