Mountain Project Logo

Dialing in the Front Range Lifestyle

Original Post
Andrew Krueger · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 10

Hi Board,

I've had really good feedback from this community in the past on all manner of topic so I'm back again to gather more opinion and info.

I'm new to Colorado as of October 2013. Lived in Ouray that winter and have been in CO Springs since last summer. I've really been loving it here- the quick access to S. Platte granite, minimal traffic and crowds, weekdays at Shelf Road, and culturally a really humble and chill scene of climbers overall.

But now I'm taking a big-boy job with a cell tower construction outfit (my trade) in Golden, and I am very perturbed about how to make that work for my climbing. I don't want to live anywhere in Denver proper, not sure if I can afford to live in Golden (or if it's that cool of a place to live anyway), and am intimidated and put-off by the idea of living in Boulder. Maybe I shouldn't be so prejudiced?

But my objective is to live in a house, not apartment, somewhere on the western fringe of Denver with easy weeknight access to a gym and easy weekday afternoon/weekend access to a non-madhouse-shitshow (preferably granite trad) crag. How are the hard-women and -men of MP making it all work for themselves on the Front Range? If I can find somewhere in Golden should I jump on it? Looks super close to Clear Creek although I don't know what the traffic is like up to the climbing there.

Thanks,
A Front Range Noob

Glenn Schuler · · Monument, Co. · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,330

You going to work for Bill Rex?

Oh, and welcome to the Springs man.

Brendan Magee · · Parker, CO · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 0

Golden is a cool town. Earth Treks is nearby. Getting to Clear Creek Canyon is really easy. Boulder and South Platte are a short drive away as well. Golden and Boulder will both be expensive for renting.

banski · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 10

Golden : a small college'ish town resembling a mountain town but not really. Bigger than Ouray (everything is bigger than Ouray). Not expensive at all. I suggest to rent a small room to figure out if that's what you actually want to do. Can get boring, but you have Boulder in your armpit, Springs is drivable on the interstate, Estes Park is driveable. So I say rent through summer to see what's up.

curt86iroc · · Lakewood, CO · Joined Dec 2014 · Points: 274

super easy to climb when you live in golden. clear creek and n. table are 10 mins away. i moved from boulder to golden 1 1/2 years ago and my climbing hasnt suffered at all.

marshall moose · · Golden, Colorado · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 30

Same story here - it's a rad little town, Earth Treks is nearby, and breweries abound. I got offered a job here last year and was a little skeptical, but haven't looked back. Rent is expensive, but there's affordable houses that come up here and there if you keep an eye out.

It's super easy to get to Clear Creek if you like sport, but I usually just go to Eldo, which is maybe 25 minutes. BoCan is the closest granite trad at about 45 minutes away or so, and like any canyon it has areas that are madhouse/shitshows and areas that are not. You get to know what's where. In my experience S. Platte crags are a bit far for weekdays (partially because approaches tend to be longer), but great for weekend trips.

Andrew Krueger · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 10
Glenn Schuler wrote:You going to work for Bill Rex? Oh, and welcome to the Springs man.
Hi Glenn,

An honor to have you respond to my post! Actually I'll be working for Centerline Solutions. Thanks for the welcome and I'm honestly really bummed to be leaving the Springs. I'd rather stay here if I could.
Andrew Krueger · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 10
banski wrote:Golden : a small college'ish town resembling a mountain town but not really. Bigger than Ouray (everything is bigger than Ouray). Not expensive at all. I suggest to rent a small room to figure out if that's what you actually want to do. Can get boring, but you have Boulder in your armpit, Springs is drivable on the interstate, Estes Park is driveable. So I say rent through summer to see what's up.
I forgot to mention that I live with my grad-student girlfriend so renting a room isn't really an option for us. Plus we're, like, so old now and so over roommates ;)
Andrew Krueger · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 10
marshall moose wrote:Same story here - it's a rad little town, Earth Treks is nearby, and breweries abound. I got offered a job here last year and was a little skeptical, but haven't looked back. Rent is expensive, but there's affordable houses that come up here and there if you keep an eye out. It's super easy to get to Clear Creek if you like sport, but I usually just go to Eldo, which is maybe 25 minutes. BoCan is the closest granite trad at about 45 minutes away or so, and like any canyon it has areas that are madhouse/shitshows and areas that are not. You get to know what's where. In my experience S. Platte crags are a bit far for weekdays (partially because approaches tend to be longer), but great for weekend trips.
So clear creek doesn't have many crack or gear routes?

