calling all Gunnison locals!

So I'm 24, about to graduate paramedic school, and living in Alabama but I'm looking to change that. I love trad climbing, and AL is pretty much only single pitch which is cool, but I'm looking for the big stuff! Also, the south is getting old and I want a big change.

For the last year I've been obsessively searching around for places to move to and it seems like Gunnison is continually coming up over and over again. I have a list of criteria that eliminates a lot of the obvious choices but I want some input for people who actually live in Gunnison.

Here is my list of things I'm hoping to find in a place to live in order of importance...is Gunnison the place?

1. Good climbing community, and by climbing I mean trad climbers
2. good local climbing
3. a nice hospital with potential for employment as a paramedic
4. down to earth, honest, fun loving people
5. an outdoors town, not a fake-ass "outdoorsy" town like boulder/ashville/etc... I want the people to live there for the geography and community not the "scene"

From what I have seen, the local climbing is awesome, and the hospital looks really nice, but as far as the other requirements I'm not sure without your advice.

Another concern that I have is that Gunnison, from what I understand is a college town. I think college girls are as cute as the next guy but honestly, at 24 I'm looking for an adult crowd to hang with. I'm tired of dating 22 and 23 year old girls who dont know where they're going in life. Does an adult trad climber crowd exist in Gunni?

Thanks for any input y'all may have,
Sam

Don't try to grow up too fast kid, enjoy the ride.

Sam, in a word, yes.
Right on Tyler.

Tyler Tylerson wrote:Don't try to grow up too fast kid, enjoy the ride.

I hear where your coming from, but in general I find that I don't get along with people my age because I am much more focused and driven in my climbing and professional life. Maybe I wont truly understand your statement until I am older?

I am not ok with being supported by my parents like most of my peers. Without delving too much in to my personal past, I have experienced a lot of things in life that have accelerated my growing up process which I am kinda happy about.

I don't think trying to work full time as a paramedic and rock climb on every off day sounds too grown up does it?

Thanks guys

Hi Sam,
I asked somewhat similar questions back in January, so maybe this thread will help you: mountainproject.com/v/life-…

Good luck on your journey.

p.s. there are a lot of 20-somethings with old souls, and a lot of middle-aged people who don't know what the f they are doing. No reason to exclude one age group over another.

In ten years of living in CO, I've yet to meet anyone who regrets moving here. You're young, go for it, if it doesn't work out, move elsewhere. Gunnison is cold and isolated and small yet beautifully situated.

Oh yes, quality mates are going to be hard to come by in some of the western slope. Bring your own.

Johanna wrote:Hi Sam, I asked somewhat similar questions back in January, so maybe this thread will help you: mountainproject.com/v/life-… Good luck on your journey. p.s. there are a lot of 20-somethings with old souls, and a lot of middle-aged people who don't know what the f they are doing. No reason to exclude one age group over another.

already read your posting haha. there is A LOT of truth to your statement about the souls...thanks for reminding me of that:)

Merlin wrote:In ten years of living in CO, I've yet to meet anyone who regrets moving here. You're young, go for it, if it doesn't work out, move elsewhere. Gunnison is cold and isolated and small yet beautifully situated. Oh yes, quality mates are going to be hard to come by in some of the western slope. Bring your own.

you're right, i am young without too much to loose. i like isolated and i really dont mind cold one bit...i spent time working in antarctica and learned that with the right clothing you should never be cold.

as far as mates...it can not be possibly more of a grim situation than where i live in alabama haha.

thanks for the wisdom everybody
sam

Do you want to work as a tech or a Medic on an ambulance? My buddy works at the hospital as a tech and he seems to like it, and may chime in here. The ambulance service has a little to be desired IMO, with the egos and stupid EMS mentality of "I save lives and I'm better than you"... but maybe I'm the only one who thinks that. Anyway, move to gunnison. I lived there for a while and its full of good people and a sweet mountain rescue team and great climbing. If its ladies your after, go to boulder.

Pat Erley wrote:Do you want to work as a tech or a Medic on an ambulance? My buddy works at the hospital as a tech and he seems to like it, and may chime in here. The ambulance service has a little to be desired IMO, with the egos and stupid EMS mentality of "I save lives and I'm better than you"... but maybe I'm the only one who thinks that. Anyway, move to gunnison. I lived there for a while and its full of good people and a sweet mountain rescue team and great climbing. If its ladies your after, go to boulder.

ill work as either. honestly, id prefer to work on the field though as you get to use your skills more often and you have more autonomy. its hilarious what you said about the ambulance service. thats just EMS in general. you get a lot of tools with that we save lives attitude and then you get some honest down to earth people as well.

i would love to get involved with the SAR team!

ive visited boulder, and the ladies there didn't have what i was looking for haha. medics dont make that much and id hate to have to scrape by in boulder man.

if you wouldn't mind asking your buddy to PM me, maybe i could pick his brain a little.