Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Ski Town Living.

profile picture
Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
Looked at some other threads, no one seems to be looking for what I am though.

Currently live in Mammoth. Live a 4 minute walk to the Gondola, 3 minute walk to the bus stop. I don't own a car nor do I want one. Park is fun but not a priority. I pay $800 a month which includes my utilities.

Wondering if there are any ski towns out there where I could have a similar situation. I've now had 5 season in Mammoth and 1 in summit county. Looking for a change.

I guess my only 2 real needs are that the place has super convenient public transit (preferably free or with a season pass) and that the focus is more on big mountain than park.

I can realistically live anywhere. I work off my computer so I don't need to find a job. Checked out Revelstoke, but it sounds like I'd be spending like $8 a day on public transit (unless there is a pass I don't know about). Thought about Whistler, just seems too tourist crazy. I could probably do Europe, just have no experience with cost of living in ski towns. Lived in Luzern for 6 months, but I'm pretty sure that's nothing like Laax.

Thoughts? Recommendations?

I want to get this figured out soonish so I can look at early season pass rates, visa's and so forth.
Feb 3 2013 12:59PM
5 0
profile picture
Pancake_Fucker
Posts: 1842 - Karma: 1,909
In a murderous sort of way.
Feb 4 2013 2:35AM
0 0
profile picture
Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
You could get a place in the village in Hirafu for 800 a month, walk to the lifts, sick pow. Obviously very different to anywhere in the States, but not so different that it's hard. Public transport to get to other mountains works great here. I am on a train accessed roadtrip to central Hokkaido right now.
Feb 4 2013 3:00AM
0 0
profile picture
Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
any issues with language? I can count to 10 in Japanese and that's as good as it gets.

I thought about something like that, but it's just SO far that if I get into a jam with money, it's hard to get out. At least in Europe I have friends pretty much everywhere. Definitely on the bucket list. I'd just have to make it really really worth while.
Feb 4 2013 3:09AM
0 0
profile picture
PeppermillReno
Posts: 4798 - Karma: -674
Live in Nevada not CA.

Ski Kirkwood...or Rose if in Reno. Problems solved.

Heavenly didn't start sucking overnight its always been whackness.

SLT is a little weird I know where you're coming from with it being overcrowded. I think its best to live 15-20 mins away.

Gapers from the bay ruin Squaw too (although whenever I have gone to Northstar from Reno to save some gas money I wish I had a squaw pass.)
Feb 4 2013 3:28AM
0 0
profile picture
PeppermillReno
Posts: 4798 - Karma: -674
Oh, and OP I'd do Alps if you are dead on anti-car. French ones probably.
Feb 4 2013 3:30AM
0 0
profile picture
Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Hardly any language barrier at all, I can still barely say anything and I have lived here for 5 seasons now. Tonnes of westerners live and work here so there's a pretty good local 'scene'.

No idea whether you'd have a better time in Jackson/Revy/wherever, but it is really sick in Hirafu, and it's always nice to get out of your comfort zone a bit.
Feb 4 2013 3:31AM
0 0
profile picture
lineskier10
Posts: 11339 - Karma: 796
how tracked is this place you speak of after a big pow day?
Feb 4 2013 3:39AM
0 0
profile picture
Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Depends on the day, peak season and not snowing during the day, it'll be tracked inbounds (though backcountry access is very easy). Some days when it's dumping or low season I've skied waist deep pow until 8.30 at night.
Feb 4 2013 3:42AM
0 0
profile picture
clive_bixby
Posts: 1834 - Karma: 499
Bump, looking for info from euro ns-ers. Grindelwald..?
Feb 7 2013 8:01PM
0 0
profile picture
grown-ninja
Posts: 3031 - Karma: 175
I want the same exact thing, its been amazing since I moved and didn't bring my car
Feb 7 2013 8:27PM
0 0
profile picture
DR.SHRED
Posts: 2134 - Karma: 503
op will you marry me?
Feb 7 2013 8:42PM
0 0
profile picture
Pancake_Fucker
Posts: 1842 - Karma: 1,909
I'm pretty sure public transit in revy is free with a seasons pass, or 100 for the whole season. And we have 25 feet of snow already this year.
Feb 8 2013 1:17AM
0 0
profile picture
Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
yeah, same amount in Mammoth this season.

But yeah, figured out the public transport.

Revelstoke is #1 on the list unless I get to volunteer at the Olympics. Then I'll probably do 2 months somewhere in Europe, then 2 months in russia, then a few weeks travel then april - june in Mammoth.

I am hoping for the Olympics. I have to take my English test tomorrow (Everyone has to do it).

So if that happens, 14/15 may be Revelstoke.


Feb 8 2013 3:24AM
0 0
profile picture
B.Aussie
Posts: 5852 - Karma: 4,531
Grindwald is an extremely cool mountain. And the pow doesn't really get tacked out. But switzland is extremely expensive. Just general cost of living; food, alcohol etc compared. To the rest ifmrurope is ridiculous. You should try a big English tourist town like momtgenevre in France.
Feb 8 2013 5:41AM
0 0
profile picture
last_tango
Posts: 2635 - Karma: 2,665
That's what I though to but then you realize how much public transportation sucks and you are going to want to take trips to places at your will and your own time without relying on others or hitchhiking which always sketches me out.
Feb 8 2013 9:07AM
0 0
profile picture
-AM-
Posts: 162 - Karma: 116
Whistler seems awesome

Feb 8 2013 10:36AM
0 0
profile picture
Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
Public transportation is impressively good actually. It's a lot easier than you think once you are used to it. I don't rely on others. Sure things cost a little more on occasion, but it ultimately ends up so much cheaper.

For instance. Needed to get from Summit County to the Denver Airport today. My friend was unable to take me because of work. CME costs $45.. Didn't want to pay that. My friend would have asked for $20, but it would have involved her driving 3+ hours.

I took greyhound to downtown, then the bus from downtown to the airport. Total cost was $27 and I didn't have to burden my friend. Only took a little over 2 hours because the bus to the airport stops about 5 times, but still only 30 min longer and I got to sit and get work done on my computer.

The only reason I could see not having a car being an issue is if you woke up in Summit County at 4 am and decided you wanted to drive to Silverton for the day... yeah, then your a bit screwed, but if it was really that important, a car rental is around $50 for a day on the high end and $20 on the low end if you include insurance.

If you think of $250 for a car payment/maintenance/insurance for a month... I could rent a car for 12 days.

That and if you really want to travel and you don't live near your parents... figuring out where to store your car for 6 months and paying insurance for it and or a car payment is a huge fucking pain in the ass.

Sure the public transit system is weighing in on my decision of where to live... But I value being able to walk to the ski lift more than I value owning a car. So yeah... anyone thinking about getting rid of their car, best decision I've made in a long time.
Feb 8 2013 12:47PM
0 0
profile picture
Troy.
Posts: 5070 - Karma: 12,549
What about Silverton? Small, rad ski area. Not touristy at all. Might be something for you.
Feb 8 2013 1:27PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)