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Dialing in the Front Range Lifestyle

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

Time will tell. My predictions will come true. Keep us all posted. And take a chill pill.

Monty · · Golden, CO · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 3,520

There are still deals to be had in Golden. I recommend avoiding Laurel property services at all cost though, they truly suck. Your best bet is to take a drive around town and look for rental signs. Tedious yes, but worth it if you find a private renter who cares about their property and doesn't want to charge a fortune.

After work climbing is limited to Clear Creek, which depending on what crag you go to, could be a shit show. The rule of thumb is if you drive past tunnel 2, it will probably be quiet after work. Not a lot of trad in the canyon, but there are a couple noteworthy cracks. Everybody laughs when I say this, but you can actually climb at the Quarry wall on North Table mountain comfortably in the summer evenings after work. It faces south east so it's in the shade by the time you get off work and there are some fun cracks up there. Just watch out for rattlesnakes!

For weekends in the fall and winter, Golden is really close to the cathedral spires. It's only a 40 minute drive to some of the best the platte has to offer! Mt Evans is close for the summer time too and the cracks up there are rad!

Andrew Krueger · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 10
Monty wrote:There are still deals to be had in Golden. I recommend avoiding Laurel property services at all cost though, they truly suck. Your best bet is to take a drive around town and look for rental signs. Tedious yes, but worth it if you find a private renter who cares about their property and doesn't want to charge a fortune. Since you mentioned loving being close to the platte, Golden is really close to the cathedral spires. It's only a 40 minute drive to some of the best the platte has to offer! Mt Evans is close for the summer time too!
Thanks for the tip on Laurel. I will have plenty of time to drive around and scope stuff out, and excellent point about Cyn. I have climbed some around Buffalo Creek and very much enjoyed some 'adventures' there...
marshall moose · · Golden, Colorado · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 30
Andrew Krueger wrote: 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.
CCC has crack/gear routes... but most of them are bolted. It's fun to lead them on gear and ignore the bolts.

Yeah, my girlfriend and I have a house for less than 1500 - good thing you have some time.
marshall moose · · Golden, Colorado · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 30
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! The growth is such a bummer.
And as for traffic and the growth, I feel your pain. I would have lived in Flagstaff forever, but wanted bigger jobs and have since had my share of traffic-induced trauma (I was freaking out so bad in San Francisco once I called my girlfriend and she thought I was going to jump off the bay bridge, when in reality I was just squealing in complaint and punching the steering wheel because I didn't want to be in traffic). It's not 100% perfect here, but that's why it's worth it for me to live in Golden - I ride my bike to work, walk to the park/brewery, never get on I-70 with the exception of occasional trips to Utah, and don't encounter any traffic going to Eldo or to S.Platte.

And if you come and decide it's not worth it, quit and move back. Or into your van. Won't be the end of the world.
Altered Ego · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 0

C'mon son, dialing in the front range is all about dispensaries and micro brew. Just make sure you can put the hangboard up somewhere and your good to go 'cause it is packed up in here. People get alpine starts to line up for climbs in CCC and you better not plan on going to the gym after work if you don't like traffic. People are moving here in record numbers from all over the country and they all want to start climbing.

One thing I've learned about living on the front range is that no matter how rad you think you're going to get on some epic mission there's always someone else that had the same vision of radness but left the house about 20 minutes sooner.

Andrew Krueger · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 10
marshall moose wrote: And as for traffic and the growth, I feel your pain. I would have lived in Flagstaff forever, but wanted bigger jobs and have since had my share of traffic-induced trauma (I was freaking out so bad in San Francisco once I called my girlfriend and she thought I was going to jump off the bay bridge, when in reality I was just squealing in complaint and punching the steering wheel because I didn't want to be in traffic). It's not 100% perfect here, but that's why it's worth it for me to live in Golden - I ride my bike to work, walk to the park/brewery, never get on I-70 with the exception of occasional trips to Utah, and don't encounter any traffic going to Eldo or to S.Platte. And if you come and decide it's not worth it, quit and move back. Or into your van. Won't be the end of the world.
Yeah I'm trying not to quit jobs and up and move anymore, haha maybe you can relate. The company I worked for got acquired by this one out of Golden, and it's going to be a super good gig for me that I won't bail on -- just trying to figure out the best way to make it work for my preferred lifestyle.

So far I'm sold on Golden. I really want to be able to walk or bike places like you say, and I'm a drinking man so the breweries certainly won't hurt. I appreciate your sharing your experiences and input. Fortunately we have time to wait for a suitable place to become available.

