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J R
climber
bend
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 22, 2017 - 09:47pm PT
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Just curious what the forum though. I have great job offers in Steamboat, Co and Missoula, MT. Having trouble choosing.
How much local rock is around Missoula. Never done any cragging there. I imaging winter will be no problem with skiing and ice.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
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Jul 22, 2017 - 10:33pm PT
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Steamboat...90 meter jump
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Jan
Mountain climber
Colorado & Nepal
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Jul 23, 2017 - 07:18am PT
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Missoula has culture but a very bad pollution problem in the winter. That's why I decided against it.
However, Steamboat is very isolated from any urban centers with cultural activities - a three hour drive just to get to a major interstate in Colorado.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Jul 23, 2017 - 07:54am PT
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Thought Bozeman area was pretty darn cool..
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 23, 2017 - 08:28am PT
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Vail - lottsa (sp?) valet jobs.
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feralfae
Boulder climber
in the midst of a metaphysical mystery
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Jul 23, 2017 - 08:41am PT
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When I was at University of Montana my office was in Old Main, probably the lowest spot in Missoula other than the river. They had to put in special air handling equipment for me because of the area pollution in winter. But we lived 7miles up Lolo Trail, west of Lolo on the way to Idaho, and the commute was lovely, and no air problems up where we lived above Lolo.
I like Missoula, the people, the university atmosphere and the culture. You would be on the north end of the Bitterroots, and the Selway-Bittterroot Wilderness out your door practically. The valley has fresh organic produce and is also has lots of birding if you are a birder. Downhill skiing just outside Missoula, and several hot springs, both wild and commercial, within easy distance.
It's worth spending a couple of days exploring the area. If your job is in Missoula, you could probably live within 20 miles in many directions and get out of the air problems. Of note is that the winter winds can blast through Hellgate Canyon, and modified para-skiing used to be one of our thrilling winter recreations out that way.
Good luck with your relocation, wherever you land.
feralfae
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J R
climber
bend
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 23, 2017 - 08:47am PT
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Thanks guys,
I didn't think about the smoke pollution in Missoula. Definitely something to think about if I end up there. I spend about a month in Yosemite valley every year and the smoke can ruin me. Heading up there tomorrow to check out the town.
Cheers
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Jul 23, 2017 - 12:02pm PT
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Missoula could keep a person busy for a couple of years. I know the area well and have a long tick list of things to do.
I don't know the other place.
If you like freedom, firearms and fireworks, Montana is a your state.
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Fritz
Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Jul 23, 2017 - 03:18pm PT
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JR! I used to visit Missoula on business several times a year. The chief-source of air pollution in the area was the Smurfit-Stone pulp & container mill, which closed in 2010. Missoula may get a little inversion now during the winter, but it was much, much worse before the mill closed. The worst air now is related to summer forest fire smoke. Here's a link to much more information on Missoula air quality & how much it has improved since the 1980's
https://www.missoulacounty.us/government/health/health-department/home-environment/air-quality/history.
I like Missoula and its interesting blend of hippie, redneck, & university culture. There is good rock climbing on granite in canyons that go up into the Bitterroot Mountains 20 -50 miles to the south down Hwy 93.
I used to work for a company based in Steamboat which is in a great area, but Jan is corrrect about its remote setting. Also, if you are talking similar wages, a dollar goes a lot farther in Missoula than it does it Steamboat.
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caughtinside
Social climber
Oakland, CA
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Jul 23, 2017 - 03:29pm PT
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Missoula is a great town, I'd live there. Hope you fish.
Don't know steamboat.
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MH2
Boulder climber
Andy Cairns
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Jul 23, 2017 - 05:07pm PT
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If you like freedom, firearms and fireworks, Montana is a your state.
And horses, bears, and ticks.
You should choose Montana for the mystery alone.
view from downstream
view from upstream
"We had people came down off the mountain with 30 or 40 ticks on them."
campground host
near:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Mountain_Laboratories
And Higher Ground Brewing and Bitterroot Brew Works.
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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Jul 23, 2017 - 05:24pm PT
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I lived in Steamboat from '98-'00. Don't move there. It's either just right or just wrong in some weird way. Probably wrong for you, this is not the town you are looking for.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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Jul 23, 2017 - 06:48pm PT
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Brandon is right.
A friend of mine from HS bought a home there in 82 for 27k,he remodeled the 1700 sf home in 07 and sold it in 2012 for a half a million.
Lives on a 90 acre ranch near Hayden ,now.
He is trying to reopen Stagecoach now.
Like Missoula though.Reminds me of Ithaca.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Colorado & Nepal
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Jul 23, 2017 - 07:17pm PT
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The housing scene isn't just Steamboat. The same thing has happened almost everywhere in Colorado. There are 83,000 people moving here every year and the builders never can keep up. I get at least one postcard or letter a week from a realtor begging me to sell my 100 year old house that needs another 100,000 worth of rehab, because my neighborhood is 20 minutes from Boulder and therefore highly desirable.
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Cragar
climber
MSLA - MT
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Jul 23, 2017 - 08:00pm PT
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Horse head arch!!
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ionlyski
Trad climber
Kalispell, Montana
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Jul 23, 2017 - 08:12pm PT
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Missoula is happening. Great concert scene going on too. Plenty of local breweries. You can find climbing.
Arne
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10b4me
Mountain climber
Retired
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Jul 23, 2017 - 08:42pm PT
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Depending on your political views, Montana might be too right for you, nawmean?
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feralfae
Boulder climber
in the midst of a metaphysical mystery
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Jul 23, 2017 - 08:53pm PT
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I think the "Rightness" of most of Montana is tempered a bit by UofM's presence: it is a fairly adequate balance to we "gunnies" and agorists. The town has texture. And it is easy to get away to very lovely places.
I'll be interested to see what you think of the place after your trip.
And, yes, I was there when the pulp/cardboard stinky factory was still open out in Frenchtown. In recent years, the wood smoke seems to be getting a bit more noticeable, though. But it could just be me, getting older and more fussy. :)
feralfae
Edited later because spell check did not like "agorists" and wanted to write "agonists."
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Jul 23, 2017 - 10:20pm PT
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An old girlfriend's parents had a place in Steamboat so spent some time in the summer and winter there. Almost no climbing. A tiny little column of rock about 30' tall near town and a small waterfall (about 30-40' tall) that freezes up in the winter. That's it. Good skiing and mt. biking, though some of the older locals seemed hostile toward bikers. People said road biking up to Rabbit Ears Pass was nice. Had a dude lean out of his truck and scream at us for riding on the shoulder of the road though. A friend of mine lived there about 25 yrs. ago and liked to call it "Steambutt", which was a comment on the women. That may have changed. Didn't strike me as a bad town, but it felt far from everything.
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Todd Eastman
climber
Bellingham, WA
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Jul 24, 2017 - 06:49am PT
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Skiing or climbing?
Pretty simple based on which is more important to you...
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