aiidoneus

I have never been to Seattle, anyone here live there? How is the city? Snowboarding? (I imagine it is way better then where I live)

Donutz

Depends on where you live right now, I guess....

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Illegitimi non carborundum

Mountain Days: 30

killclimbz

Well, there are mountains all around Seattle, I think the closest ski areas are a little over an hour away. Baker is somewhere in the 3 hour ball park. The terrain in the Cascades rivals the best of anywhere in the world. Snowfall is plentiful, but then again so is the rain at the ski areas. Being flexible and able to cherry pick your days would be helpful Canada is close. There are much worse places you could end up.

schmitty34

I've lived in, or near, Seattle my whole life so I am obviously biased so take my opinion for what it's worth.

Seattle is a great place to live, especially if you like the outdoors. Water is everywhere. Mountains are everywhere.

The weather can be bad during fall/winter/spring with many overcast days, but the rain isn't as bad as some think. For example, I never use and umbrella so the rain can't be that bad.

The snowboarding is pretty good. The closest resort is 45 minutes to an hour from downtown Seattle, but closer if you live in some of the suburbs. Like Killclimbs said, there are many other hills/mountains/resorts close enough for day trips and some others close enough for weekend trips (i.e. Whistler). The closest hill, Summit at Snoqualmie, isn't the best snowboarding around, but it's close and season passes are less than $400

Great place to live IMO. Let me know if you have other questions.

killclimbz

The only part where the rain is bad is when the rain levels are up to like 6k ft and higher. Riding in the rain is just not all that exciting. If you live in the PNW you are going to do it, but it's not great. Nothing like a good soaking to make you appreciate the days where it's powder. That was my main reason for the comment of cherry picking your days. If you are stuck on weekends, you could have blower powder mid week and rain by the weekend. It's easier if you have a job or situation where you can get out when the getting is good. And it's pretty damn good out there...

schmitty34

Oh yeah, I totally agree on your comment as it relates to snowboarding. Mine was more just to the rain in general. Everyone seems to think it rains in Seattle every day. It rains a lot, but most times it is so light that it doesn't really even make much of a difference. The real issue is just the number for overcast days.

But yes, for snowboarding, the weather can be pretty off an on...espcially the last few years. Some stretches of really high snow levels and rain in the mountains to some stretches with tons of powder day after day. I agree, if you can pick and choose, you can get a lot of really sick days. If Saturday and Sunday are all you got, you may go some weeks without having a good day to ride.

One thing I love about Snoqualmie is how easy night riding is. One of my best days this year was a knee deep powder session at night. Left work at 5:00, on the hill just after 6, killed some knee deep pwoder in the dark, and then drank some beer in the bar until I-90 opened after avy control....back to work the next day.

wrathfuldeity

You for got to mention the 2 weeks of sunshine per year, the parking lot traffic, coffee snobs and tweakers. And did it finally hit 70 degrees today....I'm allergic to sunshine

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NWBoarder

No Wrath, it's not 70 until tomorrow or Thursday. To the OP, Washington is a fine place to live. Seattle proper has it's ups and downs, but it's not bad. Just be prepared for overcast days and some rain. We get sun, but only in July, and maybe August if we're lucky. The traffic does suck, especially on the I-5. Coffe snobs are everywhere, but you learn to ignore them, and tweakers are a global epidemic. You can never escape them.

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Oh yeah!? Well, my mom says I'm cool!

schmitty34

Uhh...coffee snobs are a global epidemic as well. It may have started in Seattle, but you can't tell me that Starbucks hasn't pushed the coffee snobery world-wide. Hell, McDonalds is now serving some type of Caramel Machiato (sp?) type thing.....does anyone really know what the hell a machiato is anyway?

I guess it really all depends on where the OP is moving from and why. There are a lot worse places to live than Seattle, but it's not ideal for some.

aiidoneus

At this point I am not sure where I would be moving within the Seattle area. The company I would be working for is in the South Lake Union area. One more phone interview, and then I will probably fly down for a few days for an in-person interview.

EDIT: Thanks for all the info