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Considering a move to Hanover, NH... need some help

Original Post
Colorado Jack · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 0

Hello East Coast'ers

I'm evaluating an opportunity to relocate from the front range of Colorado to work in Hanover, NH. It looks like the cost of living is considerably higher in NH and climbing is obviously a bit farther than it would be here, but can anyone out there provide and general thoughts or advice comparing life in New Hampshire vs. Colorado.

I have a great group of climbing partners here in the front range and ultimately curious about the scene in the town of Hanover itself. I'm sure there are lots of students to climb with, but I'm looking to see if there are any MP'ers from Hanover that hang out here.

Thanks in advance!

Jack

EDIT Some of the regular MP'ers figured out that this is a sock puppet. I don't want to post under my regular name or account because its not a done deal and I have some co-workers that read the forums. Please don't call me out in the forums.

cjdrover · · Watertown, MA · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 355

You'd be about 2 hours from North Conway (multipitch trad), 1 hour from Rumney (sport, some bouldering), and 90 minutes from Pawtuckaway (lots of bouldering, a few trad lines). Lots of local unpublished/little known areas, too.

I haven't lived in CO, so I'm not familiar with the cost of living there, but here's what I can offer:

-NH has no sales tax.
-Property taxes in some parts of NH can be high, check this out for sure.
-Having lived in the Columbus, OH area for college, the cost of living in the northeast does not seem to be substantially different from the midwest. This obviously excludes Boston and NYC.
-To give you an idea, currently gas is $2.63 in northeastern MA, and a 30 pack of PBR is about $15. (I don't see what else you could possibly need to buy!)

Evan1984 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 30

I just moved from Denver to Maine, and I climb almost exclusively in North Conway, NH. Cathedral and Whitehorse rival the areas in the Front Range, but, as a whole, the climbing is not as plentiful or accesible. I haven't explored the other places yet.

What you will notice about the climbing community is that it is much smaller, which is a double edged sword. On one hand the gyms and partner options will seem second rate. On the other, the people are really great and you don't have as much of the BS that can occur in CO due to crowding and attitudes.

Cost of living in NH seems pretty comparable to Denver with the exception of there being no sales tax, which is sweet. I haven't looked into housing, though.

Cheers

Nathan Stokes · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 440

Best thing about NH is the state run liquor stores. Can you say handles of Vodka for 10 bucks and you can check availability of any store's stock online ( nh.gov/liquor/index.shtml). Other than that there is the problem that all of southern NH is a suburb of Boston and a single wide trailer will cost you $200K in some areas. Also no motorcycle helmet necessary.

Lizz Bartlett · · Arlington, MA · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 0

The big question is: Do you ice climb?

Ta,
Lizz

Coz Teplitz · · Watertown, MA · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 215

I once spent three months in Boulder, and although I now live in Boston, my girlfriend is in med school at Dartmouth, and I spend quite a bit of time up here (I'm actually typing this from one of the cafes in town).

Boulder had an unbelievable amount of rock, and it was so easy to get to. Hanover won't be able to compare to that. Nor will Hanover be able to compare with number of climbers - I just haven't been able to find the same number of motivated, competent folks here. That said, the folks I have met from around here tend to be initially reserved, and then quite warm and hospitable. It's worth pointing out that I do live in Boston, and mostly climb with Boston partners, so I haven't really spent much time trying to get into this climbing community.

As far as the climbing itself goes, it doesn't really rival the Front Range - but not much can. The climbing that is here is excellent - great sport at Rumney, great granite in North Conway, on Cannon, and on Owl's Head, wonderful ice everywhere. Two hours will get you to most places you want to get to, including NH and VT climbing. ADKs are ~3 hours. However, for really good climbing, plan on driving most of an hour (there's stuff closer, but I've been unimpressed). I've found the backcountry skiing to also be great (well, for east coast standards), but it also requires a drive of at least an hour.

Hanover is much smaller than the Front Range, and so it'll feel closer, tighter, more embracing (or claustrophobic) than CO. As someone else pointed out, probably less BS, and definitely fewer people.

Jay Knower · · Plymouth, NH; Lander, WY · Joined Jul 2001 · Points: 6,256
Evan1984 wrote:Cathedral and Whitehorse rival the areas in the Front Range, but, as a whole, the climbing is not as plentiful or accesible. I haven't explored the other places yet. Cheers
I would say that the climbing in NH is as good (or better) than any place in the country. I think when you add up Rumney, Cannon, Cathedral Whitehorse, and the Kanc Crags, I would say that the the climbing opportunities are definitely plentiful.

The weather, for me, is the biggest detriment. There are great stretches of perfect weather, but there are also periods when it rains every day. And these rain events are not like the afternoon showers that you tend to get in the mountains. Water out here just sits in the air and makes the rock wet and the climbing unpleasant. During rainy years, certain routes may never dry out. Of course, there are also routes that stay dry in even the wettest of conditions.

New Englanders are known as "hardy" for a reason. They get good at dealing with less-than-perfect conditions. A good friend of mine, who was born and raised here, says, "There is no such thing as bad conditions, just bad attitudes."
clemay · · Fort Collins · Joined Sep 2007 · Points: 0

I live in Boulder now,I was born and raised in the Boston area and learned to climb there. The NE area can't rival the amount of rock that is here in the Front Range but I the diversity of rock is better than CO and the quality is just as good. Like Jay said, we NE folks are hardy people because we learn to climb in less than desirable weather condition and there is a reason why some of the best all around alpinists come from and still live in NE.

