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lithomancer
Social climber
slc
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 22, 2015 - 06:34am PT
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Tell me about how liveable bako can be. Is there a gym or a climbing community? I like meth as much as the next guy, but is there any other upside to the place?
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Johannsolo
climber
Soul Cal
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Jul 22, 2015 - 06:37am PT
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No, well, closer to SoYo than LA.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Jul 22, 2015 - 06:45am PT
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They have an airport and roads leading out of the city to greener pastures.
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EP
Trad climber
Way Out There
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Jul 22, 2015 - 07:17am PT
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Action Sports has an indoor climbing gym. Hard boulder problems are at the mouth of the Kern Canyon.
Good restaurants abound. The bike path is 30 miles end to end.
Decent mountain bike trails are in the hills overlooking Hart Park.
October -April are the nicest months weather wise.
Within an hour you can climb/boulder at the Kern Slabs, then stop off at Kern River Brewing Company for outstanding beer and decent food. For the brave and hard, visit Valhalla or the Rincon.
In two hours you can be at the Needles ready to hike in or at the base of Dome Rock, ready to get some Anti Jello.
Living downtown where I do gets you in walking distance of good restaurants, dive bars, and tattoo parlors.
For more info, PM me.
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thebravecowboy
climber
The Good Places
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Jul 22, 2015 - 07:28am PT
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What's an Okie's first three words?
1. Ma
2. Pa
3. Bakersfield
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Branscomb
Trad climber
Lander, WY
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Jul 22, 2015 - 07:58am PT
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My personal opinion: the most godawful place in the universe, next to Fresno.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 22, 2015 - 08:00am PT
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BASQUE FOOD!
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Heyzeus
climber
Hollywood,Ca
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Jul 22, 2015 - 08:06am PT
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^^^^ I Second the Basque food.
Plus Luigi's. And Dewars Candy/IceCream shop.
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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Jul 22, 2015 - 08:09am PT
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It's not LA and it's not far from the Sierra so it can't be too bad? Most valley cities are great weekend warrior spots: not a lot in town but tons within a couple hours.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Jul 22, 2015 - 08:11am PT
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"Don't overlook the Basque dining establishments in Bakersfield."
--Trevanian
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Bad Climber
climber
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Jul 22, 2015 - 08:21am PT
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Well, ugh. I work there but refuse to live there. I'm up in the remote border regions of Tehachistan at 4,000 ft.
Things to keep in mind about Bako:
1) Least literate city in the US.
2) Usually worst air quality in the US.
3) Freakin' hot.
The best thing about Bakersfield is leaving it, and, as noted, you aren't too far from some GREAT places. There are lots of wonderful people there, and my place of employment--Bakersfield College--is actually pretty good. It does have an interesting crime problem, but probably no worse than any other Central Valley town. It does have Trader Joe's for supplies and a pretty good health food place, Lassen's (excellent organic produce). Because of the above-mentioned issues, it is a pretty affordable town to live in, but you will find some serious money here, too--oil and ag especially.
The town slogan used to be: "Come for a visit. Stay for a lifetime." We used to say: "Come for a visit. It will feel like a lifetime." It think now it's: "Bakersfield: The way life should be," which, of course, begs some serious questions.
Oh, and there's Valley Fever risk, too. But that's not a problem for most folks.
So, yeah, c'mon down!
BAd
PS: I don't get all the hype about Basque food. Blah. I do like a good lamb chop, but I've been underwhelmed by the Basque restaurant chow. To each his own.
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curt wohlgemuth
Social climber
Bay Area, California
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Jul 22, 2015 - 08:34am PT
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The "hype" about Basque food, in my experience, is the quantity. Never have I had more mediocre lamb chops on a plate in front of me than at a Basque restaurant in the SJ Valley.
Also, I wouldn't discount the Valley Fever effect at all. I'm anything but a disease alarmist, but I'd need a strong pull (job, whatever) to get me to move to the San Joaquin.
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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Jul 22, 2015 - 08:37am PT
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I would discount it. I've lived in the SJV my whole life and valley fever isn't even something people think about.
It's like not moving to the ocean because of shark attacks
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Cragar
climber
MSLA - MT
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Jul 22, 2015 - 08:45am PT
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The Basque is to die for. Pyrenees and Woolgrowers are my favs. Chateau isn't bad either. If you are familiar with ID, NV and E-OR Basque you are in for a surprise, it is different in BAKO!! La Colonia is about the best Mex. Luigi's!! WEnt ther weekly from about 75-89'. Great family and the place has hella upscaled since Geno and his mom really started getting after it.
For some climbing/bouldering funness, go up the Canyon and take the old road for about a mile then hike or better yet, ride up Mill ck to Squirrel meadow, looking off to the east when you get about 4 miles up...you'll see what I mean.
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Jul 22, 2015 - 08:57am PT
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Within an hour you can climb/boulder at the Kern Slabs, then stop off at Kern River Brewing Company for outstanding beer and decent food. For the brave and hard, visit Valhalla or the Rincon.
