Have a chance to move to LA. How's the climbing?

Well done, Phylp! I think I got 'em all right.

Mnt File wrote:

 But if you like surfing and climbing gyms and driving and hate money...

What do you mean by "hate money?" Most people who move to big cities like LA do so because it affords them the opportunity for making a ton more money than they could ever make in a smaller place. And, also, to make vertical moves in a career that later allow you to leave the big city flush and move back to, say, Moab or Bishop and not have to live out of a van...

Andrew Ricewrote:

What do you mean by "hate money?" Most people who move to big cities like LA do so because it affords them the opportunity for making a ton more money than they could ever make in a smaller place. And, also, to make vertical moves in a career that later allow you to leave the big city flush and move back to, say, Moab or Bishop and not have to live out of a van...

Great Point! All of my friends who have moved to the good Mt places and retired in style made their fortunes in LA.

Edit to add: Over the years of living in LA (50 years) my observation is that about 50% want to move. I always tell them- “let me know when and I will come and help load the U-Haul”

Guy Keeseewrote:

Edit to add: Over the years of living in LA (50 years) my observation is that about 50% want to move. I always tell them- “let me know when and I will come and help load the U-Haul”

LOL. You're a good friend if you're helping people do that. My observation is that 50% of people almost EVERYWHERE want to "pull a geographic" and run away from something. Nothing wrong with that. I'll just also observe that someone faced with the choice between continuing to live in Tucson or moving to a nice part of one of the best cities in the US is faced with a terrific choice, nothing negative about that. Whatever she chooses, she's winning at life. 

moving from Tucson to LA (climbing only):

Pros: Weekend access to world-class areas.  Access to wider variety of rock types and climbing styles (including mountaineering and ice climbing).

Cons: A lot more time in the car.  And it's frustrating car time with stop-and-go traffic, exhaust pollution, etc.  Having to drive at weird hours to avoid traffic.

Andrew Ricewrote:

What do you mean by "hate money?" Most people who move to big cities like LA do so because it affords them the opportunity for making a ton more money than they could ever make in a smaller place. And, also, to make vertical moves in a career that later allow you to leave the big city flush and move back to, say, Moab or Bishop and not have to live out of a van...

Meaning you make twice as much and spend three and a  times as much. High cost of living area. Always paying to park , parking tickets, using lots of gas etc etc . need to make $200,000 to be middle class.
SFV, SGV WLA are known . GH SV and abbrv every district and neighborhood aren’t . By many metrics LA county including the valleys and inland areas do not have high standard of living or quality of life. Realize you’re inside AC or heated buildings or vehicle the majority of walking hours. The nicer areas are far more expensive then people can pay . Watch Sigalert.com  red 15 mph roads for 16 hours a day . Smog filled Burbank Kevin is hours from anything in traffic . Williamson in Angeles forest has been closed for  20 years. Angelenos delude themselves and mostly climb indoors 

JaredGwrote:

Cons: A lot more time in the car.  And it's frustrating car time with stop-and-go traffic, exhaust pollution, etc.  Having to drive at weird hours to avoid traffic.

Depends on job and location.   I live in Burbank, while not a garden spot it’s surrounded by freeways heading out of town.   I’m less than an hour to great summer climbing in Angeles National Forest, an hour from high desert climbing in the winter.  If I lived in a “better” location like the west side near the beach it would ad at least 30 minutes if not an hour with traffic.  While I would rather live closer to the water I have been very happy with Burbank and it’s quick escape from LA location. 

Diego Climberwrote:

 The nicer areas are far more expensive then people can pay . 

I don't recall the original poster saying what she can or can't pay. I agree that the nicest parts of LA are more expensive than the shitty parts, but that's true everywhere. I pay a lot to live in one of the best areas and for me, right now, that's a good choice. I'm also fortunate to be able to make that choice. At some point it will probably cease to be and I'll move somewhere that better suits my needs then. 

FrankPSwrote:

Well done, Phylp! I think I got 'em all right.

Thank you Frank! I aim to entertain.
For the record I climbed in Pine Creek today.  It’s gorgeous up here right now!

Before moving to California, visit for a few days and drive on all roads and freeways nearby during morning and afternoon rush hour. Even in the middle of the night roads are often closed for repairs. That causes huge reroutes and detours. Californians are not thinking straight if they want to add to our 40,000,000 population. Josh is an hour wait in line to get in the park weekends. Tick rock is a loose choss pile. You may see the pot addict Ronny James Dio looking climber dwarf troll there. If he’s not in Thailand. The one with the movie title name. He’s the mayor of tick rock. Willc has the most accurate description of LA and climbing .

Love him or laugh at him… that was a helluva voice.

Diego Climberwrote:

Tick rock is a loose choss pile. You may see the pot addict Ronny James Dio looking climber dwarf troll there. If he’s not in Thailand. The one with the movie title name. He’s the mayor of tick rock.

Beware, you might run into Skelator at the infamous Tick Rock

Do you all really think it’s cool to make fun of someone on a public forum? And then pile on? It’s not even appropriate for pre-adolescents on the playground. 

David Katzwrote:

Beware, you might run into Skelator at the infamous Tick Rock

Lol, Jeff has been my most consistent partner for 8 years now and have put up more new routes with him than any other partner.   He may be uh, how can I put it, abrasive?  He knows what he is doing, is reliable and safe.  You just have to listen to a lot of gun talk lol.  

We have a lot of good bouldering in Malibu too. vimeo.com/157450064

George Bracksieckwrote:

Do you all really think it’s cool to make fun of someone on a public forum? And then pile on? It’s not even appropriate for pre-adolescents on the playground. 

Obviously you have not undergone the wrath of Skelator 

Just wanted to say thanks everyone for your input. Gave me a lot of valuable information. I decided to turn down the job based on your replies and my own feelings about the cost of living. I really appreciate all of the time you each took to talk to me. 

Taylor Neffwrote:

Just wanted to say thanks everyone for your input. Gave me a lot of valuable information. I decided to turn down the job based on your replies and my own feelings about the cost of living. I really appreciate all of the time you each took to talk to me. 

Thanks for the Thank You… so many times some folks ask for advice, perspective on things the never get back. Thanks for being classy. 

My parents live in Tucson and I live in SD. I would absolutely move to LA for climbing/life compared to Tucson. You drive a bit further, sorta, but the variety is much, much higher and the quality is as well. Tucson is fairly far from destination areas like the Sierra Eastside or Red Rock and frankly lots of the climbing, while nice, is so-so and a pain in the ass.