gorney wrote:
Southwest New Mexico definitely has a great climate. Statistically, Silver City has warm winters and relatively cool summers. The sun shines 330 days a year. If you end up in towns such as Mimbres, Glenwood, Cliff, Gila, Pinos Altos, be sure to thank me. The Gila Wilderness is 330,000 acres, founded by Aldo Leopold. It is never more than 20 minutes away.
I was told they are rough in those areas.
What's wrong with Casper?
Wind... Dear God the wind.
Greatest of all time wrote:
I've dreamed about moving to a mountain town myself, and if I were making the move tomorrow it'd be to somewhere along the eastern Sierra, from Bishop to Lone Pine. It still gets cold in the Owens Valley in winter (average low temps in the 20s), but not Wyoming cold (single digits), and not too much snow to hassle with.
In terms of accessibility (numerous 7500-10000 foot trailheads with good roads to the top, all connected by the high speed 395), weather (no daily afternoon thunderstorms), scenery (nicknamed the Range of Light for a reason), and rock quality (if you like to climb or scramble), I think it's really hard to beat the High Sierra in the lower 48. And of course you would have the added bonus of being right next door to Death Valley and the endless Basin and Range province if you appreciate those fantastically wild and untraveled desert mountains, or if you want to go hiking instead of snow shoeing or skiing in the winter.
Only potential downside could be the comparatively greater population of outdoor enthusiasts you'll have to share the mountains with, but it's not THAT crowded, and you can still easily find solitude in the more remote reaches of the range.
But as another poster mentioned your specific interests in the mountains could help make the decision...if you're a rock climber I'd say Sierra hands down, but if you're more of a mountaineer or skier the Cascades or Rockies would likely be better. If you just like to hike and camp, then you probably can't go wrong with any of those places, just maybe consider if you really like a very long, snowy winter of the northern Rockies or if you'd prefer a longer summer and fall season like in the Sierra.
Good luck man, I hope you get out there and live the dream!
This. I live in San Hoser but get out to the Eastern Sierras a couple times per year. I could easily make my life there once I finally get laid off and am done. Running/hiking/camping paradise. Also, you'd have to learn to deal with idiot Los Angelenos that flock through in their SUV's on the way to Mammoth in the winter.
"Skiing is what makes mountain town expensive-- not the mountains themselves."
That's true. God gave us the mountains for free.
How high up do you want to be? Do you want to be near mountains or do you want to be at elevation to get "altitude training"?
If you are not that worried about being too high up, you could check out Mt. Shasta, CA. or some of the lesser known surrounding towns. Kind of a lot of hippies and new agers up there, but it is beautiful. There is a decent running scene (at least last time I was there).
Eastern Sierra is really beautiful, but I'm not so much into the desert thing. I likes my mountains with trees. If you head to the west slope of the Sierra, you get a lot more snow, which hampers wintertime training, but there are lots of good smaller towns. Check out the Graeagal/Blairsden area north of Tahoe. It sits in a little valley, so a lot of the snow that would inhibit winter running is blocked by the range to the west. I want to say the elevation there is about 4500 feet, but you've go big peaks on all sides and excellent camping/hiking/running in the Gold Lakes basin not too far up the hill.
The real Colorado
Leadville
Buena Vista
Salida
Fairplay/Alma
Gunnison (Cold)
Kremmling (Cold)
Alamosa Del Norte, Monte Vista area(Cold)
Meeker
Walden
Pagosa Springs
Montrose
Cortez
Dove Creek
Saguache
Lake City
Westcliff/SilverCliff
Rye/Colorado City
I'm suprised by the multiple Ashland, Or suggestions. Being from and currently living in Oregon...this would be the last place on earth I'd want to live, unless of course I was a huge fan of shakespeare. To each their own though.
Lander, WY: No brainer. Do it.
No?
Somewhere near Salida, CO
Both these places would be perfect. Trust me.
A lot of places are cheap to live in because no one can make much money there, including possibly yourself. Another reason places may be cheap is that no one wants to live there.
ecin wrote:
I'm suprised by the multiple Ashland, Or suggestions. Being from and currently living in Oregon...this would be the last place on earth I'd want to live, unless of course I was a huge fan of shakespeare. To each their own though.
Perhaps you would prefer Talent?
Gatlinburg, TN. Smokey mountains. Rented a cabin there recently and had a blast. Lots to do in nearby Pigeon Forge. Sales taxes were high though.
kevino wrote:
youknowit wrote:He said mountains, not 1,600 foot buttes
so true. sometimes i wonder if people on the east even realize whats out here
True that. I live in the East, and while I was aware there were bigger mountains in the West, I didn't really get it until I actually went out West. My God, they're majestic. Sierra Nevada is mind blowing.
Don't get me wrong, I love our quaint little hills out here. They have their own beauty. The mountains and mountain towns of NC are gorgeous and I loved living in that region, but going out West makes you rethink what mountains really are.
The Million Dollar Highway in Colorado led me through the most spectacular scenery I've ever seen in my life. If there are more beautiful areas, I can't wait to see them.
asdfasd wrote:
The Million Dollar Highway in Colorado led me through the most spectacular scenery I've ever seen in my life. If there are more beautiful areas, I can't wait to see them.
I second this post. I've traveled throughout the west and this area remains my all-time favorite.
Whaaat? wrote:
Gatlinburg, TN. Smokey mountains. Rented a cabin there recently and had a blast. Lots to do in nearby Pigeon Forge. Sales taxes were high though.
Interesting this. I have a one-week vacation planned for Gatlinburg in late June.
Anyone know what prices are like in the eastern Sierra? Mammoth and Truckee I suspect are extremely expensive. How are prices in Bishop?
I was going to recommend Truckee but I honestly have no idea about prices. Some of my friends' families have second places up there but they are all pretty well off. It's really nice though, you got a little bit of beach at lake Tahoe if that's your thing, snow in the winter, beautiful trails in the summer its about 5,800 elevation and around 20,000 population. And if you want a bigger city it's not that far to Reno or even Sacramento.
Salida, CO
Gunnison, CO
a distance third for those in the east, Boone, NC.
Front Royal and Waynesboro VA are nice. Right near Shenandoah National Park.
What about international mountain towns? There's gotta be some amazing places near Patagonia, Cordillera Blanca, etc.