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Big cities near big mountains

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bdowning
Posts: 1630 - Karma: 243
i graduated last year from a school in manhattan. i have some loans to pay off and am currently working downtown in nyc. but i need a change, i literally just landed from co for a weeks time spent at breck and keystone and everytime i go back it gets so much harder to leave. i love denver and boulder but they are a little bit far for me in terms of commute to the mountains. i plan on moving out west some time soon, but the only real state im familiar with in terms of big cities near mountains is co and parts of utah (PC).

i'm extremely interested in cali, washington, and oregon. any of you guys know any big cities near the mountains in those states? im not too familiar with northern cal at all nor any of the names of well known cities in oregon and washington. if anyone could be of assistance would be greatly appreciated!
Jan 3 2010 9:10PM
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special_k10101
Posts: 1498 - Karma: 72
win.

whistler 4
hood 4

i have lived in seattle my whole life and i love it. skiing's close by, weather is surprisingly very nice in the summer, although a little bleak this time of year. there's always something you can do outside and there's always stuff to do in the city as well.
Jan 4 2010 11:33PM
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PeterWojnar
Posts: 3937 - Karma: 678
stevens is washington, squaw is lake tahoe (hardly northern... more like central sierras)

The level of stupidity in this thread amazes me- not just you, wu_godillin, but just overall. So many people are giving bad info... please make sure you are right when giving location information to people. I wouldn't want anyone to blindly move to San Diego because there's good skiing on the seaside cliffs.
Jan 4 2010 11:34PM
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doyle.
Posts: 1624 - Karma: 596
it's great. it's like having mountains in your backyard
Jan 5 2010 12:29AM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37392 - Karma: 120,154
SLC /thread
Jan 5 2010 12:37AM
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enick
Posts: 2468 - Karma: 26
seattle or vancouver for sure
they're both nice cities (and actually pretty similar) with a lot of non-skiing activity
but the skiing is hard to beat. you have baker for one, and whistler...
also stevens and crystal are nice local mountains that end up getting considerable snowfall every year
and you can take a road trip to hood/bachelor (8 hours)
red mountain (7 hours)
even SLC or big sky, MT (12 hours)
Jan 5 2010 1:02AM
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SUPREMExDIPSET
Posts: 310 - Karma: 12
RT
+ showgirls
+good nightlife^ lulz
Jan 5 2010 1:32AM
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mr_hartl
Posts: 653 - Karma: 768
yeah and if its a busy day at stevens highway 2 IS "slow as balls" haha... but always worth it with a fresh dump which comes so often in the great northwest.
Jan 5 2010 2:11AM
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mozzy
Posts: 1034 - Karma: 60
Yes, the visa is the kicker, pun intended. But there are *no* restrictions on Americans visiting Iran, plenty of people go back and forth, although nearly all of dual citizenship or Persian background. I sat next to a couple people in Denver airport a couple months back who were headed there. Best bet is to get an invitation from a travel agency, and be flexible.
Jan 5 2010 2:52AM
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mozzy
Posts: 1034 - Karma: 60
Lyon's fantastic, it's one of the most underrated French cities. Really nice old town, and the food blows everything out of the water. Actually no problem with not knowing French, at least in the old town and restaurants the people seemed willing to use English, although I was practicing my very limited French.
Jan 5 2010 2:55AM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,089
Choosing to move somewhere to based on where you can road trip seems foolish.
Jan 5 2010 2:57AM
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hermenau
Posts: 27 - Karma: 10
from the boston area for 22 years; love it there....not a ski town (city) though.
Jan 5 2010 3:29AM
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Skillz
Posts: 945 - Karma: 50
Snoqualmie Pass - 45 minutes from Seattle

