In general I agree with most of what [tag=253025]@cyphers[/tag] said, and even though he's a whistler / coors banquet dickrider I'll vouch for it.
14622860:cyphers said:
if you're not wanting to live in seattle proper you're kind of picking between the north and south mountains just because having to cross through city limits after a ski day will give you road rage.
everett, monroe, even shoreline will be an easier drive to the N side resorts like whis, the vancouver mtns, baker, and stevens. if you end up in renton, fed way, tacoma etc. you'll likely end up skiing crystal, white pass, maybe a cheeky trip to hood or 2. snoqualmie is easy to access no matter where you live but like others have said it's the lowest elevation and smallest of the WA resorts. great park though and alpental has sleeper backcountry when there aren't 10 million people in line.
This part I agree with, though I don't think it's as black-and-white as being forced to go to stevens from shoreline or to crystal from kent, etc.. it's probably just 20 more mins driving from the other end of the city. You have good options everywhere but please don't live in tacoma or everett, they just suck. not worth the cost savings.
14622860:cyphers said:
compared to utah mountains i'd say crystal skis a bit like snowbird, snoqualmie = brighton, stevens = solitude with a park. baker is kind of an oddball, it's slackcountry stacked on top of an 80s ski area, limited park but very cool vibe. and yeah i'm a glazer but whistler has no parallel, world class everything but definitely $$$ and can get crowded.
Crystal is my home hill so I'm def glazing here but I feel it has super comparable terrain to alta and bird, really hard to get as consistent of terrain as crystal. It's also nice that the cascade concrete sticks to steep chutes so stuff over 35deg is actually skiable without destroying a pair of skis in each chute you gun through. Mission ridge needs a shoutout cause they have a sick tow rope park and blue-collar vibe that's hard to beat, though it is a trek inland. Baker... damn where to begin.
Though I've yet to ski either of these areas, I'd imagine it stacks up to Kicking Horse and Bridger in terms of vibe and terrain. I'm frequently getting dragged around by Bham buddies or friends who like to show me the endless amounts of hyper technical, no-fall-zone skiing baker has to offer. There will sorta just be a 'cliff ahead' sign and then some of the most consequential terrain I've seen that you can easily die on if you aren't careful. My hands are sweating just writing this. Lots of parking lot bbqs, beat 4runners, and snowboarders who look like sasquatches but who rip way harder than you. If I move back to washington I will be skiing baker no matter what and it's certainly worth the $90 day pass if it dumps over 20", which it does frequently. Sets snowfall records for a reason.
Bellingham is a cool town but doesn't have the benefit of the Olympics serving as Seattle's raincatcher so it gets atmospheric rivers quite frequently. Great for skiing, mtb (world famous), and access to canada, and you can get to vancouver and seattle for sports / nights out easily. If you want a hip, west-coast city that isn't blown I'd say stop by. Good beer and rent that isn't out the gate yet. Underrated access to grouse, seymour and cypress if you want night park laps.
14622860:cyphers said:
either way i'd very strongly recommend living somewhere near a light rail stop so you can still get the actual seattle experience when you want a night out. the 1 line just made it to lynnwood up north, and the federal way station down south is opening soonish. i have friends that moved to issaquah and other places not on public transit and it might as well be a different planet if you're trying to meet up at a bar/club or sports game or concert. don't do it unless you have a wife and kids or you're like straightedge or something.
the winter weather will test you, buy vitamin D and a nice rain jacket. do not buy an umbrella it's embarrassing and people will ask if you're californian. make sure you're on good terms with a deity that can ensure it's snowing on hill when it's pissing rain in the city. the end
Definitely agree with this. seattle public transit is pretty mid so it's a massive inconvenience to live anywhere not on the 1 line. I've heard it's the most expensive city to travel to which holds up.. ubers are pretty insane and drinks at the wrong bar can cost an arm and a leg. Don't be afraid to go to gay bars as a straight dude, drinks are generally cheaper and people have more energy, something frequently lacking in seattle due the ol freeze. Sports scene is great, Mariners tix are always cheap cause they suck and minor league hockey (everett silvertips, seattle thunderbirds) can be super fun for a night out.
Some good/ fun seattle neighborhoods to look into: fremont, central district, green lake, queen anne, cap hill, northgate, maple leaf, roosevelt, beacon hill.
On a final note, the snow is worth the rain. dunno how people live in western WA without a snowsport hobby cause it sure is a long, dark winter but the skiing is great. long season (year-round if you're willing to hike for suncup sessions) and great terrain and plenty of outdoor access and city stuff to keep you occupied in the off-season.
Good luck with your pilgrimage, you're choosing a great place to move to! Always happy to provide any other recs if you're curious.
