Where to live in CO

Alex Ghiggeri wrote:golden dude.... golden

That's where Andy Novak lives! NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Longmont, Loveland, or Fort Collins if you're destined for CO. Relatively reasonable rent, very nice towns, and generally aren't as much of a clusterf--k as Denver or even Boulder. Many good crags less than a half hour's drive. Colorado Springs isn't so bad either with Shelf Road being maybe an hour.

Outside Colorado (highly advisable) I'd recommend Boise or Salt Lake. I know you said you lived in Utah before, but perhaps considering all the other circumstances and stipulations, you could compromise on the pollution. I've only visited Boise before, but it seems like a great place to live.

Portland? Seattle? Tahoe? Vegas? Flagstaff? Jackson?

I would say the most important variable is the importance of skiing vs. climbing. Seems there's not many options to have great accessibility to both.

Hunter McPherson wrote: most important variable is the importance of skiing vs. climbing. Seems there's not many options to have great accessibility to both.

Squamish BC.

Hunter McPherson wrote:Seems there's not many options to have great accessibility to both.

Although not year round skiing, I would say Tahoe has great accessibility to both. Some classic climbs and ski descents are just minutes from major highways. Very easy access. That's where we're headed after my wife is finished with school.

Tylerpratt wrote:+1 for grand junction. Great weather, amazing hiking. One of the best mountain biking destinations in the world. 1.5 hours from Moab. Great ski locations. Seriously a great place to live.

Do not forget Palisade ... nice quiet village twelve miles from GJ

Vegas? Flagstaff??? No way, I need snow and ice. Bill Squamish would be awesome but I have a step daughter and she can't leave the country

Danomcq wrote:Vegas? Flagstaff??? No way, I need snow and ice. Bill Squamish would be awesome but I have a step daughter and she can't leave the country

It's nearly impossible to get into Canada from the US unless you got money to park there or a boss that can prove he needs you.

Plus, the Rambles (ice climbing) is about three hours from Squamish.

I love living in Boulder. Although expensive, the fact that I can wake up, walk out my door, and hit the trails directly to the Flatirons is priceless. I can see Eldorado from my house, there are numerous canyons within a 20 min ride, and Rocky Mountain is just an hour away.

Also, we're a one car household, so being able to commute by bus/bike was essential for me. I can't think of a better place for that than Boulder. It takes me 40 min by bus to get to work in Denver. There's also loads of other stuff to do (mountain biking, skiing, breweries, music/art/public speakers, community events, farmers markets, etc.), and options for work.

However, if you're only interested in climbing/skiing, and would be happy with less choice on the other perks, there's probably better places for you - just from a cost of living stand point. I will say though, there are some lower cost options (housing) in surrounding areas, and, like others mentioned, you are likely going to find a higher paying job in this area than in others.

Danomcq wrote:we'd like to have a bit of land.

Mason Roberts wrote:I love living in Boulder.

Yeah, try that w/ Boulder. Or even just afford to buy the dumpiest place...

Mason Roberts wrote:I can wake up, walk out my door, and hit the trails directly to the Flatirons is priceless. I can see Eldorado from my house...It takes me 40 min by bus to get to work in Denver.

So you have a 40 min one way commute to work. That right there kills most of the advantage of living in Boulder: that all your closeness to outdoor is much less accessible on work days. I don't mind driving into Boulder on the weekends if need to.

reboot wrote: Yeah, try that w/ Boulder. Or even just afford to buy the dumpiest place... So you have a 40 min one way commute to work. That right there kills most of the advantage of living in Boulder: that all your closeness to outdoor is much less accessible on work days. I don't mind driving into Boulder on the weekends if need to.

I find it funny when someone doesn't mind wasting nearly an hour and a half every day commuting.

Danomcq wrote:Vegas? Flagstaff??? No way, I need snow and ice. Bill Squamish would be awesome but I have a step daughter and she can't leave the country

Flagstaff has Arizona Snowbowl 14 miles away. Never been but just a suggestion. Arizona seems pretty rad from what people have said.

Vegas has a tiny resort nearby, just another off-hand idea. Red rocks obviously would be greatly large motivating factor.

Squamish seems to be a great option. A visit would probably pay off big time. I wouldn't personally be a fan of living in Canada but to each their own.

Hunter McPherson wrote: Flagstaff has Arizona Snowbowl 14 miles away. Never been but just a suggestion. Arizona seems pretty rad from what people have said. Vegas has a tiny resort nearby, just another off-hand idea. Red rocks obviously would be greatly large motivating factor. Squamish seems to be a great option. A visit would probably pay off big time. I wouldn't personally be a fan of living in Canada but to each their own.

Snowbowl snow...is well intermittent. Dumps...no snow.

grog m wrote:Everyone moves to Colorado for the best skiing and climbing but the actual best is in Utah. I lived in CO for 15 years. Now I live in Utah.

hear hear. If skiing and climbing are your priorities you should seriously consider the SLC area. Not sure what the real estate market is like there right now, but I'm willing to bet you will have better luck scoring some land there compared to the CO front range.

Also, I wouldn't mind living in GJ. It gets a bad rap, but it's actually ideally situated with regard to climbing, ice climbing, hiking, skiing, rafting, etc. Being less than a couple hours from 'world class' climbing areas like Ouray (ice), Rifle (sport), Black Canyon (big wall adventure trad), AND Indian Creek (desert trad).

If I were you though, I'd take a bit of time off to explore your options and actually check some of these cities out in person. Feel them out. Climb. Then see which one fits.

Just don't move to Denver. For the love of God.

All good beta. Thanks guys

I like Junction but damn it gets hot in the summer. Heat radiates from above then a second time off the rocky soil. Keep that in mind, it's right where the western deserts start.

Here is another vote for Grand Junction. Great mountain and road riding, with a very long riding season. Good local cragging, and top-notch Nordic skiing up on the Grand Mesa.

GJ is not as gentrified as places like Boulder, but there is an amazing summer farmers market, good restaurants, and other events to keep the Patagonia/Subaru crowd happy.

DarrenG wrote:Here is another vote for Grand Junction. Great mountain and road riding, with a very long riding season. Good local cragging, and top-notch Nordic skiing up on the Grand Mesa. GJ is not as gentrified as places like Boulder, but there is an amazing summer farmers market, good restaurants, and other events to keep the Patagonia/Subaru crowd happy.

No offense to GJ, but where are these good local crags? Rifle and Moab are NOT local crags. Where are these good restaurants?

I think it's all a matter of perspective. You live in the Denver metro area, including Boulder it will take you 90 minutes to get to any 'local' good crags.

... did you maybe mean to say 9 minutes?

Chad Miller wrote:You live in the Denver metro area, including Boulder it will take you 90 minutes to get to any 'local' good crags.

That's a load of BS & you know it. The quality of climbing around Boulder are often overblown (there is nothing close to world class), but there are a lot of good crags (and many more excellent routes) within 30 mins of Boulder. The problem seem to be overcrowding more than anything else.