slcpunk21

Ok, my problem... I have decided to go back to school and now am trying to decide where. Both have what I need for schools.

but

not sure which state would be a better choice.

1. Need great DH(lift access required) and general epic mtbing spots(for when I find the need to climb too)!
2. Need great snowboarding!(need powder, not wet snow/ice)
3. Job openings for during and after I completed school
4. Just over all cool attitude of living.

So let me know what you all think... and if you have idea's for other states shoot em this way and give me some info on each.

ewww and if any of you have pictures to help convice me of which is better that would be GREAT!

Thanks guys and gals!

pnj

colorado.

it's the best!

gonesh9

Montana or Alaska

slcpunk21

Why do you say those states?

slcpunk21

What's the reason for you not saying WA, the state you live in? To over populated and you don't want another jackarss out there? Or is there something you don't like about it?

MandansFinest

Never been to WA but CO is great. Very nice scenary.

pnj

mainly i'm just being a jackass myself...

but seriously, if you move to Seattle, you will get to enjoy the WORST traffic in the USA. we trade off with NY and L.A. for worst traffic. it seriously seriously sucks.

the weather is pretty mellow but there are LOTS of grey/gray days. rain and grey.... the snow isn't the best from what I hear, I just started snowboarding a few years ago so all snow is good snow to me. (as long as it's not ice..)

gonesh9

I just said Montana or Alaska because they both have real mountains. There's a lot of real mountains out west here, but Montana and Alaska are really overlooked as good mountain recreating areas.

That said, you could probably be happy at any other state where the Rockies or the Cascades reside. (Colorado, Utah, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, etc.)

For example, Oregon for some reason is not usually thought of for its mountains, but here are just a few:

1. mt. hood


2. mt. bachlor


3. mt. mcloughlin


4. mt. washington


5. mt. jefferson


6. mt. thielsen



I don't think you can go wrong in any of these states.

Zin

Maybe Alaska. There are very few good paying jobs in Montana!

ngateguy

Here's what Wahington has to offer:

montlake_mtbkr

wouldn't it be prudent to base your decision moreso on what schools you're interested in rathar than the scenery of the state?
If you are a trail advocate I would welcome you to washington. there are far too many folks here who tear up the trails, complain about the poor condition of them and expect someone else to deal with it.

Shannon-UT

I believe Outside Magazine just did a cover story on colleges and their outdoor perks. It was out just a few months ago.

DnvrFox

Stay out of Colorado. Already enough folks living here.

Just come to visit and spend lots of money, then go away!

Zin

Sounds like the Montana state moto! Thats why we lead the country with our people working 2 jobs to make ends meet!

Come to Montana! Start companies with good paying jobs and bennies!

slcpunk21

Agreed, but in both states the schools will be just as good as the others... so that is why I am between Washington and Colorado.

And as for the trail advocate thing... come on you aren't a true mountain biker if you don't do/ love trail maintenance, it makes you appreciate every mile of trail even more!

slcpunk21

Hmmm maybe I'll move right next to you... just to spite you. I'll even buy the biggest SUV I can find and make sure I build a huge house and cut down all the trees even close to it to make sure I have enough room incase I want another SUV that's even bigger and a place to keep my boat, motorhome and other toys I'd buy just to piss you off!

gonesh9

Honestly between Colorado and Washington I can't say. I've lived in Colorado and spent a lot of time in Washington, and they are both great places.

What are you planning on studying anyways?

skiahh

Where in WA would you be going to school? Seattle? Bellingham? Ellensburg? There's good riding in all those places. And boarding. Pullman? I don't know about that one.

I'd vote for WA... but the snow is wetter and heavier. Of course, you're closer to Whistler, too!

gonesh9

Great point! Whistler has some of the best bike and board riding in the world. Another point of consideration is that the trees are much bigger in Washington than Colorado. I'm personally partial to trees, so would choose Washington.

Another thing: I'm not sure which school you are looking at, but Colorado State is in Fort Collins, which isn't that hip of a place and constantly smells like cow fields. University of Colorado is in Boulder, which has excellent bike and board riding near by, although when I lived there it seemed like the town was becoming very pretentious and yuppified. The campus area was cool, though. I guess some perks there are that your closer to places like Moab and Telluride....

Seattle's a pretty cool place other than for the insane traffic. Right outside of town you have cool forest areas. It is true, though, that generally the snow is a lot heavier and wetter on the West Coast than it is in Colorado and Utah. Still some great backcountry and resort boarding, though.

DnvrFox

Sorry, there is not one natural tree (well, maybe a couple) east of the foothills. None to cut down!!

ngateguy

I don't know about the WA side I am sure there's pleanty of riding but the Idaho pan handle has a butt load of trails. But I have a feeling since he said Good School it has to be UW not WAZZU

Dannihilator

Go to Utah

rasheed

i've never been to either place, nor do i know much about them... but if i were to choose one, i'd say washington because of how close it is to british columbia.

slcpunk21

Well actually there are a bunch of different schools in WA that I'm looking at, same with CO...about 14 or so in each, they are just 2 year schools to finish my degree in fire science ( gonna be a fire fighter, hopefully get into wildland fire fighting). And all of them are very close in quality and recognition.

in WA there are (naming cities)

Tacoma
Bellevue
Pasco
Lynnwood
Longview
Bremerton
Port Angeles
Lakewood
Mt Vernon
Olympia
Spokane
Walla Walla
Yakima

in CO there are

Greeley
Littleton
Glenwood Springs
Colorado Springs
Lakewood
Cortez

So that gives you a little better idea of what I'm looking at. Or there is even a slight chance that if I can get this job in BC that I'm working on, I might just move there and go to school there to be a Canadian Fire Fighter. HMMMMMM ideas ideas..

Thanks for all your input guys! I appreciate it all.. please keep it coming!

Zin

We have the SMOKE JUMPER school in Missoula, Montana. I believe they are the Elite. We also have many Indian Fire Fighter groups here in the state. Not sure if you have to be a member of the tribe to get into that program or not.

Good luck!

Bob