Moving to Colorado (from Arizona) early January! Trying to figure out my housing situation. Beta appreciated!

Hey everybody, I'm a student at Arizona State University and I have a job/internship lined up with this company called Apex Mountain School that is based out of Avon, near Vail. This gig at Apex is part of my degree program (our last semester is essentially an internship semester, we can get a job/internship wherever we want). This is an unpaid gig. I'm hoping the experience is worth not getting paid and I'm looking at it as just another school semester, but I am going to be very broke. I am considering living out of my car. When I told my parents my plan they said I would freeze my ass off. I have little experience living in the snow so my first question is, will I actually freeze my ass off? I have a 0* sleeping bag and I can buy a lot of blankets but I'm not sure that will be enough... I don't mind getting dirty and being a little uncomfortable, I am a climber after all :).

My second question, does anyone live in that area and have a garage climbing setup? Or know someone who does? I'd love to trade some beers for some climbing time! On that same note, are there any people who live/climb in that area? I've mainly been doing trad climbing and multi-pitch climbing in Arizona so my ice/snow experience is kind of non-existent, but I like to think I'm somewhat strong on trad. The hardest multi-pitch I've done was a climb called Texas Hold 'Em in Red Rocks Nevada (9 pitches or so and 5.11+)... I kind of hover around 5.12 on sport and 5.10 - 5.11 on trad. I am planning on learning mountaineering and ice climbing and skiing while I'm in Colorado so if anyone has room for a noobie, I'd love to tag along.

My third question, does anyone have any winter clothing that they don't use anymore that they would be interested in selling to me? I'm averaged size, 150lbs, ~5'11", 32" waist, 9.5 - 10.5 shoe size.

Lastly, I'd love any beta anyone has about living in Colorado. Good restaurants, places to climb, anything really... I was born and raised in Arizona and I am beyond stoked to get out of this desert and to start my life of adventure.

Thanks so much for the help!

First of all, I'm jealous!! Sounds like your embarking on a sweet adventure, paid or not.
I don't think you'll freeze by any means, but I think it depends on your tolerance for a cramped space, etc. What kind of car? If that's not gonna work maybe someone has a cheap extra room for ya? (bump)

The Vail area is pretty sweet but I'm sure there's people on here that can tell you a lot more then me, get stoked on the snow and ice!! It's a great winter playground if you like the cold like myself.
Good luck!

Tyler,

welcome. Good choice on the relocation--it really is awesome out here. I moved out two years ago and there still feels like a lifetime of stuff to uncover.

A note on the weather:

As far as cold goes it's not Alaska, Canada, Montana cold...but like any winter area in the mountains storms can move in for days at a time and can push temperatures uncomfortably low. Living out of your car through winter in the Rockies may not be as pleasant or convenient as it is in the desert--just a thought. What I do know for sure is that virtually anywhere you go to try and park your car long term (even overnight) will end up a hassle--Avon PD is strict, Vail police are borderline fascists. (Look up anything on trying to park near East Vail ice climbing and you'll read plenty about it.)

I'd do some homework ahead of time and see if you can find an affordable place to crash for the season--most roommates and landlords understand seasonal lifestyles and offer 6 month leases etc.

With that being said, the climbing is really good. We climb at Rifle/Eldorado/Indian Creek just about all year round. Rifle is 1 hr, Eldo and the Creek 3 hrs. The WECMRD Rec Center in Edwards has two walls that barely beat out your buddy's garage but they're good enough for an evening pump. A 1 year membership costs $65; it may be cheaper for students--as far as a gym its the best option in town.

You can shoot me an email if you have any questions or need a climbing partner when you get it.

zcoleor@gmail.com

What an adventure...way to go! What will you be doing with your internship?

Get a fleece bag liner and a bivi sack to keep your sleeping bag cleaner and drier. The layers will make your bag dramatically warmner.

Hey Meester, how much for your seester? Lol :)

I thought the locals would be more forthcoming with some beta for you Tyler, but here's some info for a couple of places to look.

When I worked construction in the winters there I had good results finding a room in the Vail Daily want ad's.

apps.vaildaily.com/utils/c2…

Another affordable option to get out of the coldest nights and get a hot shower is the Turntable Inn in Minturn.

$49 bucks a night with package options for longer stays.

minturntable.com/page3.html

Did you acquire suitable gear to bivy in your car?

I'm curious as to what your major is ?

That time of year will be utterly miserable living out of your car. Also consider that at as a guide you should show up to work everyday looking very presentable (dirtbags do not get good tips or have guiding jobs for very long). Find a room to rent or even shed to rent. You won't regret it.

Here's some advice - don't live out of your car. Unless you have some kind of van conversion/Sprinter set up.

The town of Minturn is pretty cool, nice little mountain vibe compared with the corporate feel of vail and avon (Vail owns just about everything in Vail, Avon, Beaver Creek, and Edwards. The area is pretty sweet though...

Living in your car will make you look like a transient, which there are too many of in CO. People are not very appreciative of the lifestyle in general. Probably plenty of young skiers, snowboarders, and those 'living the life' that you could share a place with.

Being unpaid will be tough unless you have some cash saved up! Nothing is cheap around Vail.

All things said, you should still do it, just get a place to live and a paid job!

It will be cold and uncomfortable, but not unlivable if you are able to deal with some pain and discomfort. I would get a -20 bag instead of a 0. Those temp ratings are the minimal for you to literally stay alive (with clothes on), you have to add 20 - 30 degrees for the limit in which the bag will be comfortable, and 30+ if you are not sleeping in your clothes.

Try coutchsurfer.com to find places to crash for a day or two here and there.

Also, it might be worth it to buy a gym membership (climbing gym). There is the obvious advantages of being able to climb, but you also get unlimited hot showers and points of contact for climbing partners and possible places to crash if you offer something in return. That said, I have found the people at Movement to be pretty tough to win over for partners. I once saw a girl sitting around and I offered her a belay on whatever she wanted. She said no thanks. Almost 45 min later she was still sitting around waiting for her partner, so I offered another belay. Still said no. I guess some people would rather sit around on their phone than climb with a stranger.

Last, you can always get cheap clothes and other stuff at the Salvation Army, or some other type of thrift store.