Moving to Tahoe?

So I am considering a move to South Lake Tahoe for a job and want to get some beta from locals.

I know the Eastside and high Sierra pretty well, but haven’t spent much time around Tahoe. Is there enough climbing year round or will I have to take up snow sports to keep myself busy? I honestly have avoided snowboarding and skiing most of my life due to cost anchor a ton of interest. I know this year was a record snow year, but what is the climbing like on a normal year? Or is it non existent?

Also, for any locals, what’s the worst things about living in Tahoe? (I know housing is a nightmare and traffic can be worse than the 405, but what else and I missing? Dating? Healthcare?Etc.?) I can imagine the best things, but it’d be nice to know worst case. 

Thanks ahead of time for your insights!

Spent the last 10 years in south lake, here's my take:

Generally, there is some winter climbing, but to be a year round climber you're likely going to have to drive on your days off a decent amount.  Bishop is 3 hours, western foothills are the same, sugarloaf is usually* good to go a few days after a storm though, and will likely have stuff to climb for a few years depending on your grade range.  Sunny side woodfords is usually good too.  Bouldering is much more reliable through the winter though if that's your kink.  You'll be the odd one out on good winters, but it's definitely doable if you're motivated. I mostly quit skiing 3 years ago and it's paid off.

The cons: The dating scene is kinda tough, but seems to be getting better than when I moved there?  Typical ski town party types, and assuming you're a dude, you're gonna grow a large number of eskimo brothers.

Living:  You can likely find a way to skin by working in the service industry, but it's kinda rough over time dealing with the entitlement that comes up from that one big city just west.  Making it work on a standard hourly job isn't realistic anymore unless you know people there and can get lucky into grandfathered rent.  Depending on what you're looking for, I'm sure you can figure it out, but overall the middle class has been priced out and it's financially tough if you're not in tech.  Healthcare, stores, etc. can be a chore, but it's not terrible.  You'll likely just have to go to Reno or Sac for a lot of that stuff, but it's nice to get out of the bubble here and there anyway.

The traffic is totally heinous on holidays, but it's chill if you can bike around town.  It seems like it hasn't been quite* as bad now that everyone just moved up here anyway, but it's not manageable either.  This one falls kinda low on my list of annoyances though.

All that said, if you haven't lived there yet, you'll be psyched on a summer and fall.  The access is dope, and if you can tolerate being broke, you can get a lot out of a day outside.

Good luck dawg

almostrad wrote:

Spent the last 10 years in south lake, here's my take:

Generally, there is some winter climbing, but to be a year round climber you're likely going to have to drive on your days off a decent amount.  Bishop is 3 hours, western foothills are the same, sugarloaf is usually* good to go a few days after a storm though, and will likely have stuff to climb for a few years depending on your grade range.  Sunny side woodfords is usually good too.  Bouldering is much more reliable through the winter though if that's your kink.  You'll be the odd one out on good winters, but it's definitely doable if you're motivated. I mostly quit skiing 3 years ago and it's paid off.

The cons: The dating scene is kinda tough, but seems to be getting better than when I moved there?  Typical ski town party types, and assuming you're a dude, you're gonna grow a large number of eskimo brothers.

Living:  You can likely find a way to skin by working in the service industry, but it's kinda rough over time dealing with the entitlement that comes up from that one big city just west.  Making it work on a standard hourly job isn't realistic anymore unless you know people there and can get lucky into grandfathered rent.  Depending on what you're looking for, I'm sure you can figure it out, but overall the middle class has been priced out and it's financially tough if you're not in tech.  Healthcare, stores, etc. can be a chore, but it's not terrible.  You'll likely just have to go to Reno or Sac for a lot of that stuff, but it's nice to get out of the bubble here and there anyway.

The traffic is totally heinous on holidays, but it's chill if you can bike around town.  It seems like it hasn't been quite* as bad now that everyone just moved up here anyway, but it's not manageable either.  This one falls kinda low on my list of annoyances though.

All that said, if you haven't lived there yet, you'll be psyched on a summer and fall.  The access is dope, and if you can tolerate being broke, you can get a lot out of a day outside.

Good luck dawg

Thanks almostrad! This is the kinda of beta I was looking for. Big decision coming…

Basically, replace the rich entitled LA assholes in Mammoth with rich entitled Bay area assholes, and you've got Tahoe!

Plus everything he said above ^^^

Thanks y’all. Turns out I’d rather take a year off work and do my thing than move to Tahoe regardless of rich assholes. FYI - Those folks aren’t relegated to Sierra ski towns. Assholes are everywhere.   

A wise choice amigo