Bellingham vs. Fort Collins vs ??

Looking to relocate from the Seattle area to somewhere a little smaller and with a bigger 'mountain town' vibe. Just getting into climbing over the last year but interests include multipitch trad, alpine trad, mountaineering, backpacking.

Ideal city would be within an hour of moderate crag trad climbing, within 2 hours of alpine objectives, decent crowd of people in 20's, rent 500 or under, good beer, under/around 100k people or has that type of feel.

I want to stay on the West Coast, specifically Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah?

I've checked out all the threads covering best city and just looking for some input on my specific situation.

Right now I am thinking Bellingham WA or Fort Collins CO but open to other suggestions as well.

Will be looking at CC's in these towns to take EMT courses as I'm trying to become a firefighter so not super worried about jobs...

What'da say? Any suggestions?

FoCo:

- It's tough to find rent for under $500 unless you share with 3+ people

- Population of 150k

- I hear the firefighter jobs here are pretty competitive, sought-after. But there are several good CC's in town.

- Most good trad, when you count the approach, is more than an hour away (but under two)

- I don't think it has a "mountain town" vibe. Friend of mine just left Fort Collins for Vail because he was missing the mountain town vibe. Fort Collins is on the plains, it feels more like a small/young suburban town.

As far as getting your EMT, I would advise to go ahead and get your Paramedic certification as well. In many departments there is a lack of medics so having that should give you a leg up in the application process. Also some departments are only hiring medics or making people go through medic class. Make sure that you go to a school that is certified! Otherwise you'll be permanently ineligible for the National Registry Exam. You might consider taking a AWLS (advanced wilderness life support) Class after you get your EMT. Shop around for schools, tuition varies greatly. PM me w any questions and I'll be glad to try and answer them.

I'd say B'ham is less a mountain town and more a college town. Not a ton of climbing within an hour either (a few good crags) but if you're willing to travel up to two hours there is a ton of stuff in the North Cascades (Highway 20 area, as well as near Darrington). Also, rent 500 or under is pretty much impossible unless you're rooming with at least one other person.

Whatcom Community College in B'ham has EMT coursework, AFAIK. Also, locals will tell you that the Ham has the best beer in the Northwest. I don't know if it's quite up to Portland levels, but there are a bunch of really good breweries and brewpubs (Boundary Bay is my personal favorite).

Plenty of backpacking and mountaineering within 2 hours as well. Seems to meet your requirements for the most part.

You could also consider living in Sumas. A small border town about 20 minutes north of B'ham, but they have a great volunteer fire department that you could get EMT experience (and probably training) with if you live in the fire district.

I think rent might be your crux. Most "mountain towns" seem to have a odd shortage of rental housing...

If you're looking to stay on the west coast, try Redmond, OR or Madras, OR. Neither are very hip, but way more affordable than Bend (which has everything you're looking for).

Hmm, I've never been, but I've heard good things about Missoula. Looks like some reasonable rent options: missoula.craigslist.org/sea…

Thanks for the replies all. I guess all these are ideal scenario 'wants'. If it most of the criteria I'd be pretty happy. The key for me is to have the best compromise between nearby (within 2 hrs) mountains and people in their mid 20's who like to hang out outside more than party every weekend. Hopefully somewhere I could be for the next 5+ years if all works out.

The Junk! AKA Grand Junction,CO. Check it.

Fort Collins is a nice place to live but definitely not a mountain town. I think it used to be (more of) a college town but is growing out of that into standard suburbia.

I ended up living in FOCO, but would have really liked to have found work in the Wenatchee area. From what I hear from my younger climber friends, you will find it hard to find a rental for 2 people for 500/each

Check out flagstaff Arizona.

20 minutes to paradise forks
20 minutes to the pit
Bouldering in priests draw

Coconino Community College

The Sanfrancisco Peaks towering over the town.

Cheapish rent.

Lots of breweries and bars

5 hours to Indian Creek and Zion.

2.5 hours to Grand Canyon

I love Summit county! It has everthing your looking for and more! only catch is there is no way in hell your gonna keep rent under $500. What C.C. has Ice Climbing classes less than 15 minutes from campus, 4 ski resorts less than 20 minutes away and 1500ft alpine routes 10 minutes away?? Colorado Mountain College - Breckenridge. Its definantly a Mountain town. But you have deal with the tourists...

I live in bham and love it. Not too much good climbing around though, closest would be index or Squamish for trad, although WA pass isn't too far I guess... It is more of a college town though

I live in bham and love it. Not too much good climbing around though, closest would be index or Squamish for trad, although WA pass isn't too far I guess... It is more of a college town though

I live in bham and love it. Not too much good climbing around though, closest would be index or Squamish for trad, although WA pass isn't too far I guess... It is more of a college town though

I live in bham and love it. Not too much good climbing around though, closest would be index or Squamish for trad, although WA pass isn't too far I guess... It is more of a college town though

I love Durango, but it's a massive metropolitan area, what with all the skyscrapers and inner city problems. Our 10 lane highways and toll roads really help you zip around quick though!

Josh (or anyone else in Bham): How's the proximity to alpine climbing though? And Squamish is, what, 3 hours or so by road?

Golden, CO....seriously!!

Can't beat WA alpine, WA pass is within 2 hours I believe, Baker is really really close, Leavenworth is like 3 hours away! Squamish is more like an hour and a half away with good traffic

Colorado's mountain town tend to be further away form the best climbing. Id stick to the west coast.