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Considering relo from Philadelphia to Fort Collins

Original Post
Amanda Crawford · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 5

I have an offer from a company in Fort Collins and am considering making the move. I have concerns about the area in general just because larger cities in the Northeast (Philly) are very different from smaller cities in Colorado. What is the climbing community like there? I've found some resources but can't really get a good feel for it. I know there are some climbing areas nearby and some really amazing ones a little farther away. I'm mostly a trad climber.

I guess I am just wondering how hard it will be to integrate with the climbers there, since I'm concerned that that is literally all I will have to do outside of work. Well, except drink really good, local beer. I did enjoy the beer there. Has anyone been through a similar transition to Fort Collins?

Any general info anyone wants to provide is welcome, as well. I wandered around Old Town a bit this past weekend and was hoping to feel some urban energy but it just wasn't really kicking in. Is there somewhere between Fort Collins and Boulder I should consider? I don't think the commute from Boulder or Denver to Fort Collins is doable.

Thanks for any feedback you guys can provide!

michaeltarne · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 120

I moved to FoCo a month ago, so maybe I can offer some perspective. Yes, the Front Range is definitely not a big city. But that's not why people move here. The climbing community is way bigger than anywhere I've ever been before. Finding partners is super easy, and there is more rock than you'll ever be able to experience in a lifetime. Old Town is a lot of fun as well, especially on the weekends (though it'll be super packed now that school is back in session.) As far as other places to live, there isn't anywhere nearly as big inside Colorado; I think your only other reasonable option is Cheyenne, but that'll probably be even less of what you want.

Scott McMahon · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,425
Amanda Crawford wrote: I don't think the commute from Boulder or Denver to Fort Collins is doable. !
Not unless you are making at least 6 figures and don't mind 2-3 hours a day in the car. No climbing like that.

FOCO is a cool place. You'll like it.
bwillem · · the wasatch · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 50

Fort Collins is far from a big city but that seems pretty obvious. Even Denver by many standards is not a "big city" like NYC or philly or... So you will have to adjust accordingly. if you like climbing, good beer, and great community are interesting then Fococo is your place. Buy a bike, use it year round.

The only reason I wouldn't move to Fococo is if you want to ski a lot. It tends to be isolated (Ie. 2+ hours from anything in the central mtns) from CO ski country though some folks like Cameron Pass.

Sean S. · · Thornton, CO · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 10

I loved living in Fort Collins, it's an amazing town, you'll love it, and the climbing community is fantastic. You'll never want to leave.

Bill M · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 317

You would be a fool not to move if climbing is a priority.

Cor · · Sandbagging since 1989 · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 1,445

Bill M
moments ago
You would be a fool not move if climbing is a priority.

+100

Amanda Crawford · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 5

Okay! Thanks everyone! I'm on board. Probably will see you in October if the rest of this process goes smoothly :)

Jon Lachelt · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Feb 2007 · Points: 0

Welcome to Fort Collins... once you get moved in you should check out Northern Colorado Climbers Coalition nococlimbing.org/. That would be a good way to get involve in the climbing community.

Also, you said downtown was kind of quiet when you were there... well it would have been a different story if you'd been here the previous weekend for the New West Fest and Bohemian Nights. FoCo rocks during those yearly events and lots of other times as well.

I'm sure you've discovered that there are two gyms in town if you are into gym climbing at all. Inner Strength and Miramont. Both have good things going for them, but a very different vibe at each. And you might have stumbled on the fact that a new one is planned for sometime next year, Ascent Studio ( AscentStudio.com).

Best of luck in your new job.
-Jon

Jon Sinclair · · Lafayette, CO · Joined Feb 2007 · Points: 25

There are few places anywhere in the world that are as quality as Fort Fun. It has been rated as one of the best places to live by so many different magazines and organizations that it's hard to keep track of. The weather is hard to beat and the location puts you close to almost everything an outdoor person could want to do... minus an ocean. If you move, you won't be sorry.

Ian Stewart · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2010 · Points: 155

Welcome! My wife and I moved to Fort Collins three years ago and I don't think we'll ever leave.

Jon Lachelt wrote:Also, you said downtown was kind of quiet when you were there... well it would have been a different story if you'd been here the previous weekend for the New West Fest and Bohemian Nights. FoCo rocks during those yearly events and lots of other times as well.
Not to mention the students have just gotten back into town. It can be a little quiet during the couple summer months when school's out.

In regards to the climbing community, there's a "Fort Collins Women's Climbing" group on Facebook that you might want to join. There's no shortage of rad climbing chicks (and dudes) around here!
fluff head · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 65

You should move. If you climb and like beer, it's really a very easy decision.

There's a reason why Fort Collins, and other places in Colorado, are consistently ranked high on "Best Place to Live", "Happiest Cities", "Best Place to Drive (not necessarily relevant, but interesting), etc. lists. There is quite a bit going on out there and I don't think you'll be disappointed.