Cheers!
Andrew Krueger · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 10
Long Duk Dong wrote:C'mon son, dialing in the front range is all about dispensaries and micro brew. Just make sure you can put the hangboard up somewhere and your good to go 'cause it is packed up in here. People get alpine starts to line up for climbs in CCC and you better not plan on going to the gym after work if you don't like traffic. People are moving here in record numbers from all over the country and they all want to start climbing. One thing I've learned about living on the front range is that no matter how rad you think you're going to get on some epic mission there's always someone else that had the same vision of radness but left the house about 20 minutes sooner.
I don't know, man. I climb in the Platte all the time and never see anyone. And the Springs is way sleeper as far as I've been able to tell. You're right though, Denver is about as blown-through as Supercrack. Might just have to work my days off into mid-week.
Eric Sjoden · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 0

I live in Arvada, and I love it. I even live on the eastern edge of Arvada (its huge). 25 min to Boulder, 20 min to Eldo, 25 min to CCC, 1h 15m to Lumpy. Pretty sweet. You can practically live in Golden on the Western edge of Arvada if thats where you work. Arvada is still a smattering of farms among urban development, so it isnt unrealistic to find a place with room/ land. And it certainly lacks the panache of Boulder and Golden. Of course, I'm a nurse and work the weekends. Even when I have Saturdays off I RARELY climb/ ski/ drive anywhere. The weekdays are great, and I have never had an issue getting on the classic routes people live here for. Good luck

Andy Bandos · · CO · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 760
Long Duk Dong wrote:C'mon son, dialing in the front range is all about dispensaries and micro brew. Just make sure you can put the hangboard up somewhere and your good to go 'cause it is packed up in here. People get alpine starts to line up for climbs in CCC and you better not plan on going to the gym after work if you don't like traffic. People are moving here in record numbers from all over the country and they all want to start climbing. One thing I've learned about living on the front range is that no matter how rad you think you're going to get on some epic mission there's always someone else that had the same vision of radness but left the house about 20 minutes sooner.
Ha, no joke. I tried to take my wife up playing hooky in clear creek 4 times before we finally got on it.
Monty · · Golden, CO · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 3,520
Andy B wrote: Ha, no joke. I tried to take my wife up playing hooky in clear creek 4 times before we finally got on it.
I can't help but chuckle at that just a little bit.
Buff Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 1,145

The best measuring schtick to 'the lifestyle' is aspiring up to my awesomeness

ChrisG George · · Westminster · Joined Oct 2004 · Points: 115

Andrew Good stuff in the thread here. I live half way between boulder and Denver. only 12 miles from eldo. there's everything here within 30 minutes max. and your even closer to RMNP. SPlatte is only 1 hourish away. in fact the guidebook author lives in my neighborhood. He's a busy guy like me. has a family and cranks hard. in one week i'll scramble the flatirons, climb in eldo and hit CCC. If weather's bad, theres earth treks. plenty of trail running.

So GOLDEN! Yes. it's a great place to be. and there's plenty of neighborhoods to choose from that grant quick access to crags and roads getting there.

I'm also a realtor and can answer neighborhood and house questions. give me a buzz if you are interested.
Chris 303-478-5501
Chris@chrisgeorgeteam.com

Jim Amidon · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2001 · Points: 850

I've been in WheatRidge for 5-6 years and wouldn't live anywhere else. Not as far west as Golden, not Denver, but right on the edge of the city....
Small city with a population of 37,000....

Big lots, mature trees......Big yards...

Don't tell too many people......

teece303 · · Highlands Ranch, CO · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 596

I used to live in extreme southeastern Wheat Ridge, too (almost Denver and Lakewood). But even there, it was darn near perfect. Barely 15 minutes from either CCC/Table/Morison, but also now 10 minutes from the new Movement. 15 minutes from downtown, too.

I loved that place. It was perfection for me.

Robert Scrivner · · Colorado Springs · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 10
The Blueprint Part Dank wrote:ARVADA!!!!!!!!!!!!! closer to Eldo and cheaper than Golden. Less "cool factor" though.
^wholeheartedly agree. I grew up near 88th and Wadsworth. My dad pays $1200/month towards his mortgage on his 4 bedroom house. Arvada is cheap, and smack in the middle of all kinds of awesome climbing areas. I can get from my dads place in Arvada to CCC or North Table in 15 minutes. Over to Eldo in about 20. Splatte is an hour, and Estes Park is just over an hour.

Nowadays I live in the Springs and go to school at UCCS. I agree, it's hard to beat the laid back atmosphere down there, but I would really rather be in Arvada when it comes to weekday/after working cragging.

Best.
D Snyder · · Golden, CO · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 60

Check out Apple Meadows for rentals (just north of Golden, 1/2 mile east on 58th ave to Crestone Street then north, on the north side of North Table) there are frequently a couple available. My wife and I own but I personally think it's one of the last semi-undiscovered neighborhoods on the Front Range. My front door is exactly 15 miles from the gate in Eldo. I go on trail runs on North Table from my house. We're 3 miles to the Cannonball Creek and 3.5 to Mountain Toad breweries.

The Front Range is busy and getting busier, but there are still oases out there.

Brandon Howard · · Denver, CO · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 25

Surprised no one has mentioned this yet...Louisville. It is easily the nicest town on the western side of the city, and it actually is a town. It is not overpopulated or crammed with strip malls. There is a main street that is packed with nice restaurants and bars that are completely casual and not too expensive. $2 Tecates & $2 tacos at Waterloo on Tuesday nights. Henry's is quite the dive bar but it is the most relaxed environment that I have experienced in a bar out here. And above all of that, Louisville is outside of the traffic zone unless you have to go down 36 to the city during commute time. Flatirons are real close by for quick climbing, plus they dominate the skyline every day, can't complain about the view.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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