Re: WEG:Deep sand/High Humidity

[K S Swigart <katswig@deltanet.com>]

As a total aside (since I understand that the WEC is a 'flat' race), it is
not accurate to assume that just because a country is coastal that it is
at sea-level.

Referring back to the Encyclopaedia Britanica about the United Arab
Emirates:

"...Along the eastern portion of the peninsula (where Dubai is), the
northern extension of the al-Hajar mountains offers the only other major
relief feature.  Steep on all sides, the mountains ride to 10,000 ft
(3,000 meters) in some places."

Since the pre-ride report I read says that the ride is pretty much flat, I
assume that the ride doesn't go up into these mountains, but they are only
~30 miles (according to my atlas) from Dubai, and one doesn't have to get
very far inland before sea-level becomes something more than that if you
have to get to 10,000 feet in about 50 miles.

My place is at 1,200 feet and the trails out climb to 3000 feet in about 2
1/2 miles, and when you get up there to the ridgeline you have a very nice
ocean view (on a clear day it's as if you can reach out and touch Catalina
Island).  The mountains outside of Malibu reach those same heights not 5
miles from the Ocean.

I am not saying that Dubai must be like Malibu, I'm just saying that it
doesn't have to be like Florida just because it is coastal.

My original question was?????

Was the Lori Stewart pre-ride report wrong when she said that the ride was
like the desert Southwest?

And is the Encyclopaedia Britanica wrong when it describes the climate of
UAE? (BTW:  _I_ don't describe average temperatures of 65 def F as "hot"
either).

Where did the idea come from that Dubai was like Florida?  Since _I_ can't
find anything that suggests that?

kat
Orange County, Calif.