It's like a bad drug its so easy and close you can't give it  up, but it's so bad at the same time.  (Well, except Alpental powpow)
Jan 5 2010 3:47AM
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enick
Posts: 2468 - Karma: 26
fuck you, you're foolish
all i meant was even though they're are plenty of places to ski in WA, its also very easy to go to a neighboring state.
and out of all the other cities in the area, seattle has the most to offer
Jan 5 2010 3:54AM
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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137
This. Is the city the focus, or the skiing? As long as your moving, move close to the skiing. If you live on the access road you can shred every god damn day, thats what its all about
Jan 5 2010 6:20AM
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Justo8484
Posts: 3905 - Karma: 205
maybe my french was bad to the point of being offensive?
Jan 5 2010 9:40AM
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304NordMan
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 525
slc. its just such a sick city. youve got pc just around the bend, and urban shit evrywhere you look
Jan 5 2010 9:59AM
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snowbird4life
Posts: 2265 - Karma: 26
dude some people are so fucking dumb. the greater salt lake city area is 1,000,000, not many cities in america would feel like a big city to nyc. slc is just what he's looking for. nightlife, check, girls.... ummmm? definately check. weird mormons? well if your concerned about that your more sheltered than the people who live there. slc cant be beat.
Jan 5 2010 12:30PM
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bdowning
Posts: 1630 - Karma: 243
thanks a lot for all the advice!!! i have done some research and i apologize....i dont need a city as big as nyc to be satisfied.  i have narrowed it down to the surrounding denver area...potland...seattle...and slc.  although i am a bit skeptical about the culture slc has to offer.
Jan 5 2010 1:00PM
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factory81
Posts: 3967 - Karma: 63
SLC wins in terms of distance from mountains I think obviously.

But the cops and smog is incredible in SLC.

I had a fucking cop follow me for like 7 miles and shit. On top of that everytime I look around I found cops, chilling lights off hiding, undercover pigs flipping lights on.

I come from a 98% white conservative town with no crime and bored police, and I came to SLC and my jaw dropped, its like 80%+ white, conservative as hell. You have to go out of the way to get liquor it seems. 3.2% beer = gay. Cops were everywhere pulling people over for everything. I thought I was safe to smoke on the canyon road but there are cops cruising it all day and cops behind the traffic all the time.

I could never live in SLC I think. I can visit, but DAMN you guys have police patrolling the streets hard.

Although the girls there, were hot. Everyone in SLC wants to be blonde, or they are blonde. Just my observation.

I didn't investigate taxes while in Utah but since they are wildly republican I can assume the tax rate is low in SLC.

I honestly think Denver or Seattle are the only 2 places for skiers to live if they want to live in a burb next to a big city and have tons of jobs.

SLC did have low unemployment it seemed like, but they have their own "auto industry" called mining. See smog though, crazy ass smog in SLC......
Jan 5 2010 1:47PM
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bdowning
Posts: 1630 - Karma: 243
what about san francisco...i heard its about 2 hours from tahoe and has a great young adult scene.  figure if i settle somewhere in between the 2 it would work out great in terms of somewhat cheaper rent and an easy commute to work and ski!
Jan 5 2010 7:34PM
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jimmer
Posts: 3586 - Karma: 80
SF is a solid 4 hours from tahoe
it's a sick city, but expensive as shit. and living outside of frisco to commute would leave you somewhere in my area, which is where you don't want to live. and commuting to that city is retarded.
Jan 5 2010 8:32PM
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bdowning
Posts: 1630 - Karma: 243
^^^

ha thanks a lot spaniard i really appreciate that input.