I'll have corportate housing for the first 3 months so I'm hoping if I stay glued to CList and Zillow I can find a decent house for like $1500 or less.
highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35

Denver is the fastest growing non coastal US city. There is massive housing and apartment inflation and traffic seems to get worse by the day.

Clear Creek is worth climbing because it's near. Compared to something good like Shelf, it's a pile.

All of the good climbing is an hour or more away with the exception of Eldo and the Splatte.

What we do have is good but crowded gyms, a great community, and a hundred lifetimes of climbing within 7 hours. That does unfortunately mean I70 all too often though.

I've been here 10 years, I'm more than ready to leave. Once you get sick of driving and traffic, this place gets to be a drag really fast.

Andrew Krueger · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 10
nicelegs wrote:Denver is the fastest growing non coastal US city. There is massive housing and apartment inflation and traffic seems to get worse by the day. Clear Creek is worth climbing because it's near. Compared to something good like Shelf, it's a pile. All of the good climbing is an hour or more away with the exception of Eldo and the Splatte. What we do have is good but crowded gyms, a great community, and a hundred lifetimes of climbing within 7 hours. That does unfortunately mean I70 all too often though. I've been here 10 years, I'm more than ready to leave. Once you get sick of driving and traffic, this place gets to be a drag really fast.
Brutal! I already hate traffic. This is why I'm so bummed to leave the Springs. 1hr to Turkey and Thunder Ridge!

I don't really care a lot about the 'quality' of sport climbing as long as I can use it to train and have a good time. All the climbs I care about are in the Platte anyway, and aren't really cragging destinations.

The growth is such a bummer.
Glenn Schuler · · Monument, Co. · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,330

Andrew,
I read your post and it was like deja vu - I worked for a cell tower company in Golden for six years back in my 20's. I thought how many tower erection companies can there be in Golden? I guess more than one these days!
With all the traveling involved in tower work I stayed in the Springs and it worked out OK. I did commute to Denver often but a lot of our work was on Cheyenne Mountain, Pueblo & other sites to the south. Like a lot of folks have said, Golden is a good place to live as far as climbing access is concerned. You'd be alright in Lakewood and even parts of Wheat Ridge as far as proximity to your work.
Good luck with the new job and be safe man, that shit's dangerous.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35
Andrew Krueger wrote: Brutal! I already hate traffic. This
1 hour to the cyn pin. It's basically the same for the stuff in the middle.
The Blueprint Part Dank · · FEMA Region VIII · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 460

ARVADA!!!!!!!!!!!!! closer to Eldo and cheaper than Golden. Less "cool factor" though.

banski · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 10
Andrew Krueger wrote: I forgot to mention that I live with my grad-student girlfriend so renting a room isn't really an option for us. Plus we're, like, so old now and so over roommates ;)
Why not? Tiny homes are all the rage right now. Besides communal living will keep your indoors time to a minimum and give you more time to explore the place.
banski · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 10
Andrew Krueger wrote: Brutal! I already hate traffic. This is why I'm so bummed to leave the Springs. 1hr to Turkey and Thunder Ridge! I don't really care a lot about the 'quality' of sport climbing as long as I can use it to train and have a good time. All the climbs I care about are in the Platte anyway, and aren't really cragging destinations. The growth is such a bummer.
I sense a conservative...don't go to Golden.
Andrew Krueger · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 10
banski wrote: I sense a conservative...don't go to Golden.
I'm about as far from a conservative as a person could be, and I am confused as to how my woe over growth in the Front Range could be confused with conservatism. Not that it's relevant to my question, a polite way to talk to a stranger, or any of your business particularly what my political leanings are.