So EP.... have you visited the Rincon? I know of only like 6 people with enuf sack to make that hike.... some of the best winter climbing- cragging- in California... IMHO.
I have a cousin who lives in Pumpkin Center.... He loves it, big house on a few acres for cheap, but then again he grew up in El Centro....
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EP
Trad climber
Way Out There
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Jul 22, 2015 - 09:06am PT
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Haven't been there. None of the locals are willing to put in the time. I only know its reputation from reading about it here. Valhalla is as far out as I have gone.
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zBrown
Ice climber
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Jul 22, 2015 - 09:33am PT
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The Balckboard was cool back in the fifties.
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lithomancer
Social climber
slc
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 22, 2015 - 10:03am PT
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Thanks for the beta, it seems pretty much as I expected. One last question, how are the schools and is it an "unsafe" place to raise a kid? We'd be moving for an oil job, so we wouldn't be poor.
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Jul 22, 2015 - 10:09am PT
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The schools are no different from any other place - it depends on which school. My wife has three cousins who grew up in Bakersfield, went to Bakersfield High, and then on to college and career. The oldest became a teacher, but her daughter is a full prof at University of Washington. The middle just retired as a professor of vetrinary medicine at Virginia Tech, and the youngest is the department chair (I can't remember precisely which department) at UCSF, so - based on a very small sample size - the schools seem to prepare their students adequately for academic careers.
John
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jfailing
Trad climber
part Texas, part Oman
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Jul 22, 2015 - 10:17am PT
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I worked the oil patch near Bakersfield for over a year, and climbed extensively during that time. I was mostly based out of Taft, which is way worse than Bakersfield. Most of the locals are pretty ridiculous, but there are plenty of normal folks working for O&G companies. So if you're gettin an oil job there, you'll probably mostly interact with your co-workers/peers.
All the great climbing areas are within four hours or less - the Valley, Sierra East-side, J-tree... I mudlogged at Elk Hills for my time there and had a 2 week on, 1 week off schedule. Most O&G companies in Bako rock the 9/80 schedule and everyone clears out on weekends.
There's a tiny little gym that's alright, but honestly there's enough climbing outside nearby that I wouldn't even bother.
Overall, it's very centrally located and great if you want to climb, and is actually pretty livable. People love to bash Bako because it is pretty bashable, but it's really not as bad as people make it out to be. The air quality is terrible however.
There's a killer Thai restaurant in Taft if you ever make the mistake of going to that awful town...
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Old5Ten
Trad climber
Berkeley and Sunny Slopes, CA
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Jul 25, 2015 - 11:16pm PT
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i was pleasantly surprised that there's some great cycling nearby. caliente up to walker basin then out toward bodfish and up breckenridge. one of my favorite rides anywhere and the friendliest locals (walker basin area) anywhere.
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
Shitalkqua, WA
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Jul 26, 2015 - 12:12am PT
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I always liked how you drive east a few miles, and BAM there is the mountains and river in all her glory.
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Bad Climber
climber
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Jul 26, 2015 - 06:12am PT
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Never have I had more mediocre lamb chops on a plate in front of me than at a Basque restaurant in the SJ Valley.
Hah! Classic stuff right there.
Hey, that Lion's Trail/Walker Basin ride is one of the best bike rides anywhere. If you do the loop from Caliente, it's about 45 miles and 4,400 ft. of climbing. No matter which direction you do it, the last long set of miles is virtually all downhill to the car. That ride in the late/winter spring when, for about three weeks the hills are green, is very special indeed.
Yeah, the profs at Bakersfield College are top notch, with many coming from the best schools, which I think is mostly a reflection on how hard it is to get full time academic work. I've got colleagues with sheep skins from Harvard, Yale, and Vanderbilt. Go figer.
96 deg. F. in Bako today; 80 deg. F. in Tehachistan. Breezy right now up here. I'm off for a hike on our local mountain. I'll start at about 5,300 ft. and go from there. Oh, and we've got a Gran Fondo bike event going down up here in Sept., too, the second annual running of the cyclists. It was a great event last year. C'mon up!
BAd
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Damn this looks high
Trad climber
California
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Jul 27, 2015 - 10:24am PT
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DON'T GO!
I grew up there and the place is a pit.
But if you have to, check out Dewar's Ice Cream shop on California Ave--near Bakersfield High (not the new one--Jesus, not the new one). It's the only reason to go there.
Jim
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Jul 27, 2015 - 12:47pm PT
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Lived there for a couple of years back in the 80's. Amazing how much bigger it is.
Schools can be good or bad, pay attention to where you are. I worked at the ER in Taft for awhile. Delano, Wasco, other tiny places. Hmmmm. Definitely lots of knife and gun action....but seemed limited to certain groups.
Half our patients in the peds ward at Kern Medical Center were Valley Fever.
Ultimately, people are people.
You'll love air conditioning. Too damn hot for me. Didn't like the air.
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