Best Ski Town to Live In? (Durango, Aspen: job, housing, college)

[_Charles_]

I don't know your fianancial situation but if your finances permit it, Telluride is by far the best choice.

My second choice would be Crested Butte.

My third choice would be Steamboat Springs.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by _Charles_

I don't know your fianancial situation but if your finances permit it, Telluride is by far the best choice.

My second choice would be Crested Butte.

My third choice would be Steamboat Springs.

All three choices definitely fit the ideal ski town that you imagine from ski movies. In Summit County, only Breck really fits that image.

[suzco]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

All three choices definitely fit the ideal ski town that you imagine from ski movies. In Summit County, only Breck really fits that image.

And only Breck meets the request for being within 30 minutes of other ski areas, as the OP asked. Telluride, Steamboat, Crested Butte are fairly remote, and isolated.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by suzco

And only Breck meets the request for being within 30 minutes of other ski areas, as the OP asked.

Not sure what you mean, but from Dillon/Silverthorne, it's about 10-15 minutes to Keystone, 15-20 minutes to A-Basin, 15 minutes to Loveland, 15 minutes to Copper, and about 20-25 minutes to Breck. From Frisco, it's a bit closer to Breck and Copper, but a little farther to Keystone/A-Basin/Loveland (still easily within 30 minutes). From our place in north Silverthorne (past the Target) to Lionshead in Vail is almost exactly 30 minutes.

In fact, it's from Breck itself that the other ski areas are going to be farther away, since Breck is somewhat set back down CO-9.

EDIT: Maybe you meant that of Breck, Telluride, Steamboat, and CB, Breck would be the only one close to other resorts -- agreed! Maybe I misunderstood! :-)

[Idunn]

Once upon a time I worked as a lift operator at A-Basin. Lived in a small rental house (now gone) in Silverthorne with three roommates. It was a lot of fun at the time; the next season I moved up to employee housing at Keystone. One result, a shorter commute; I still remember standing at the side of the street in Silverthorne in the very early morning, the temperature at well minus something, waiting for the shuttle bus.

Probably not now, but I loved it all then. The great thing about working on the mountain was that I was on it every day, save perhaps the day off I simply didn't wish to go. With a free season pass I could ski all I wished on days off, sans the long tiring commute most other skiers make from Denver, etc. On work days I could ski a little during lunch but often skiing amounted to but the last run down from the top at the end of the day. But the thing was I was on skis, if only briefly, almost every day; the result is my skiing ability increased exponentially. It really makes a difference.

If you wish to ski it is probably best to fully embrace it. Housing and other details may prove difficult, and if you only ski once in awhile when able you may wonder why you ever bothered. But if you make skiing Numero Uno with all else a distant second, including your career, then it will surely be a winter you will remember with fondness.

Summit County would be a good choice, with many great ski areas in close proximity. Vail is more or less by itself, although Beaver Creek nearby. Like Vail, Summit County is a major ski destination. So lots of amenities, but you might find a little pocket somewhere that gives you that small town feel.

Or you might try elsewhere.

Crested Butte is in the middle of nowhere and the town itself quaint, Victorian and small. Like most any other ski area you may choose, affordable housing will be your biggest challenge.

Durango Mountain Resort (or as it was called, and I like: Purgatory) is fairly remote as well, but still a relatively close drive to Durango. Close enough in fact that you could feasibly commute from Durango, even if this not an ideal option. Basically no matter the area, try and live as close to the slopes as possible (ie: walk out the door and put your skis on. Ideally). It is a lovely mountain and probably expanded since I was last there.

If you want to go extreme choose Silverton Mountain Ski Area, located just a few miles outside of Silverton, CO. For remote, small, unique and most everything else (save big and congested) Silverton is your place. But beware most of the skiing at the mountain tends towards black diamond and beyond. However, if you like that and survive you'll probably be an amazing skier at the end of the season.

Should you be graduating come Spring, come to Colorado then. If your plans otherwise, like mid-season, January or something, expect a lot of challenges. But during the summer you can often get on a trail crew or something and thus begin working for a ski area early. This gives you an in and saves a lot of hassles later. For one thing, no matter if you are working or not, you'll be in the best position to secure the best housing. Early Fall is also a good time to arrange this, Winter bad, but Spring probably best. For one thing, many employees that lasted the season leave accommodations and the area at the end of the season; lots of vacancies.

