best home mountain in the west

[poutanen]

Originally Posted by aubzobot

Calgary
-Million+ pop.
-Tons of mountains ranging from 15 minutes-4+ hours
-Long season, beginning of november to mid/late may
-Lot's of snow

+1 Here's what's within driving distance of Calgary...

1:00 Nakiska (2100 vert feet, opened Nov 15th this year)
1:20 Norquay (haven't tried it yet, probably won't ever)
1:30 Sunshine
1:45 Lake Louise
2:45 Castle Mountain
3:00 Kicking Horse
3:15 Fernie
3:?? Panorama
4:00 Revelstoke (highest vert in North America)
4:20 Kimberley

Beyond that you've got Marmot Basin, Whitewater, some mountains in Montana.

1) Weather is good, some of the most sunshine hours per year in all of Canada in the city itself, very little depressing rain (*cough* vancouver *cough* lol) I've been riding since mid nov, and plan to ride until mid-may this year. Weather in the city is very dry, everything falls in the mountains instead.

2) Not sure how affordability compares to the other mountains. My 3 mountain season pass was $900 CDN. Planning on getting a 5 mountain pass for about $1300 next year. Day passes can be bought at costco for $60-70 for most mountains, and most offer some kind of "ski more card".

3) See above. Back in Ontario I used to drive 3 hours to get to 720 vertical feet. Now I drive to triple that in 1/3rd the time (at nakiska). Even day trips to Lake Louise are fine, because the roads are divided highway the whole way.

4) If you can't get a job in Alberta than you're probably a quadriplegic-deaf-mute who sleeps 23 hours a day. Even then we'd probably higher you.

[srdeo]

How is the weather in Calgary compared to Ontario?
Both winter and summer.

[grafta]

Originally Posted by srdeo

Where is a good place to live in downtown and still be affordable?

Downtown, like proper 'right in' downtown I don't think they do cheap... just outside would be the go for cheap-er, but not really cheap unless its somewhere not so good location-wise... ie east hastings etc

Don't get me wrong, I don't avoid east and go to gigs etc over that way reasonably often. Just choose to live outside of that area for less hassles day to day

[IdahoFreshies]

SALT LAKE CITY!!!!!!!!!

the salt lake area is number one on my list for places to live. not only does it have fantastic resorts and insane snow, but in general all year round utah is full of shit to do out doors. utah really is a magical state.

[gladerider]

Originally Posted by poutanen

+1 Here's what's within driving distance of Calgary...

1:00 Nakiska (2100 vert feet, opened Nov 15th this year)
1:20 Norquay (haven't tried it yet, probably won't ever)
1:30 Sunshine
1:45 Lake Louise
2:45 Castle Mountain
3:00 Kicking Horse
3:15 Fernie
3:?? Panorama
4:00 Revelstoke (highest vert in North America)
4:20 Kimberley

Beyond that you've got Marmot Basin, Whitewater, some mountains in Montana.

1) Weather is good, some of the most sunshine hours per year in all of Canada in the city itself, very little depressing rain (*cough* vancouver *cough* lol) I've been riding since mid nov, and plan to ride until mid-may this year. Weather in the city is very dry, everything falls in the mountains instead.

2) Not sure how affordability compares to the other mountains. My 3 mountain season pass was $900 CDN. Planning on getting a 5 mountain pass for about $1300 next year. Day passes can be bought at costco for $60-70 for most mountains, and most offer some kind of "ski more card".

3) See above. Back in Ontario I used to drive 3 hours to get to 720 vertical feet. Now I drive to triple that in 1/3rd the time (at nakiska). Even day trips to Lake Louise are fine, because the roads are divided highway the whole way.

4) If you can't get a job in Alberta than you're probably a quadriplegic-deaf-mute who sleeps 23 hours a day. Even then we'd probably higher you.

i see. i need to check out calgary.

