For thousands of years the valleys, prairies, mountains, and plateaus of the inland northwest have been home to the nimí·pu· (Nez Perce) people. Extremely resilient, they have adapted and survived the settling of the United States. Elevations in the park range from 700 feet above sea level to over 8,000, providing a wide range of climatic conditions that follow the four seasons. Summer can be very warm, particularly in the river valleys, spring and fall are moderate and comfortable, and winter conditions can be severe in the higher elevations, with snow and ice making travel difficult and dangerous.