I was an organic vegetable farmer in the PNW most of my adult life and outside of that context have no interest in communal housing. Since I'll be working full time I doubt I'll have much issue being motivated to get out of the house and climb, particularly since my lifestyle and livelihood revolve entirely around that activity.

Sorry to come off so rude but, to mirror your form of observation banski, I sense from you a passive superficiality and sarcasm more common to a 19-year-old on 4chan than a friendly, helpful climber on mountainproject.
banski · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 10
Andrew Krueger wrote: I'm about as far from a conservative as a person could be, and I am confused as to how my woe over growth in the Front Range could be confused with conservatism. Not that it's relevant to my question, a polite way to talk to a stranger, or any of your business particularly what my political leanings are. I was an organic vegetable farmer in the PNW most of my adult life and outside of that context have no interest in communal housing. Since I'll be working full time I doubt I'll have much issue being motivated to get out of the house and climb, particularly since my lifestyle and livelihood revolve entirely around that activity. Sorry to come off so rude but, to mirror your form of observation banski, I sense from you a passive superficiality and sarcasm more common to a 19-year-old on 4chan than a friendly, helpful climber on mountainproject.
Fail! You are too conservative and rude for Golden. That's why I even more so think you should rent first. You will not last there.
You are against tiny homes and communal living, so what's next, you are gonna say you combust???? Nope. Thank you. Good bye.
Victor K · · Denver, CO · Joined Jul 2003 · Points: 170

It sounds like you've got a lot of driving that's part of your job. I recommend sacrificing square footage for location. If you can find a place that allows you to completely avoid you car when you're not working (or going climbing), you're going to be very happy.
Given you work location, I'd work extra hard to find a place in Golden. Strolling around a nice little central village at will is a great antidote for a bad day of driving around.
For reference, I've lived in central Denver for 25 years and get to walk everywhere I need to go (including work). I only have to drive for recreation and large item shopping. The traffic woes of the front range are pretty invisible most of the time. I absolutely love it.

P.S.
Pro tip for Mountain Project - Ignore any post from a new account with no caps in the name. Just sayin'

Andrew Krueger · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 10
Victor K wrote:It sounds like you've got a lot of driving that's part of your job. I recommend sacrificing square footage for location. If you can find a place that allows you to completely avoid you car when you're not working (or going climbing), you're going to be very happy. Given you work location, I'd work extra hard to find a place in Golden. Strolling around a nice little central village at will is a great antidote for a bad day of driving around. For reference, I've lived in central Denver for 25 years and get to walk everywhere I need to go (including work). I only have to drive for recreation and large item shopping. The traffic woes of the front range are pretty invisible most of the time. I absolutely love it. P.S. Pro tip for Mountain Project - Ignore any post from a new account with no caps in the name. Just sayin'
Lol, thanks Victor. I really wanted to bite at that last one but you helped me breathe through the urge.

Luckily we will only be working in Denver metro area; at my last tower job I spent weeks on end in Nebraska and Kansas. Nightmarish. I like your logic though, and you're correct I'm sure I'll be driving a lot. I think we will patiently wait to see something nice turn up in Golden.

Still trying to breathe through it.
Jon H · · PC, UT · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 118

Definitely ignore banski. That's Ellanor, our resident troll and worthless contributor. Only useful for lunatic ramblings and being a punching bag for everyone who is sick of her.

I will echo the recommendations for trying to find a place in Golden. Walkability is a big factor to Front Range happiness. Not that I'm an expert, I've only been here just under 1 year though.

Another option is Evergreen, where you'll almost certainly be able to find a house within your budget. The downside to Evergreen is that it's a bit of a "bedroom community" and I've heard can be isolating to residents. All community interaction happens from SUV window to SUV window as people are driving home from their jobs in Denver. There's only a tiny little downtown section (seriously tiny - maybe 20 shops/restaurants in total?) and not a whole lot going on after 7pm. However, if you and the GF are homebodies and prefer to do your own thing anyway, then it might be a fantastic place to look.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
Post a Reply to "Dialing in the Front Range Lifestyle"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.