How is living in grand junction?

GF and I are considering a move. Both work remote and make decent money. Grand Junction is on our radar because it seems somewhat affordable with good access to bouldering and other outdoor activities. But we also hear it’s kinda methy in some parts.

Thoughts from any past or current residents? What’s the local scene like? Are there good areas to take our dog out after work (USFS, BLM land etc)? Nice parts of town vs areas that should be avoided? Decent climbing gym?

We love our current area but it’s getting incredibly expensive and finding a new rental is extremely difficult (and expensive).

It's like every other place in Colorado.  Crowded, long waits for traffic, skimpy goods in supermarkets, it sucks.  Move to New Mexico

Two locals telling me it sucks and to go somewhere else? Usually that’s a sign it’s a nice place. Thanks for the input you two. 

It’s a great place. Lots to do and great access to lots of other things to do. Yes, plenty of spots to walk/hike after work. There’s meth and drug issues in every city and GJ is no different, but in no way affects day to day life. There is an annoyingly visible conservative presence, but who cares- go climb your rock, ride your bike, whatever. It’s becoming more and more expensive, though is still more affordable than other places. Summers are a bit difficult if your not big on 90-100 degree temps.  Bottom line, I’ve enjoyed calling it home for 10years. 

The best thing about GJ is Palisade. If you don't know why that's unfortunate for you.

I grew up there hating it, but since moving away have grown to love it there. Especially now that the outdoor scene is developed enough to attract an influx of young people, the reasons to not move back grow fewer and fewer. GJ (by that I mean the greater grand valley including everything between palisade andfruita) has all the basics and then some including a good hospital, a college, a music venue, airport, decent food and drink, adequate climbing gym and entertainment. For the outdoorsperson, GJ has most everything, it’s just a bit spread out, which is nice if you’re looking for a change of pace or access to deep wilderness. Most places have yards, great for dogs, and business are quite dog friendly. There’s also BLM land everywhere, but with the needles and encampments and such, that’s maybe not the best for your dog…

It’s more than a “conservative presence”. Red and redneck through and through, hate crimes and backwards thinking abound. If you’re black or LGBTQ, I would not advise living there. 

Pros: great access to the outdoors, inexpensive for colorado, good outdoor community, new route potential on decent rock, 350 days of sunshine (at least it seems so).

Cons: spread out, racists, can get a negative vibe outside of the younger (non-retired) community, far from dia, very dry and hot if you don’t like that

I live in Bishop which reaches well into 100s for months out of the year, don’t really mind the heat. And plenty of Trumpers out here too but they have slowly been drowned out (mostly) by the influx of climbers over the last 5-6 years.

I appreciate the responses. I think we are gonna go out in May and check it out. Bishop is amazing but lacks certain things and finding a rental is virtually impossible. 

I moved to junction about 9 months ago. I like it but like the rest of Colorado it has gotten really busy. A TON of people have moved here In last few years. If you are impartial, I’d try and find something a little quieter. I will be moving out of here in 7 months. Good luck!

Detrick S wrote:

It’s more than a “conservative presence”. Red and redneck through and through, hate crimes and backwards thinking abound. If you’re black or LGBTQ, I would not advise living there. 

People who view differing opinions as "backwards" may have a hard time here. I have plenty of Republican friends and climbing partners. We agree to disagree (because I'm more conservative than them; Republicans haven't been conservative since Reagan) and get along just fine.

Sure, you'll see some "Fvck Biden" flags rolling coal through Clifton. Plenty of intolerant people in Bishop and Boulder too on the other side of the organic barbed wire fence.

Winter Soldier wrote:

If you think that racism, sexism, climate change denial, transphobia, xenophobia, voter suppression, etc.... aren't backwards....wow. 

I don't think Fritz said that or implied that. Maybe I didn't look hard enough!

Winter Soldier wrote:

If you think that racism, sexism, climate change denial, transphobia, xenophobia, voter suppression, etc.... aren't backwards....wow. 

It sounded like Detrick was using "backwards" to refer to any conservative stance.

Our definitions of your naughty terms are undoubtedly very different. Those who subscribe to Melanin Base Camp et al. would undoubtedly label me all of those things because I don't publicly flagellate myself for being an allegedly straight white male. Who cares what those terms actually mean as long as you can weaponize them against people you disagree with, amirite?

j mo wrote:

 Remember the days this would have gone without saying?  

I remember the days people could disagree with a modicum of civility.

Now it's "Liberals / conservatives are evil and anyone who votes that way is an idiot." I respect people who take principled stands after giving an issue serious thought and research -- regardless of what they believe.

FrankPS wrote:

I don't think Fritz said that or implied that. Maybe I didn't look hard enough!

Maybe Fritz thought you'd pick up some of the heavy lifting?