with all this advice i think portland or seattle look like ma best bets
Jan 5 2010 11:34PM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
I'd pick those two over SLC for sure. Salt Lake can't be beat for outdoor opportunities, but I have been repeatedly disappointed in the city itself, especially when compared to places like Portland, Seattle, etc. I guess it really depends on how much of a priority skiing is for you. I love skiing, but I couldn't live in SLC for more than a winter, if even that.
Jan 5 2010 11:53PM
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smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,375
yea salt lake what a shit hole. i agree with all of you. the place sucks. the illusion of deep powder and opportunity beyond imagination just fog everyone who lives there's mind.
Jan 6 2010 1:20AM
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smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,375
and what the fuck is up with the grid system in salt lake and interstates that go where ever you need to get. interstates are so gay, saving time and gas to get somewhere at the expense of being on an interstate is just retadted. i visited salt lake and my friend says "come over we live on 1350 east 2900 south." im like what the fuck. that shit is wack. good luck finding anything in that town.
Jan 6 2010 1:24AM
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Jamestown
Posts: 4002 - Karma: 51
Have you ever been to Stanford? It's closest to Tahoe. Oregon and Mammoth are almost out of the question, in terms of weekend trips.
Jan 6 2010 1:26AM
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Bangzilla
Posts: 62 - Karma: 13
Salt Lake City really is the onlyy big city close to skiing.  I lived in Denver and the hour and a half is a long way.  You end up skiing way less in Denver because it's not that easy to get to the mountains and the drive is a bitch.  SLC has sickness 20 minutes from your doorstep.  It's just unfortunate the city is not as hip as Denver.  Denver downtown and sports, etc were way better than SLC, but SLC is on a whole different scale as far as sick skiing nearby.  Just look where all the sick skiers are coming from these days, its SLC. 
Jan 6 2010 1:27AM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
Don't get me wrong, the skiing absolutely cannot be beat. But as a city of 1,000,000 people, Salt Lakes leaves a lot to be desired. There's a lot more to a city than interstates to get places.....like culture, and stuff. I guess a lot of people like it, but I want something different if I want to be in a place that big.
Jan 6 2010 1:33AM
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tkachevigor
Posts: 85 - Karma: 9
Dude, come move to Oregon best place! Its like perfect here...mt hood is great we got the best ski camp which is windells, and overall its great plus you can drive to bend which is also in oregon and get to Mt.Bachelor if you move somewhere to Portland,Oregon its a good distance from mt.hood and about the same exact distance to the coast that we have here...its great!
Jan 6 2010 1:44AM
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skitopher540
Posts: 140 - Karma: 12
denver and portland
Jan 6 2010 1:46AM
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bdowning
Posts: 1630 - Karma: 243
appreciate all the advice thanks guys!!
Jan 6 2010 8:10AM
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cfox
Posts: 2286 - Karma: 38
baker isnt big..stevens is far bigger and closer to seattle.
Jan 6 2010 10:56AM
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SketchySwiss
Posts: 393 - Karma: 43
Big cities (1+ million people) near big mountains :

- MILANO (IT)
- ZURICH (CH)

Cities (more or less 500 000 people) maybe nearer :

- GENEVE (CH)
- LYON (FR)

Small cities (less than 300 000 people) but really close to big mountains :

- LAUSANNE (CH)
- BERN / THUN (CH)


And the smallest and best one : INSBRUCK (AUSTRIA)


Jan 6 2010 11:21AM
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Osek206
Posts: 492 - Karma: 6
Funny, I'm actually trying to move to NYC because of all the culture and crazy nightlife. Since I live in Seattle I've give you a in depth view. Alpental is about 50 min from Seattle, crazy pow when there is pow to be skied. There other two mountain located in Snoqualmie suck but one has a lame park and the other is a beginner hill. There cool to lap around when there is nothing to do at Alpental.

Stevens is like a hour and a half, dope mountain for sure. But since you looking for close mountain this is were things start to grow with driving time. Crystal is about 2 hours or less from Seattle. Dope all around mountain, crazy pow on pow days. No park there but who cares, there's so many solid runs.

Baker is about 3 hours from Seattle, I've never been hopefully this year I will. It's in the middle of nothing with a lame hillbilly town on the way.

Whistler is about 5 hour drive and you already know what's up with that mountain. If I was from Canada citizen that's were I'd be for sure.

There other spots like White pass but I'm not sure of the driving time from Seattle because frankly I don't care and its most likely not worth it.

Overall the city has a small city vibe, not a crazy nightlife like NYC(not even close) Monday-Wednesday are trash but in the winter you can ski nights until the weekend picks up. Low on crime some culture here and there, lots of food spots. I'd choose this over Portland anyway but Portland has damn near year round skiing at Timberline only a hour and a 20 or so from a major city if that interest you and fat sloppy chicks.
Jan 6 2010 11:56AM
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doyle.
Posts: 1624 - Karma: 596
if you are willing to come to Canada, Vancouver is the place to go
Jan 6 2010 3:26PM
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snowbird4life
Posts: 2265 - Karma: 26
everyone talking about salt lake culture is very ignant. just because you've visiited a few times doesn't mean shit, sorry you dont step off the plane and get skeeted with radness but if you look you shall find. and if you cant, well your just a tool.
Jan 6 2010 5:03PM
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Osek206
Posts: 492 - Karma: 6
^you must now know about history and Utah, big racist state. I honestly don't know how anymore could live there. Lame drinking laws, lame politics and religion. What more could you ask for?
Jan 6 2010 5:34PM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,123
Salt Lake City is like 200,000 people, not really a big city.

