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Sell me Grand Junction, Colorado.

Original Post
Wolfgang Nurgen · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2015 · Points: 0

Well, the town is not all that, we all know that...there is Ouray and the Creek near by, Vail is 2 hours drive, but what else? Please indulge...

garrettem · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 575

You can save a lot of money for meth by dumping your trash in the desert north of town. Also, we have 5 mcdonalds and at a few pizza huts if you want a sit down meal...

Look into
Unaweep, colorado national monument

Chris Schmidt · · Fruita, CO · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 0

Where do you live now and what is not working for you there?

There is not traffic here. Ever. It's not really even possible. If you want to go somewhere and its 120 miles away it will take 2 hours. Or less. If traffic / overcrowding is as big of a deal breaker to you as it is to me don't look east of Avon if you're set on CO.

People are genuinely nice and friendly here. Not the fake kind of nice you encounter in bigger cities. The whole Grand Valley has under 200K people. But that is over an absolutely enormous land area. It doesn't feel like a city at all. Idk that it qualifies as a city. There isn't a city for 250 miles in any direction. Still feels like the Wild Wild West kinda sorta but not really.

I would rather live in Moab or Ouray / Ridgway or Carbondale but Fruita is in between all 3 and I can actually afford to live here. I will admit if I wasn't tied down I would probably prefer Glenwood or Durango. There are better options for sure depending on your priorities. It is amazing for access to all sorts of adventure, although the local (<30 minutes) stuff is pretty mediocre - minus the MTB trails those are pretty great.

Mark Wilson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 0

Just check driving times to major climbing, cycling, running, ski destinations. that pretty much says it all in terms of advantages. consider that these drive times are consistent no matter when the drive is undertaken.

Eric Danner · · The People's Republic of Bo… · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 0

lived there for 2 years. No

Eric Danner · · The People's Republic of Bo… · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 0

lived there for 2 years. No

Glenn Schuler · · Monument, Co. · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,330

The locals eagerly await the arrival of Elena & Big Beard. I'm sure you will find something to complain & bitch about.

Chad Miller · · Grand Junction, CO · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 150

You don't move to GJ for GJ. You move here for what's within two hours of GJ

Climbing
Backpacking
Skiing
Mountain biking
Canyoneering
Rafting

Climbing:
Unaweep
Moab
Rifle
Dominguez Canyon

The city itself is ok. The cost of housing is way less than anywhere in the front range or the ski towns. The primary employers for Thea area in descending order are the county, the two hospitals, and the schools.

I hope this was helpful.

Eric Carlos · · Soddy Daisy, TN · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 121

I moved here from Boulder in June, and have no regrets. There aren't a crap ton of people everywhere you go. Rifle is just over an hour, Moab 2, the creek less than 3, Ouray 1.5, Maple just over 4. Locally, you have Unaweep, the Monument, the Mesa, a decent climbing gym, and a local ski mountain that isn't crowded, Powderhorn. If you want nightlife, go elsewhere, but compared to the throngs of people on the front range, this is a pretty sweet spot to live.

Peter Blank · · Grand Junction, Colorado · Joined May 2008 · Points: 720

Climbing is chossy and dangerous. It's piss cold in the winter. Way to hot in the summer. Sketchy methy crimes all the time. Some guy on MP makes it look ok by posting every known rock in the desert as a boulder problem. You get invaded by Rock Jam and Country Jam people and then 9 months later there's a huge litter of new babies named Axl and Garth. Everyone carries a gun because often it seems like a smart idea. You should move to Boulder, CO. I hear it's nice there.

portercassidy · · UT/CO · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 66

Ya, its alright.

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276
Peter Blank wrote:Climbing is chossy and dangerous. It's piss cold in the winter. Way to hot in the summer. Sketchy methy crimes all the time. Some guy on MP makes it look ok by posting every known rock in the desert as a boulder problem. You get invaded by Rock Jam and Country Jam people and then 9 months later there's a huge litter of new babies named Axl and Garth. Everyone carries a gun because often it seems like a smart idea. You should move to Boulder, CO. I hear it's nice there.
My kind of town. I'll call a real estate agent there. Thanks.
Chad Miller · · Grand Junction, CO · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 150

Awe Peter, you're just not a bold enough climber to handle the choss. ;)

Paul Ross · · Keswick, Cumbria · Joined Apr 2001 · Points: 22,236

Try PALISADE POP 2500 real small town...12 miles from center of GJ. 18 Wineries ,Peach orchards and the best single pitch "real" choss climbs in the Western States!.... If your into Desert Climbs...11/2 hours to Moab and the Swell NO TRAFFIC . 1/2 hour to free groomed X-country skiing.. .20mins to Fruita Mt biking (some say as good as Moab)...1/2 hour to National Monument Towers .. 1/2 hour to Unaweep (Granite multi pitch climbs)Smallish downhill area 1/2 hour.Big off lease dog park in Palisade.
I found the weather as good if not better than the Eastern Slope.. and no problem at all with traffic and crowds unlike the Denver/Boulder area.
However social life for climbers might be better in Boulder.Plenty of guns in the area,it is the Wild Wild West.
I lived in Palisade 13 years.

Dave Deming · · Grand Junction CO · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 25

I moved to GJ in 2010, mainly for the "what's in a 2 hour driving time" equation myself. However, there are some definite pluses beyond simply that. Cheaper cost of living than the Front Range, easy access throughout the area, low traffic and decent cost of living.
The negatives, either bring your job with you or have one before you get here. Employment can be sketchy and is often reduced to the extractive industries. Some areas of the city are better off than others. I recommend the GJcity.gov site and use the crime map. It's the best way to figure out where you want to live. While there is CMU here, it really doesn't have the college town feel. I don't know what your opinion is on that, but it is nice to have the ability to go to classes if you want.
Access to recreational opportunities abound, and I think I do't need to go over that, however, the local ski hill (45 minutes away) just added a high speed lift...

grog m · · Saltlakecity · Joined Aug 2012 · Points: 70

Sell me grand junction? good lawd aint nobody from there gonna respond well to that. Hence the s%$&y responses. Grew up there.

KCLewis Lewis · · Grand Junction · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 0

Why in the world would we want to "sell you" on Grand Junction. Those of us who live here know exactly why we're sold. One of the reasons is that other people don't really know we exist. LOTS of outdoor paradise and NOT all the masses of people, vehicles, traffic, posers and their dogs with saddle bags around every turn. You would be hard pressed to put your finger on the map anywhere else in the country where you could find such a variety of uncrowded outdoor activities within 90 minutes AND with ridiculously great weather. Fortunately it is 4 hours in any direction to get to any truly large population. Please God let it stay this way. So no....not for sale.

Pete Spri · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 347

Someone else was talking about GJ in another thread. It sounded like any local after work climbing was still an you drive. Is there anything within 30 minutes?

Chris Schmidt · · Fruita, CO · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 0

If you live and work near the east entrance to the monument (downtown GJ or Redlands) you could be bouldering (or MTB) after work in under 15 minutes

Eric Carlos · · Soddy Daisy, TN · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 121
Pete Spri wrote:Someone else was talking about GJ in another thread. It sounded like any local after work climbing was still an you drive. Is there anything within 30 minutes?
Not much cragging close by but if you want to drive a hour or more it opens up a lot more. Some afterwork bouldering can certainly be found.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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