F r i t z wrote: I have plenty of Republican friends and climbing partners. We agree to disagree (because I'm more conservative than them; Republicans haven't been conservative since Reagan) and get along just fine.

Oh boy. Can't wait to hear what "conservative" means in this context ... :)

I don't publicly flagellate myself for being an allegedly straight white male. 

Thinking a lot about what "allegedly" means here ... :)

PWZ wrote:

Maybe Fritz thought you'd pick up some of the heavy lifting?

I knew I could eventually smoke you out. Thanks for taking the bait! Fritz does well on his own, though.

How are you and your brothers in Antifa doing these days?

City Dweller wrote:

Oh boy. Can't wait to hear what "conservative" means in this context ... :)

As an AMGA-certified vegan who does Crossfit, my opinions on topics that have nothing to do with those things are as follows (take notes, and be sure you write down the part about me doing Crossfit):

F r i t z wrote:

Sure, you'll see some "Fvck Biden" flags rolling coal through Clifton.

Wish I had been quick enough to snap a photo, but yesterday at the Clifton City Market there was a bigass F-350 with buxom-demon mud flaps. It had three fullsize flags mounted to the bed (US, Don't Tread and FB). And a "It's big because fat girls can't jump" bumper sticker. Three kids under seven in the back seat, mom and dad are smoking cowboy killers and blaring "Proud to be an American."

And then my next-door neighbor when I was living on D 1/2 Road had a flag that said "TRVMP 2020: FVCK YOUR FEELINGS."

But to answer OP's question:

GJ is a great place if you find a good crew. People are transient here. Between the college, the curse of the dirt and people leaving in a huff because their Front Range sensitivities are affronted -- there's a lot of turnover. With the right people at the right time, you can be happy and fulfilled. Otherwise, it's lonely.

It also is worth noting that climbers are a weird motley crew out here. It's not like in Durango or perhaps Boulder where there's a high level of homogeneity and predictability. GJ has the highest divorce rate per capita in the country, and it's a sausage-fest. You've got some Shawn Snyder-esque types. There are people in whom you invest years of mentoring, and then they turn their back on you. The scene is bifurcated into sport climbers who go to Rifle and sport climbers who go to the Creek. There's a wealth of trad climbing that many people here are scared away from.

GJ does have one of the most bad-ass hard-working pro climbers out there. Super inspirational guy.

Some of my favorite people in the world live on the Slope, too. Hardworking, loyal, dependable and generous.

TLDR: YMMV

FrankPS wrote:

How are you and your brothers in Antifa doing these days?

Living large knowing we'll be on the right side of history?

Imagine being like Frank and using someone's objection to fascism as a pejorative.

F r i t z wrote:

People who view differing opinions as "backwards" may have a hard time here. I have plenty of Republican friends and climbing partners. We agree to disagree (because I'm more conservative than them; Republicans haven't been conservative since Reagan) and get along just fine.

Sure, you'll see some "Fvck Biden" flags rolling coal through Clifton. Plenty of intolerant people in Bishop and Boulder too on the other side of the organic barbed wire fence.

I think there was a leap in logic here, but I also wasn't entirely clear. I clarified on my perspective of the use of "conservative presence" by pointing out that the blanket term (which we all agree here refers to many things, including political, social, economic and more ideologies) was insufficient to describe the vibe in GJ, what is often confused with and shares many traits with "conservatism". My bad, didn't mean to single anyone out except those who masquerade their prejudiced beliefs under the moniker "conservative", which are disproportionately distributed in the western slope as compared to many other places in Colorado.

F r i t z wrote:

It sounded like Detrick was using "backwards" to refer to any conservative stance.

I don't think so, Fritz. He specifically said, "Hate crimes and backwards thinking..." If hate crimes and the like are conservative stances, then maybe you are right. 

It's actually a really cool place. The town is a smallish desert town like most other desert towns, though not as small as Bishop for sure. It kind of feels like a suburb without a city. There are a lot more things to do in town than there were when I moved here in '05 which is nice but when it comes to the outdoors it's hard to beat. 

• MTBing- world class in town. 
• Downhill skiing- acceptable and affordable 45 min from town, world class resort and/or back country 2-3hrs+. 
• X Country skiing- world class one hour from town. 
• Bouldering- in town, higher class 20 min from town, Joes Valley 3hr drive. 
• Roped climbing- in town, 1hr 45min to Rifle, 3hrs to the Creek but a smattering of world class climbs all within 45min to an hour just not concentrated like the Creek or Rifle. 
• Ice Climbing- 15min drive 30 min hike or 30min drive 15min hike or Ouray 2hr drive.
• Two rivers meet in town that flow pretty much all year but mostly class I/II and if you want whitewater it's 45min to 4hrs drive.

All of this is without even mentioning Moab that is 1hr 45min away and has all of this as well, mostly world class, ok maybe no resort skiing but everything else.