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Best climbing towns?

Mark R · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
Eric D wrote: Have you lived in Utah? Do you realize that you have to go to a liquor store to buy beer stronger than 3 or 4%? The stuff you can buy at the grocery store or gas stations in Utah is not good. I have one drink a day but I like it to be quality. Good food and good drink is important to me. That wouldn't keep me from moving to Utah but it is certainly a much bigger pain than in CA.
Related but not in direct response to your post Eric:

So many people don't realize this, especially when just swinging through, but all beer sold in Colorado grocery stores is 3.2% too.
Eric D · · Gnarnia · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 235

Wow. I had no idea. Though I haven't spent much time in CO. Makes me appreciate AZ!

JCM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 115
MarktheCPA wrote: Related but not in direct response to your post Eric: So many people don't realize this, especially when just swinging through, but all beer sold in Colorado grocery stores is 3.2% too.
Exactly, and making an extra stop to go to the liquor store after buying groceries just isn't a big deal. Not being able to buy beer/liquor is a grocery store or at the gas station is a law found in a lot of states. In Maryland, where I grew up, no alcohol whatsoever-not even 3.2-can be sold in grocery stores; you have to go to a liquor store (again, not a big deal). In this way MD is even more strict than Utah...and the climbing is a lot worse too. And then there are the dry counties in the South, where you have to drive to a different county to buy any alcohol. People like to make jokes about it, but the situation in Utah is not all that exceptional.

I haven't lived in Utah, but have spent some long stints there on climbing trips, probably more than three months all told, so I have a decent understanding of the deal there. For a while, i even had a PO box and a storage unit in Moroni, Utah, which is about as podunk a Mormon town as you can get. In a tiny town in the Mormon heartland, like Moroni, finding good beer is pretty difficult, but you really wouldn't want to live there anyway. Anywhere that a non-Mormon climber type is likely to live, like SLC, your options for finding good beer are perfectly adequate. Granted, there isn't the microbrew scene of Bend or Fort Collins, but to not move somewhere based on this is a set of priorities that I cannot understand. I mean, its just beer, and you can find plenty of good stuff in Utah with just a tiny bit of extra effort. Your priorities may vary.
Mark R · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
JCM wrote: In Maryland, where I grew up, no alcohol whatsoever-not even 3.2-can be sold in grocery stores; you have to go to a liquor store (again, not a big deal). In this way MD is even more strict than Utah...and the climbing is a lot worse too.
JCM you're killing me here. I grew up in MD, lived in CO, and am currently in MD. Note to everyone else, the best climbing town is not located in Maryland.
JCM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 115
MarktheCPA wrote: Note to everyone else, the best climbing town is not located in Maryland.
Truth.
reboot · · . · Joined Jul 2006 · Points: 125
ABG wrote: As Jonathan pointed out, reading comprehension seems like an issue here.
Yes, because a town that has bit climbing nearby ≠ a climbing town. Just as a vehicle you dirtbag in because you have no other choice ≠ a dirtbag vehicle.
pfwein Weinberg · · Boulder, CO · Joined May 2006 · Points: 71

A bit of a Captain Obvious statement here, but:
In practical terms, the situation for buying "real" (non-3.2) alcohol in Colorado is nothing like buying in Utah, even though you have to go to a liquor store (rather than a grocery store, convenience store, etc.) in each state.
This is because Colo. has freaking liquor stores on pretty much every street corner that (in populated areas) are open pretty much all day, every day. Utah has state run liquor stores, not very many, with limited hours, closed on holidays, stuff like that.

There's really no comparison if you are actually in either state and are trying to buy, rather than making theoretical points on an Internet forum.

But I agree that if this is really a big deal to anyone, especially someone who is motivated to live in a "best climbing town," they may want to consider their priorities in life.

nbrown · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 7,718

If you're a beer drinker (as many posts here indicate) and you also like to climb, then I'd say Asheville might just be your town. Helps if you enjoy the rain too (ie Kayaker). Just sayin'...

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35

These are stupid threads. You can make any place sound amazing if you want to. Here is an example.

I think Hamilton Bermuda is the best climbing town. It is 1 mile away from the majority of the deep water soloing with routes from 5.8 to 13b. Most of the routes have a traverse in so you can stay dry before work if you're strong enough. Within half an hour of town there are hundreds of other DWS routes and boulder problems. At 40 minutes (35km/hr speed limit) there are bolted sea caves with routes from 5.6 to 13c with tons of potential for more hard routes.

With all the expats it is really easy to find a relatively cheap living situation. If you are smart you can make a ton of money from the higher than average pay and no income tax. Gas is expensive but you'll only have a scooter so your gas bills are about $10 a week on a big week. The international airport means you can fly to the NRG or Kalymnos in about the same time.

And alcohol, so so much alcohol. Rum swizzles and Carlsberg until you drown daily if you choose.

There, now you can all rush there. I haven't said a single thing that isn't true.

