Please talk me into Durango.

So I just got promoted and I'll be offered either a position to stay here in Tucson or in Durango, CO in the next few days, my choice. I love both towns, but know nothing of the climbing around Durango. I'm pretty spoiled here in Tucson with close to 2,000 routes within an hour or so of my house and year round climbing, but the rock in sw CO looks damn good, albeit, not as much in the vicinity as here (just going off of the mp area, I'm sure there's many fa's to be had). Truth of the matter, I LOVE snowboarding and climbing, so Durango seems legit, and I'm pretty sure I want to accept the position.. I just need some local motivation to help me make that final decision for my next ten years or so.

Wow...your life sounds just absolutely terrible... ;-)

I say move to CO...if for no other reason than to experience something new. I'd LOVE to stay in this state...ANYWHERE in this state! But people with my background seem to have a kind of tough time finding work here...alas, I'll probably have to move in the next month or so. Probably to the Boston area or back to over-populated California.

Indian Creek is 2h away from Durango. That'd be enough for me. But there's just so much more...

Durango! The climbs here are very nice, and with the San Juan Peaks and Southern Utah nearby, there's alpine mountaineering and the desert to enjoy as well. The Black Canyon is not too far away either . . . As for FA's there are plenty to be had.

Um Durango without question... the San Juans are INCREDIBLE. One day at Silverton riding and there would be no question about which was the right decision.

3-0, looking pretty good. Now to just find affordable housing... Gotta pay to play I suppose.

Let's see. Be a creek local. Done.

Durango is one of my favorite towns in the US....easy access to world class back country (and front country) skiing, lots of climbing, mt biking, fly fishing, backpacking, and stellar ice climbing. Not to mention the town is pretty awesome..

moved here 10 years ago.....done moving.

JMo wrote:Let's see. Be a creek local. Done.

I hear the climbing in Indian Creek sucks anyway. Florida that is, unless its the corporate ladder.

Population of Tucson 1,077.800. Population of Durango 16,924. The difference 1,060,876. 1,060,876 reasons to leave Tucson.

Will someone please talk me into this 18 year old single malt instead of this dime store whiskey.

I kid, Tucson is pretty cool I guess.

So what do you do for a living that affords you the opportunity to move to Durango? I have looked a few times, but things never worked out.

After work climbing right in Durango, unlike Tucson, is limited but the Creek, the Black, and even some of the less traveled stuff like the Sandias in New Mexico is doable over the weekend

The only downside I can see is the cost of living - which can be mitigated by living out of town - and if you ever lost your job it could be mighty hard to find an equivalent position without moving.

Well that's settled. Now on to housing suggestions. I'm a district manager for Frito lay. My area would cover silverton to pagosa, parts of New Mexico, the Navajo Rez up to telluride. I'm looking for somewhat affordable housing in the vicinity of the center of that geography. My office is in Loma Linda, but I'd be driving to stores most of the time. The pay is pretty good, but not good enough for luxury living downtown. I also have a dog, so a yard is imperative. I was looking into bayfield. Any other ideas?

You could look at cheaper Aztec or Farmington, though I wouldn't necessarily recommend either of those cities for a variety of reasons.

Rent costs in towns like Silverton, Mancos, or Dolores can be 50% that of Durango. The rental market in Durango is fucked since it's a college (and yuppie) town, and despite the fact that it's a "dog town", there's a stigma against dogs by property managers and landlords. Be prepared to pay $1000/month (first, last, deposit) for a total dump if you have a dog, and don't expect to get your deposit back...

Silverton is a great little town but it is a tourist town in the summer and rents go up. The project superintendent for the school remodel I did up there had to move out in the summer so the land lord could raise the rent. Heat in winter is propane or electric or wood. Might as well burn dollar bills. It is 60 miles from Durango which in summer is not bad but Molas and Coal bank passes can get old in the winter. Silverton has 900 year round residents and if you need an evening release options for night life are limited after Sept. 15 .

I've never had my rent raised seasonally in Silverton in 6 years, several different landlords. The ski area provides winter jobs and supports some nightlife, and burning wood is good honest livin'. Just sayin'... But it is definitely not for everyone. If you make plenty of money that you don't mind spending on rent and want amenities at your fingertips then Durango is a great choice. Did I mention the KILLER summer cragging around Silverton??

Looks like I'll be there at the end of the month. Scoped out a few places a few miles from the town. There's no way I'd be able to get a place with a yard inside of Durango. I'd rather spend that money beefing up my rack since it doesn't look like there's too many sport climbs in the vicinity. Thanks for all the advice, I know I made the right decision.

Oh, how's the gym, rock lounge? It's pretty cool such a small town has a gym.

Steven Groetken wrote: Looks like I'll be there at the end of the month. Scoped out a few places a few miles from the town. There's no way I'd be able to get a place with a yard inside of Durango. I'd rather spend that money beefing up my rack since it doesn't look like there's too many sport climbs in the vicinity. Thanks for all the advice, I know I made the right decision. Oh, how's the gym, rock lounge? It's pretty cool such a small town has a gym.

How did your choice on Durango pan out?.  Have you stayed?

Durango is terrible.  Yall stay away. :D