Moving: Portland or Spokane?

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You won't find a whole lot of steep skiing in western Oregon, you will be signifacantly closer to good snow and mountains in Spokane (Couer D'Alene, Sandpoint, 49 Degrees North, etc.) Climbing may be another story, I've hear it's a haul from there to anything really worthwhile, while Portland has numerous little crags nearby and in the city itself (nothing too big, mostly sport, soggy, mossy). You'll suffer misserably in comparrsion to SLC, but do what you gotta do I guess.

I lived in Portland for four years. It is depressingly cloudy in Portland for months at a time. Some people seem not to affected by it, others get depressed. Most people are somewhere in between. Spokane in contrast is still in the inter-mountain west, so you will see the sun every month of the year. My vote would be to Spokane, if only for the sun.

BTW, I live in Albuquerque

Thanks guys. Anyone have specific recommendations for climbing near Spokane? Or for backcountry skiing near Spokane?

I think you should stay in SLC

Andrew B. wrote: Mclellan for more sport and bouldering (which has had over 100 routes put up in the last year or so by an awesome local climber)

That would be one bolting Motherfucker! Bolting at McLellan started over 10 years and with more than just one route setter. Hell...just this year alone there's been at least three guys setting routes.

There is not much work in Portland.

Don't know anything about Spokane, but there are a number of crags here: local crags within an hour, and 3 hours to Smith Rock, basalt more chossy than you are used to in SLC granite. Skiing is Cascade Cement, not anything like Wasatch powder. Great city.

Yea, we're leavin' too Bobby... This month, Marg just got an offer. Hey we're movin' to Portland as well! Oh... Wait... That's Portland Maine. Ah well, looks like there might be some climbing out there when it's not too busy raining. Does it rain in Maine?

I live in eastern washington, not Spokane but I have many friends there as well as I visit a lot. The weather and area are great for all sorts of outdoor activities. There are wonderful skiing areas as well as someone else said great backcountry skiing up in Canada. You are even just a short trip from Montana backcountry. Three hours from Leavenworth where you can climb for a lifetime and never do the same routes twice. SLC may have everything a bit closer but you will still be in an amazingly fun area in Spokane. By the way I lived in Portland for the longest year of my life. Pick Spokane

Your desire for culture and your political sensibilities may be a factor.

Portland is probably the most progressive city in the nation. Compact, and easy to get around without a car w/ great public trans. Very neighborhood kinda feel for a city. Beautiful homes, a pub on every other block, great music and microbrew scene. Giant biking scene, both road and mtn. Tons of bike commuters. Hood is ski-able 10mo/year...they run summer snowboard/ski camps there. Great mtn biking, great coffee, good art scene, good literary scene, easy access to the coast, cragging in town, Smith about 3.5hrs. Downsides: traffic sucks if you're a car commuter, rain rain rain rain and more f$%^ rain. I've lived literally in every region of the US and Portland was my favorite city by far.

Spokane is much sunnier and drier. Better snow (west side snow is heavy, "cascade concrete"). Better access to good ice climbing and good granite. But not much for culture, and while the Spokane/Couer D'Alene area is more "blue" than most of that region, it's in the middle of hard rightwing territory and there's not much in the way of cultural stuff. Better fly fishing based out of there than PDX too. There's also climbing close to town in Spokane, and if you're adventurous there's loads of stuff in the canyon.

Personally, I'd stay in SLC, but a change of scenery is always nice.

Rob C. wrote:Yea, we're leavin' too Bobby... This month, Marg just got an offer. Hey we're movin' to Portland as well! Oh... Wait... That's Portland Maine. Ah well, looks like there might be some climbing out there when it's not too busy raining. Does it rain in Maine?

Interesting, since I'm from Spokane, my father's from Portland, and currently I live in Portland, Me. Will S is spot on with the cultural aspects. They say Spokane is the big city with a small town attitude. I have found this to be very true as they seem to be about 10 years behind in many aspects. I'm sure there's a ton of undeveloped stuff around there though. Also, you're only 4 hrs north of Riggins, ID (overhanging pocket pulling limestone), and close to all that Montana has to offer as well. Portland, however, is probably one of the coolest cities in the US with an amazing music scene, and you've got Mt. Hood not too far away, which has skiing year round. And Smith. Dude. Smith. Come on. It should be a no brainer.

Maine has actually had a pretty amazing year. The only downside is that most of the climbing is in NH, so you're driving 1.5 hrs each weekend, minimum! I was at Rumney the past weekend (2.5 hrs away) and it was almost too hot on the routes in the sun. There have only been maybe 3 weekends this year that I haven't been able to get out (save Jan/Feb and early March). Lots of hidden rock that only the locals know about as well. And the gym is outright terrible. Not a very good climbing city, that's for sure. But definitely doable.

Quinn Lee wrote:you learn to cope, but it does take a toll on a lot of people who are used to the sun.

Yes, I grew up in Tucson, AZ. Salt Lake took a while to adjust to.

Thanks for all the great responses everyone! We will probably decide over Thanksgiving weekend where we are going to end up.

I would go to Oregon. Sure the weather sucks but the PNW is an awesome place to be. I just moved from sunny Colorado to Seattle and have to say that it takes some time to get use to the bad weather but once you do it makes you a stronger climber at least at alpine stuff. Smith Rocks is right around the corner from Portland and backcountry skiing is year round there. I'm sure Spokane has good things too but every time I go through I'm happy to be going through. Just my thought though...