[jdmccright]

Originally Posted by IdahoFreshies

SALT LAKE CITY!!!!!!!!!

the salt lake area is number one on my list for places to live. not only does it have fantastic resorts and insane snow, but in general all year round utah is full of shit to do out doors. utah really is a magical state.

They would be perfect if they didn't have watered down beer.

[Irahi]

No idea why Seattle/Bellevue doesn't get more interest as a riding mecca. You've got Snoqualmie/Alpental that's 30-45 minutes away on a four lane, 70 MPH freeway, and has $300 season passes. Then there's Steven's pass that's got some of the gnarliest freeriding and pretty much the best park you could ask for only 1:15 away. Crystal has similarly huge terrain, is about 1:30 away, and ran until July 16th last year. Oh, and all these places average 450+ inches of snowfall every year.

If all that weren't enough, you can hit the world record holder for snowfall in a season--Mt. Baker--with an only slightly painful 3:30 drive.

I mean. Seattle sucks. Don't come here.

[rgunzalez]

Originally Posted by Irahi

No idea why Seattle/Bellevue doesn't get more interest as a riding mecca. You've got Snoqualmie/Alpental that's 30-45 minutes away on a four lane, 70 MPH freeway, and has $300 season passes. Then there's Steven's pass that's got some of the gnarliest freeriding and pretty much the best park you could ask for only 1:15 away. Crystal has similarly huge terrain, is about 1:30 away, and ran until July 16th last year. Oh, and all these places average 450+ inches of snowfall every year.

If all that weren't enough, you can hit the world record holder for snowfall in a season--Mt. Baker--with an only slightly painful 3:30 drive.

I mean. Seattle sucks. Don't come here.

Wow, my thoughts exactly as I was reading through this thread. Don't know of another place where you have access to an amazing job market, top schools and an almost world class city within such close proximity to a very decent resort. I'm able to slip away to Snowqualmie on many weeknights since it's so easy to get to. Also, when you do have more time you're close to many other resorts.

I hit Alpental at Snowqualmie for the first time today and it was heavenly. It was also my first double-black diamond, there's nothing falling leaf can't get me through!

Oh and yes it gets an awesome dumping of snow pretty consistently.

[poutanen]

Originally Posted by srdeo

How is the weather in Calgary compared to Ontario?
Both winter and summer.

I've only had one full winter here, and everybody tells me this winter was weird.

The biggest difference is the humidity and precipitation. Annual snowfall is about the same according to historical data. Humidity is much lower in Calgary. Mid summer days are very long (sun up until 10:00 and up again at 4:30 am), winter days are short. There is much less rain in Calgary, hence the very high total sunshine hour average for the year.

From what I hear, the winters can get bloody cold. But we get "chinook" winds, which ceom down from the mountains and heat everything up, so even in january you could have one day where it's -20, and the next it'll be +10 (degrees C).

So far I really like it, the lack of rain being the big kicker. We'll see what happens over the next few years...

[jello24]

Given that I live in a suburb of Vancouver, I would say that Vancouver is one of the great places to live and ride, and if you're willing to compromise on location, can be pretty cheap when in the suburbs.

1) 3 "home" mountains within a 1 hr drive from my home and work, and Whistler and Baker are a couple of hours away.
2) Local mountain passes are cheap, all have night riding which means you're only paying under $35. Cypress, the biggest of the three local mountains, have night riding prices from 5 - 10 for $31 with a discount card. Cypress also has early bird discount on passes for $399 when bought 1 year ahead.
3) If the winter is good, like last year and this year, you'll get a really good base to ride on the mountains. Forecast for the week is snow, and its technically spring here already.
4) You'll probably find work in the city or its suburbs, be it in the service sector, production work or professional work.

Great place to live honestly. Out of season, you can do a lot of outdoor things around the city. Hike up the 3 mountains, mountain bike down the many parks and trails in the city, cruise around on a longboard, rollerblade around the seawall, whatever you like. Best place to live right here.

(just don't get too hardcore about the hockey team. you might get arrested if you get too attached and riot when they lose...)