Vancouver, Denver, Calgary.

Jan 6 2010 6:28PM
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lanny94
Posts: 1374 - Karma: 165
vancouver deffinatly it has three mountains (two of them arent great) half hour away from down town then whistler which from the airport is probably 2 hours b
Jan 6 2010 10:40PM
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doyle.
Posts: 1624 - Karma: 596
this right here
Jan 6 2010 10:54PM
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mr_hartl
Posts: 653 - Karma: 768
lame park? compared to what?

and night life?
ummm... have u ever been to bell town, 1st ave, or ventured across the lake to bellevue/kirkland?

we always have snow in the winters... and summers on lake Washington/Sammamish are legit.

baker is the shit and worth a day trip everytime u see they are getting pounded (which is often)

in my opinion... flip of the coin between SLC and Seattle... though SLC has a weird night life, all of the women are hot as fuck and the snow is amazing.... Seattle gives you everything u need as far as night life and culture plus record setting snowfall and a great selection of different resorts each having there own unique feel.
Jan 7 2010 1:09AM
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Kayess
Posts: 357 - Karma: 11
I agree for the most part. seattle is where its at. the whole lame park thing a couple post up is kinda true, but it is an allright park and for the distance i find it good enough. Stevens park is the park i think he was refering too. stevens park is legit, and of course if your willing to get up a little earlier you can go to crystal or baker which are both really awsome when there is new snow. i think seattle is a great choice, but portlands legit as well.  SLC has too many mormons for me no hate intended. whatever you choose your going to have hella fun on and off the hill.
Jan 7 2010 1:20AM
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Alp1ne
Posts: 717 - Karma: 203
Vancouver > seattle theres no traffic and 3 mountains 20 mins from the beach and dowtown you can't beat that =D
Jan 7 2010 1:25AM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
Yeah but realistically, go to Whistler. I don't ski the locals at all anymore.
Jan 7 2010 1:32AM
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Alp1ne
Posts: 717 - Karma: 203
Yeah but if you work u can't go to whistler on weekdays so its worth it to get a seymour and grouse pass for night skiing and seymour's park is on par with whistler imo.
Jan 7 2010 1:37AM
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powderdrunkie
Posts: 2034 - Karma: 976
most the time i go to stevens it takes me way more than an hour and a half. highway 2 gets fucked and you WANT/HAVE to drive slow as balls
Jan 7 2010 1:50AM
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jreilly
Posts: 1165 - Karma: 619
so wrong. it takes me 2 hours to get there
Jan 7 2010 2:00AM
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bdowning
Posts: 1630 - Karma: 243
all this advice is sick!!

for anyone who is looking to come west to NYC or Boston both cities obviously have a ton to offer. Boston grows 2 thirds in size when college is in session which only means the babes basically double. and new york city is basically the culture capital of the world. super expensive though and taxed out the ass. but it has some sick surrounding areas where you can find cheap places to rent i.e. brooklyn and hoboken.

but the ski scene is pretty wack. mountain creek nj has a legit park but gapers hustle there every weekend.  vt is 4 hours on a good day from the city but there is some great east coast skiing there.

i really appreciate all the advice. now as for the BABES go....SLC the place to be? portland and seattle lacking in that?
Jan 7 2010 8:22AM
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mr_hartl
Posts: 653 - Karma: 768
()
its the question of quality vs. quantity... slc = quality (more work) seattle = quantity (more women just have to hit the right spots to get the quality)
Jan 7 2010 11:26AM
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bdowning
Posts: 1630 - Karma: 243
haha heard that, good way to put it thanks a lot!!

portland offer any of the finer ladies?
Jan 7 2010 10:44PM
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