Soooo, whats the skinny on climbing around there in the winters? I am looking to live there come October, but only if there is some winter climinb outside of gyms. I dont mind bad weather, as long as you can get out.

Smith is climbable year-round. It can be tricky to get there after heavy snow, but do-able. Other than that...well, its probably not worse than AK.

Depends on the winter, I grew up here and some winters are mild and you can climb outside locally quite often. Other winters you will not see the sun for two months at a time, I shit you not. But, like homey said, probly not worse than Alaska. And Central Oregon stays dry.

I was thinking that would be the case...How far is Smith/other winter areas? Is it weekend trip type stuff? How about long day trips? Decent gyms?
I will also need a job, place to stay, and a hot girl friend if anyone can help with those.
Thanks!

I highly suggest not moving here unless your career aspirations do not go above being a barista. You will be competing with lots of overeducated hipster transplants from the midwest who moved here for the "art" scene. There are a lot of hot girls here though.

"You will be competing with lots of overeducated hipster transplants from the midwest who moved here for the "art" scene. "

Amen. I'll second that notion: moderate winters, connections with interesting "scenes", art, outdoors, music, etc...

not the easiest place to find a job. But then again, where is in the U.S. right now we're you can still pull down on stellar rock?

I climbed outside 3 times this past February here in Portland.

I was going to say that winters totally suck ass around here. But I just checked my notes and see that the FA route notes/dates show first ascents every month at a new area all last winter to spring. So it's do able.

People in California have it sweet comparatively though. Most of the time it's too warm for ice climbing and too wet for rock climbing.

cota, I lived up in Gov. Camp (mt. hood) one winter and would go down to Portland a bit. I always remember driving into town and thinking it looked a lot like Gotham city. Anyway, I climbed a fair bit of ice on the East side of hood some little valley. And of course trips to smith!!!! I'm sure you'll be able to hook up with tons of folks who go to smith often. Smith is amazing.

HAve fun.

Thread drift...but I gotta vent.

I got laid off from a teaching job in Santa Cruz back in June. I've been very actively looking for a teaching job in PDX. In two months, I've probably applied to over 40 positions and I've only had one interview. I'm a math teacher, I thought I'd always be "in demand."

I have friends that are in food service and they routinely tell me that the position they apply for (bussing tables etc.) get over 1000 people applying for them. Some of these restaurants have interviews that go four rounds. I've never seen an economy this shitty.

I can completely sympathize with that Ian. I know I'm lucky to have the job that I do, and my younger brother would be bartending or slinging coffee were it not for a good family connection at a big company downtown.

It's funny though-- there aren't many jobs, but if you're in business for yourself there still seems to be a fair bit of opportunity floating around. I've been doing more photography and videography lately, and companies are still willing to shell out plenty of money for quality work. They won't hire full time, but if you've got more than just a resume (i.e., skills in demand for contract work) there's plenty out there.

According to this unscientific study, Portland has 7 unemployed people per job listing...Not too promising.

http://www.indeed.com/jobtrends/unemployment

Hmmm, its sounding pretty shitty, it is everywhere though. I have been looking at Austin a fair bit more lately. Good sport routes, and a short drive to Potrero...
Moab is also in the picture, but work there seem tough as well. Maybe I will just road trip through Portland, and keep heading south...
Thanks for the replies!

If you're lookin' for a "climbing" town that has jobs I would point you to Merced, CA. Yeah, right now it's suffering like everywhere else, but...it has CA's newest University which will bring in more funds/jobs when/if the economy improves. Plus it has a never ending flow if tourists going to the Valley. Now, there is no climbing in town, not even close, but the best climbing on the planet is only an hour a way.

Merced isn't the darling of the New York Times like Portland is, but it is a gem in an otherwise unending stream of shithole cowtowns in California's central valley.

Beacon is often dry'ish when Portland isn't, and up till they close it in February it is a great place to go play, even in winter.