Winter living locations?

I appreciate awesome climbing more than I appreciate sunny winters so I'd park myself in Sonora and pick my days to climb in the valley. This winter that'd be nearly everyday.

Grand Junction CO !!

1. doesn't get a fraction of the snow that the mountains of CO get

2. still close to as many mountains and snow as you could ever want.

3. has an airport but is also only 4 hours from Denver or salt lake.

4. world class climbing: minutes from Colorado national monument, escalante canyon, unaweep canyon, grand mesa. within a couple hours: rifle mountain park, moab, san Rafael swell, fisher towers, castle valley.

5. numerous world class bouldering spots within minutes.

6. not a tourist trap.

7. low cost of living for the region.

8. Pablo's pizza on main st.

question: when you finally choose a place, does the provider of info on that place get anything? you should at least provide them with a place to crash when their in town.

edit: also some of the best mountain biking/trail running trails in the country. perfectly located at the junction of mountains and desert so you get the best of both worlds.

ok, option 2: although I can't fathom why you would want to leave Colorado it sounds like my home town of Travelers rest SC is what your looking for. it's just below the NC border so within an hours drive you can climb at: rumbling bald, looking glass rock, cedar rock, big green, whitesides, and numerous other places. it's 20 min. from Greenville SC which has an international airport, or 2 1/2 hurs from Atlanta.

plenty of trees. very mild winters but easy to get to snowier conditions if you want(elevation changes by 1000 ft within a 20 min drive). beautiful mountain views.

good trail running at: paris mountain, table rock, jones gap, and ceasars head state parks. all within 30 min..

the city is small but still has all needed conveniences: IE restaurants, stores, ETC. the town recently renovated its main street. it's very pleasant and beautiful. the "swamp rabbit" trail runs right through the middle of town. this is a 30 mile running/biking trail built on a historic railroad bed.

cost of living is low. gas is one of the lowest in the country.

it is probably the best place in the east to live, but I would still move to CO tomorrow if my wife would go with me.

^ traveler's rest is choss.

I was already fed and banging my girlfriend after climbing at LG while my partner was commuting back to his SC home near TR.

Payson, AZ

Pine trees, not desert. Small/medium town.

Year round climbing in Isolation Canyon (trad, sport, single pitch, multipitch) and Jacks Canyon

"Travelers Rest is choss"

Travelers rest is a very nice place to live. proximity to climbing was not the only criteria set forth in the original post.

BTW rule 1 in this forum is "don't be a jerk".

KevinD wrote:Payson, AZ Pine trees, not desert. Small/medium town. Year round climbing in Isolation Canyon (trad, sport, single pitch, multipitch) and Jacks Canyon

Brevard, NC.

Gotta have good rock climbing and trail running.
Trail running might be hard if you don't want to be in a desert, but there is plenty of winter climbing. Realistically, you can probably climb on 60 to 80% of the days between November and May.

Somewhere reasonably warm, but not an arid desert environment. Some freezing temps at night fine, but average daytime temps allowing rock climbing essential.
It's not the warmest or driest option but it's pretty good. You'll get some snow but it usually melts away pretty fast. You probably won't have to shovel snow, at least not every year.

Treed/forested and ideally somewhat mountainous or at least hilly is ideal.
Nice rolling mountains, national forest, not far from the highest mountains in the east.

Rural or small town, no city or suburban environment.
Brevard is a nice little town, nt much sprawl because of the national forest. Asheville is an hour away if you want to get into the city once in a while.

Within an hour or two drive from major airport is a big plus.
Asheville Regional - 1 hour
Charlotte International - 2 hours
Atlanta International - 2.5 hours

Low cost of living is very desirable.
Maybe not the cheapest, but certainly much more affordable than anywhere out west.

Culturally more laid back/live and let live rather than uptight moral high ground
Progressive town in a conservative state. Perfect balance if you ask me.

If I could live there, I would. I plan to try some day.

If you consider Flagstaff but want warmth, consider Prescott. Lot of great trad and sport crags nearby. Flagstaff is close enough. Low key kinda place. Great cragging within an hour drive.

If it snows at all, it is usually gone in a day or so.

Chattanooga is great. Lots of great climbing and trails. If you decide to check it out send me a pm, I would be happy to show you around

sharyl wrote:Chattanooga is great. Lots of great climbing and trails. If you decide to check it out send me a pm, I would be happy to show you around

george wilkey wrote:Grand Junction CO !!

Happiegrrrl wrote:What's wrong with arid desert in winter????

Morongo Valley in winter....Clove Valley in winter...hmmm. I don't think desert winter comes close to being cold! At least when the sun is out.