In addition to that, I guarantee you will find a wide variety of better climbing within a smaller radius than Philly. Lumpy, Vedauwoo, Eldo, RMNP, South Platte, Flatirons, etc. It will also put you in striking distance to Indian Creek, Tetons, Red Rock, Devils Tower, Black Hills, etc. Go to any of the climbing gyms in Fort Collins and it's easy to meet people. I met quite a few people at the gym at Miramont North a few years ago. Or head up to Rotary to boulder and you won't have any trouble finding climbing partners. I never had any issue finding someone to climb with down there. I'm sure you could PM any of the Fort folks here on MP and get plugged into the scene. Or hit me up if you want to check out Vedauwoo and meet some people in these parts.

If you want big city amenities, you can always scoot down to Denver. Fort Collins is definitely not a "small town"; spend some time in Wyoming and Fort Collins will look like a metropolis.

Amanda Crawford · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 5

Thanks for all of the additional feedback! So great to know there are SO many places to climb nearby. I guess I should plan my first few (many?) weekends there checking them out and exploring. I do get a little tired of the 3-hour drive to the Gunks.

Ian, thanks for the info on the facebook group! I will definitely check that out. Having women to climb with is always nice and I bet I could find a good female mentor out there, which I haven't been able to accomplish here.

RE: downtown, there were a lot of people around. I think the students were moving back in. I think I'm just bummed that there aren't a lot of apartments around. I've enjoyed Center City Philly's mix of commerce with residential life. I will miss that, but the outdoor adventures (and amazing beer!) with new friends will make it worth it.

Officially stoked! I'll be there in about a month! Eek!

Scott McMahon · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,425
Amanda Crawford wrote:Thanks for all of the additional feedback! So great to know there are SO many places to climb nearby. I guess I should plan my first few (many?) weekends there checking them out and exploring. I do get a little tired of the 3-hour drive to the Gunks. Ian, thanks for the info on the facebook group! I will definitely check that out. Having women to climb with is always nice and I bet I could find a good female mentor out there, which I haven't been able to accomplish here. RE: downtown, there were a lot of people around. I think the students were moving back in. I think I'm just bummed that there aren't a lot of apartments around. I've enjoyed Center City Philly's mix of commerce with residential life. I will miss that, but the outdoor adventures (and amazing beer!) with new friends will make it worth it. Officially stoked! I'll be there in about a month! Eek!
Been out in CO for 8 years and I feel like I've barely scratched the surface here of things to do. It's limitless.
Joan Lee · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 140

If you are not a city person FoCo is for you. It is a rather small town. The proximity to great climbing in Lumpy, WY (the Woo) etc., and the new developed areas near by make it a not so bad place. The climbing shop is super friendly although bigger better gyms in Boulder attract a good amount of FoCo climbers. It has a feeling of a combo farm/college/military base town. A little boring coming from Philly. Good food is non existent especially compared to Philly and NYC. Still the move is worth it. It will get you out to the Midwest and Utah etc. Good stuff.
There is a coffee shop on College street in Old FoCo that would be a mandatory new kid on the block stop to get the scoop and the vibe. I forgot it's name . It looks like a climbers hang out place.
BTW Denver is NOT a big city. Not by east coast standards. Lots of suburbia but nothing like Philadelphia. The closest Big City would be Phoenix in Arizona or drive to LA!

Joan Lee · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 140

Female mentors are next to impossible to find. You will have a better chance with a crusty retiree gizzard.

Cor · · Sandbagging since 1989 · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 1,445

Many female mentors around… Don't be fooled about that. (Sorry Joany.)
I have lots of female climbing friends who I most defiantly look up to, and still learn from!
It is one of the largest climbing communities around the US. (I would imagine…)

FoCo might have less females than say Boulder/Denver.
You just have to be a person peeps want to hang with, to be shown the ways..

Safe travels! I am headed to the Winds!
C

EDIT: I am now leaving MountainProiject! Joan pushed me out…. Hello Wind River Mountains!!!

Joan Lee · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 140
Cor wrote:Many female mentors around… Don't be fooled about that. (Sorry Joany.) I have lots of female climbing friends who I most defiantly look up to, and still learn from! It is one of the largest climbing communities around the US. (I would imagine…) FoCo might have less females than say Boulder/Denver. You just have to be a person peeps want to hang with, to be shown the ways.. Safe travels! I am headed to the Winds! C
Looking up to somebody does not mean he or she is your mentor. Mentor is a baby sitter out of kindness of heart and love of climbing and teaching...sometimes a desperate enough climber with lots of time on hands. Chicks are too catty to mentor. Except for me. My protege from Tucson liked me as a mentor for the short time I was there.
Ye, "defiantly look up to a female"..... irony.
Scott McMahon · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,425
Joan Lee wrote: My protege from Tucson liked me as a mentor for the short time I was there.
roll...
Joan Lee · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 140

Yes Amanda said she was hoping to meet a female mentor in the women's climbing group. What I was saying was : don't close the door on some old crusty gizzard with rusty cams coz they know their shit and not as catty as women. Yo, I look up to Sharma. Is he my mentor ? No. I look up to some climbers for their skills but it may not mean I respect them for their personal qualities. Don't twist my words. I do enjoy teaching noobs. Started out of desperation for partner may turn into a productive thing. It depends if you like to teach and click with the person.

Rodney P · · Ouray,CO · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 335

Bad idea to take ANY advice from Joan Lee or any of her monikers!

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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