Kai · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2013 · Points: 5

Innsbruck is worth a mention.
I moved here in 2012 to climb and that's just about all I've been doing.

You can ride your bike (30 min) to 50 + bolted 14 pitch routes or pick from one of the other 5 sport crags within the same distance.
Great student population, MUCH more relaxed than Germany, 30+ crags (alpine, boulders and sport think Zillertal:)) within an hour by car.

The only downsides are that the popular routes are polished... Like you can see your self in the holds (stimulates good footwork). The only thing I've seen that is so polished is the Puoux outside of Glenwood Sp. Co.

The other downside is no trad around town... The Dolomites are close enough though. No microbrews either... Please, if you could send me a selection of IPAs I would be forever greatful.
Let me know if your ever around, I would love to show you guys the place!

Mark R · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
Kai wrote:Innsbruck is worth a mention. I moved here in 2012 to climb and that's just about all I've been doing. You can ride your bike (30 min) to 50 + bolted 14 pitch routes or pick from one of the other 5 sport crags within the same distance. Great student population, MUCH more relaxed than Germany, 30+ crags (alpine, boulders and sport think Zillertal:)) within an hour by car. The only downsides are that the popular routes are polished... Like you can see your self in the holds (stimulates good footwork). The only thing I've seen that is so polished is the Puoux outside of Glenwood Sp. Co. The other downside is no trad around town... The Dolomites are close enough though. No microbrews either... Please, if you could send me a selection of IPAs I would be forever greatful. Let me know if your ever around, I would love to show you guys the place!
How's the job situation? Any issues with a language barrier?
Craig Childre · · Lubbock, TX · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 4,860
nicelegs wrote: These are stupid threads. You can make any place sound amazing if you want to.


FAIL!!!!
Robert Fogle · · Juneau, AK · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 35

Stay away from Chattanooga, nothing here and everybody is weak sauce... Gym Rats

Kai · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2013 · Points: 5
MarktheCPA wrote: How's the job situation? Any issues with a language barrier?
Well it depends on what you do, there is a good research community, huge tourism industry and Swarovski and GE are in the neighborhood. I would say at 3 out of 5 for Jobs.
Language shouldn't be an issue.
Come on over!
Sam Bedell · · Bend, OR · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 442

I currently live in Bend, OR. There were a few questions about it and some brief mentions. Smith Rock is 30 min away almost exactly from Bend. Trout Creek is 90 min and the Timberline Lodge parking lot on Mt. Hood is 2 hrs for alpine ice and mixed, not worth it for summer rock. There are small cliffs on the river in town that can be biked to 20-30ft max, some decent bouldering and a decent gym in town. Community college (OSU is building a campus here), lots of excellent breweries (duh) and plenty of stuff to do right in town. If climbing is your priority live in Terrebonne or Redmond, you'll be closer to Smith with cheaper housing but less to do. Overall, the rock is low quality and these two crags are crowded. It's a great place to live but people are joking that it is becoming the next Boulder... rich snobs, high cost of living, and way too many people. After seeing the Smith parking lots overflow onto the farm roads for a half a mile in every direction every sunny weekend this winter I have to agree.

I also grew up in Reno so I'll give my 2cents on that. It's got good climbing within an hour, and great skiing (when there is actually snow). Nothing really worth climbing in/near town. A great up and coming mid-size city though with plenty to do. Plenty of work and housing is not too expensive.

Personally, I would second looking at Leavenworth/Wenatchee, WA. Also, Mazama WA. It's hard to find a great town that will keep the wife happy but also offers uncrowded access to a variety of solid climbing. If anyone finds a place with great restaurants/pubs/music, great access to climbing right by town, reasonable cost of living, and jobs... PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

Marc Yamamoto · · Flagstaff, AZ · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 20

Any new places pop up in the past year?

Looks like SLC is first or last.
Vegas and Tucson is "hot"
Flagstaff has no jobs.
Front Range is overrun.
Everywhere else is underrated.

I hear Nebraska is where it's at.

Nathan G · · Utah · Joined Mar 2015 · Points: 10
Riddler wrote:Ogden, Utah. Hits all the points on your list, and also has infinite climbing possibilities within a few-hour radius.
This is totally right. I just moved to Ogden (in February) from Indiana and there's all kinds of stuff to get on around here. There's plenty of climbing in Ogden itself and then you've got COR 2 hours to the north, Moab 4 hours to the south, Uinta's 2ish hours south east, and obviously the Cottonwoods down in SLC.
Redyns · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 60

Miami or Baton Rouge

Megan H · · Boulder, CO · Joined Mar 2017 · Points: 0

Did Bend not work out for you, Ben?

Kirk Baines · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2017 · Points: 0
camhead wrote: What about Salt Lake City? Anyone live there and want to offer an opinion? I'm thinking of moving either there or to Boulder for school. Salt Lake City really sucks. It is over 90%+ Mormon and there are no bars. Don't go there.

This is so wrong in every way

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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