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Post by cweston on Aug 24, 2015 4:43:47 GMT -8
...based largely on access to hiking, where would you choose?
For most of my life, I would have said Seattle, where we lived as young adults and loved it, but I'm not sure I want the big city experience, traffic, etc., after decades in college towns.
Anyway, what are some places you'd choose to live with great backpacking access?
A few on my list (in no particular order) Bend, OR Taos, NM Crestone, CO Frisco, CO (maybe too yuppified. Heeny instead?) Red Lodge, MT Missoula, MT Boise, ID Bellingham, WA
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jay
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Post by jay on Aug 24, 2015 5:19:49 GMT -8
I'm not much for town living, personally. I much prefer rural living simply for the privacy and relaxation it offers. To answer your question, though, I do love the Rockies and would prefer Colorado; that's my "win the Powerball" dream.
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Post by ashepabst on Aug 24, 2015 5:50:43 GMT -8
my wife and I have been eyeing Chattanooga, TN. it's much closer to the mountains for us, but still good access to the Cumberland Plateau. it's a fun town, too --and lots of outdoor rec folks... climbers, boaters, hikers.
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desert dweller
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Post by desert dweller on Aug 24, 2015 6:15:05 GMT -8
I have chosen and it's where I've lived for 35 years. Tucson.
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Aug 24, 2015 6:25:38 GMT -8
Bend, OR Taos, NM Crestone, CO Frisco, CO (maybe too yuppified. Heeny instead?) Red Lodge, MT Missoula, MT Boise, ID Bellingham, WA Bend, OR - never been there Taos, NM - Expensive and traffic jammed in Summer Crestone, CO - Think "Strange Days" by the Doors Frisco, CO - Good transit, mini-sprawl, semi-affordable, weekend crowds Red Lodge, MT - Question for Jer Missoula, MT - See above Boise, ID - kind of a cool place, affordable, mild weather Bellingham, WA - Never been, have friend there, loves it. My pic would be somewhere affordable, with a small downtown area near SW Colorado to enjoy the Colorado Plateau and San Juan mountains. Aztec, Farmington, NM, Durango, Cortez, Norwalk, Montrose, Delta, CO, Moab, UT
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Aug 24, 2015 6:43:14 GMT -8
Boise, ID - kind of a cool place, affordable, mild weather Bellingham, WA - Never been, have friend there, loves it. After visiting Boise twice at the height of summer, I think I still prefer Phoenix to Boise in late July. Tuscon and Flagstaff would also be on my list.
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Post by cweston on Aug 24, 2015 6:45:36 GMT -8
Yeah...I have a soft spot for Crestone, CO, but I'm not certain how I'd feel after a few years of actually living there. The intense granola factor could get irritating, but I've found that I like the honest-to-goodness hippy types (like those in Crestone) far more than the yuppified hippy wannabes in places like Boulder.
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Post by hikerjer on Aug 24, 2015 6:54:02 GMT -8
Lots of places come to mind. Red Lodge, MT, Bozeman, MT, Whitefish, MT, Bend OR, Durango, CO, Sandpoint, ID, Fernie, BC, Nelson, BC or Vancouver, BC (although it's kind of big for me.) For me, it would have to be near good skiing as well as good hiking. I am partial to the northern Rockies.
What's your question concerning Red Lodge, Westy? Fire away.
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Aug 24, 2015 6:59:54 GMT -8
What's your question concerning Red Lodge, Westy? Fire away. Never been there, figured you would be the MT expert. What's it like? Good point about skiing, that's a "must have".
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no_granola
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Post by no_granola on Aug 24, 2015 7:04:13 GMT -8
Anywhere in the Adirondacks, Catskills, Whites or Central Pennsyltucky.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Aug 24, 2015 7:16:14 GMT -8
This is a game we play regularly, as we intend to move after retirement (current home is too far from the mountains and too expensive by a wide margin). Although I'm attracted to places like Bishop, CA (or even Crestone, CO), I suspect that after a few years they would feel too limited. Seattle area is nice for access, but too built up and too far north--I know how I handle those winters; I lived there for upwards of 20 years. We are actually looking at Chico, CA, though some of the Front Range communities in CO would be nice (we do love Boulder, but not only does it have that pseudo-hippie veneer over some serious wealthy-white-folk prejudice, it's too expensive). Frankly, I feel right now like I don't want to settle any one place, but move around and enjoy different parts of the country. The trouble with that is sooner or later we are going to want to have (or wish we had) some roots).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2015 7:42:42 GMT -8
How about a town to live near rather than in?
It's a question that's preoccupied me over and over for many years, and I've done a lot of research on the question. A decade ago it would probably have been Nederland, Colorado (up the canyon from Boulder.)
Then my mind shifted to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, more specifically to the area south around Hoback Junction or north nearer Moose. But I've looked at every town around the Greater Yellowstone Area and the backcountry, history, demographics, geology — and real estate options.
Right now my focus is on upper Paradise Valley between Livingstone and Gardiner, Montana. I have my eyes on property about a mile from wilderness and mostly surrounded by forest service land or conservation easements that prevent further development.
Two big reasons: I want to live close to the backcountry with only distant neighbors, and I'd like easy access to the wildlife of Lamar Valley in Northern Yellowstone any time of year. The place I have in mind right now is grizzly and wolf country. And although I'm not particularly fond of Livingston, I would not be far from Bozeman.
The entire process involves compromising interests, and those can change with time, but that's where I'm thinking these days.
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markskor
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Post by markskor on Aug 24, 2015 8:40:32 GMT -8
By coincidence, had occasion to visit both Boise and Bend, Ore this summer. My hiking buddy (anal and decides summer plans) opted for 16 days in the Sawtooths - (thought Sierra too dry)... He lives in Bend and also has family living in Boise so great for a staging area.
Boise - pretty town - Basque culture - LDS presence...close to Sawtooths. A great place to raise kids. Bend looked like a better retirement environment...strong outdoor culture - lots of great beer - involved community.
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Post by burntfoot on Aug 24, 2015 9:09:01 GMT -8
Gunnison, Colorado, where I live. I can get to 6 mountain ranges for a weekend hike: Trailheads within 3 hours from here. 1. Elk Mountains 2. West Elks 3. Sawatch Range/Collegiate Peaks 4. Sangre de Cristo Range 5. La Garitas 6. San Juan Mountains Grand Mesa is within reach also, but not many trails other than cross-country skiing Pikes Peak and the Gore Range are almost within my 3-hour cutoff limit for a weekend hike.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Aug 24, 2015 9:20:44 GMT -8
Gunnison, Colorado, where I live. It is very well situated for alpine access. I don't think I could take the winters, though.
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