If you don't know how to ice climb, learn!! The ice climbing in CO pales in comparison to New England. They may not be as long or in an alpine setting but NE has the highest concentration of moderate to hard ice climbing in the country and it is more consistent. That is the one thing that I miss the most of the NE climbing is the ice.

The climbers may not be as intense as climbers in CO/Front Range but they are just as motivated so finding a partner shouldn't be that hard to find. I don't know that much about the Hanover area but most of the climbers are in or around Boston. If you do move there, post on NEClimbs.com. That is where most people post when looking for partners.

If you want more info, sent me a PM and will will give you any information you need.

Chris

Colorado Jack · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 0

bump

Jay Knower · · Plymouth, NH; Lander, WY · Joined Jul 2001 · Points: 6,256
Colorado Jack wrote:bump
Do you have any more questions that you need answered?
Scott McMahon · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,425

You can get drunk at the bar and chant "Live Free or Die"!

Just kidding, I love NH!!

Ryan Malarky · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 110

I grew up in Connecticut but used to spend a lot of time in NH. My parents had a place in Franconia for a little while, as well. Now, I live in Fort Collins and have been in Colorado for 6 years.

Not to be redundant as to other posts, but the diversity of rock here and the weather is way better in CO than NH. That being said, I do miss fall days cragging in New England. Plus, the ice climbing out in New England really is great, so if you're not an ice climber yet, it's time to get some tools.

And, I don't know if you're a skier, but CO has NH beat on that one as well.

E thatcher · · Plymouth/ North Conway (NH) · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 915
Ryan Malarky wrote: And, I don't know if you're a skier, but CO has NH beat on that one as well.
Only if you like powder. If you're a fan of iced up moguls on tight trails or open woods then NH is King!
Jay Knower · · Plymouth, NH; Lander, WY · Joined Jul 2001 · Points: 6,256

I remember a Climbing Magazine article long ago that said that you can get good at all types of climbing if you live in NH. It's true.

Steep Sport: Rumney
Slab: Whitehorse
Trad/Mixed: Cathedral
Alpine Rock: Cannon
Mountaineering: Mt. Washington
Ice: Lake Willoughby
Bouldering: Pawtuckaway
Aid/Wall: Cathedral

All of these areas should be in the conversation about the best places to practice their respective disciplines. All are within a two hour drive of Hanover.

T. William · · Avon · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 80

I lived just outside of Dover, NH before I moved to Colorado last fall. Both states offer up plenty of great climbing but I must say i that when springs comes to Colorado (if it ever left Boulder)you can actually climb outside without falling prey to thousands of flying insects. Very annoying, and it can be hard to enjoy climbing when the humidity is 90% and all the deet in the world can't save you. You'll be running for shelter in no time. Which bring up another point...Gyms. Don't plan on any fancy entre-prises, real rock, black light responsive, free form boulders in New Hampshire (unless your going to Mass. for Metro Rock) it's all woodies. However, at Vertical Dreams you can climb out of a 70ft elevator shaft...the second time you go. Now that i've bashed it, let me build it up. On the east coast when the conditions are good, there's nothing better. The granite is great quality with delicate faces, jug haul flakes, and cracks of all sizes and directions. The gneiss offers up wild, pumpy moves and formations. The crags are beautiful and clean, the climbs very aesthetic. Boulders sit peacefully in pine forests and along rivers. You won't wait behind 3 parties to just get on the rock, some days you won't see anybody. The locals are inviting and for the most part won't bag you. There's still a lot of undeveloped rock. Nobody cares how hard you climb. If I remember right no raptor closings? No sales taxe and full strength beer at the grocery store. Fall bring friction and amazing foliage. I never got on any ice but i know theres plenty of it and Mt. Washington is one of the best alpine training grounds around. When i think about it the only thing keeping me from going back besides a great woman is the bugs, and the Colorado pow pow.

Lew Thatcher · · Sunapee Harbor · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 0

if you do end up moving out here shoot me a PM i live about 20 minutes from Hanover....theres a small local bouldering spot close to here...still dont know all that much about what around here just moved here in may

lew

Anna Condino · · Fall City, WA · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 70

I just moved to Hanover from North Conway. As for local stuff, I am still discovering, but Rumney at 40 mins away is pretty close and there's a whole lot there. The crags on the Kanc (1 1/2 - 2 hours away) are my particular favorites, great variety and tons and tons of potential. The climbing is adventurous and traditional. Cathedral, Whitehorse and the Mount Washington Valley are about as good as it gets out here, and they are close enough for a day trip, too. The community and the climbing in North Conway are awesome.

Dartmouth has a mountaineering club that is very active and can provide a lot of information as well as eager young partners if you wish ... I am a medical student and we have a good contingent here as well.

I would have to agree with a previous poster, the weather is the biggest deterrent. Prepare yourself with DEET and the bugs won't kill you when they are out, but you can't stop the rain. As a born and raised New Englander, I have realized that the bad days make me appreciate and seize the good days that much more!

As for other sports, The ice climbing around here is excellent, as is the skiing - good resort and good backcountry within a reasonable distance.

Hope this helps ... I'd give it a shot!

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northeastern States
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