Another reason to migrate come Spring is exploration. Try as you might you can only gain an approximate idea of any area from a distance. Nothing like having your feet on the ground to really know what you feel and like or not. In this regard probably the best bet to do some serious traveling and visit any area you might remotely wish to call home.

Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, you have a great idea. To warm days and powder . . .

[suzco]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Not sure what you mean, but from Dillon/Silverthorne, it's about 10-15 minutes to Keystone, 15-20 minutes to A-Basin, 15 minutes to Loveland, 15 minutes to Copper, and about 20-25 minutes to Breck. From Frisco, it's a bit closer to Breck and Copper, but a little farther to Keystone/A-Basin/Loveland (still easily within 30 minutes). From our place in north Silverthorne (past the Target) to Lionshead in Vail is almost exactly 30 minutes.

In fact, it's from Breck itself that the other ski areas are going to be farther away, since Breck is somewhat set back down CO-9.

EDIT: Maybe you meant that of Breck, Telluride, Steamboat, and CB, Breck would be the only one close to other resorts -- agreed! Maybe I misunderstood! :-)

Yes, that's exactly what I meant.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by suzco

Yes, that's exactly what I meant.

My misunderstanding then! You are absolutely correct.

Idunn, good post.

Enough jabbering from me for now. I'm off to ski.

[eakins]

to start with i live in steamboat.

plus:
summit county (frisco, dillon, silverthorn, breck) has the density of ski areas you desires. it's an hour or so to denver. has plenty of things to do, restaraunts, shopping, out door etc.

negs:
it does sit at a high elevation so winters are long & cold. maybe you want that. summit county has a month longer winter on either end then steamboat does (7 vrs 5 months). it is an hour from denver so tons of tourist wanks all the time. the slopes are ever crowded

i looked around and like steamboat because of the somewhat remoteness but solid community we have. aprox 15,000 people with tons of amenities. it's a destination resort vrs summit county denver day use resorts. 1/2 the crowds but it cost more (but not an issue if you work for the mountain). steamboat, copper & winter park owned by the same company plus as an ski area employee you get comps to all the other ski area (called the real deal). it's 1.5 hr to summit county. steamboat has 4 solid seasons with a nice long summer. steamboat also has 2 quality hot springs (1 in town the other 20 minutes in the woods)
steamboathotsprings.org strawberryhotsprings.com
after a long day on the mounatin that sealed the deal for me!

[eakins]

Originally Posted by _Charles_

I don't know your fianancial situation but if your finances permit it, Telluride is by far the best choice.

My second choice would be Crested Butte.

My third choice would be Steamboat Springs.

CB & Tride are places not to be missed if just for a weekend trip!

[stuff and things]

Thanks a lot guys, you've all been very helpful answering my questions. Right now, I'm kind of torn between Summit County and a more secluded place. I Like Summit County just because of the central location and easy access to a lot of ski resorts. On the other hand, crowds are something I want to avoid if at all possible, so a more secluded place like Crested Butte might be the better choice. Having grown up in a resort town myself, I know quite well how the hordes of weekenders from the city can clog up the lift lines and ski trails. That's just something you have to deal with I guess when you live in a mountain paradise. I definitely would try to work on weekends and nights if possible to maximize my time on the slopes for uncrowded days.

I think that one main difference between Colorado and where I'm from is that in Colorado, most of the weekenders are from Denver, so they at least have some clue how to ski and drive in the snow. In Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear, the weekenders we get are from Los Angeles and San Diego; People who haven't the slightest clue how to ski, drive, where to go sledding, etc. They are fascinated enough to pull over and stop at the first sign of snow and play in the dirty 1 inch of snow that has been plowed into the turnouts on highway 18 when they could just wait twenty minutes to get to the higher elevations and have actual snow to play in. Also, I don't know if they don't read english or what, but the vast majority of them totally ignore the "slower traffic use turnouts" signs that are posted every quarter mile. Those are the types of people I want to try to avoid if at all possible. Anyways, sorry about ranting there.

I am not graduating until may 2009, so I have more than a year to decide where to go; I just like to plan ahead so I can get the best information possible. I'm going to try to take a trip out there in the summer to hopefully check out all of these communities and and then a ski trip the following winter so I can decide which mountain I like best. Thanks again for all your help so far.