Anybody left who still thinks Colorado weather is always "mild?" (Denver: transplants, how much)

[BrianPhill]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

How warm do you keep your house when its 0 degrees outside? What's the minimum you'd ever set your thermostat in the winter to protect the pipes?

This is a question I've been wondering myself. We've been here for about 18 months, and are leaving for 10 days this Christmas. I had planned to set the thermostat at 55 in the house, but I saw on the news this morning a recommendation that you not set it below 65 to keep pipes from freezing. That seems like a huge waste to me - shouldn't 55 be more than sufficient?

[borborygmi]

Originally Posted by Shuffler

STOP with the 'dry cold' talk....LBear can't stop laughing....

Don't mind LBear, he/she is just a troll from the Phoenix forum who for some reason gets jollies out of going to other forums and gloating about how cold it is everywhere else this time of year. As if living in that lousy pit of Hades were in any way some kind of an attractive alternative for most reasonable and sane people.

FWIW, I don't care what the weather is doing, strictly comparing cities themselves, Denver>>>>>>>>>Phoenix. I've lived both places, and it ain't close. The weather in CO also is much more tolerable for a much higher percentage of the year in CO than it is in Phoenix, notwithstanding brief cold spells and snow.

And hey, you can't ski on sand. Can't climb it, swim in it, surf on it, or boat on it either- which begs the question, what's the attraction of Phoenix? Mild winters? Whoopity doo. Again, I lived there, and from my own personal experience I can say that the winter weather there is about its only redeeming quality. I think LBear simply tries to justify a miserable existence 6 months out of the year in Phoenix by venting this way in other forums during the winter. It's the only reasonable explanation I can come up with.

[LBear]

Originally Posted by borborygmi

And hey, you can't ski on sand. Can't climb it, swim in it, surf on it, or boat on it either- which begs the question, what's the attraction of Phoenix? Mild winters? Whoopity doo. Again, I lived there, and from my own personal experience I can say that the winter weather there is about its only redeeming quality. I think LBear simply tries to justify a miserable existence 6 months out of the year in Phoenix by venting this way in other forums during the winter. It's the only reasonable explanation I can come up with.

Relax, calm down...

You couldn't be more wrong or off base. First, I never stated that I permanently live in Phoenix, Denver or wherever. I travel a lot.

Also, Phoenix has great hiking, and the mountains are made out of rock and not "sand", just like Colorado. There is plenty of boating opportunities within an hour or two of Phoenix. You claim there is surfing in Colorado?

[borborygmi]

Originally Posted by LBear

Also, Phoenix has great hiking, and the mountains are made out of rock and not "sand", just like Colorado. There is plenty of boating opportunities within an hour or two of Phoenix. You claim there is surfing in Colorado?

True, true. Sorry to offend. I did enjoy hiking Squaw Peak, South Mountain, and the Superstitions when I lived there. I do have to admit that having a place like Squaw Peak to go hiking and the Phoenix Mountain Preserve to go mountain biking 5 minutes out my door, right in the middle of the city, was pretty neat. So I do kind of miss that. But I don't miss only being able to stare at it for 6 months out of the year, unable to enjoy it because of the extreme heat.

Not saying there's surfing in CO (although locals would attest that snowboarding is the equivalent of Colorado surfing); I'm just saying that tropical climates, to me, are much more attractive if there's an ocean nearby. Otherwise I have trouble tolerating the heat- whether it's dry or humid. I grew up near water, and I think that almost certainly would have liked it in Phoenix better had it been a coastal city. But if "the big one" ever happens in California, that might still be a possibility!

I guess that there are a few little lakes (Lake Pleasant and Saguaro Lake come to mind), within driving distance of Phoenix (they never really did much for me). I prefer the ocean. But technically speaking, they do exist and one could go boating/swimming in those lakes, I suppose... if one was pretty desperate...

[formercalifornian]

Brian, the few times we've left for vacation in winter, we've left the thermostat at 55 degrees with no problems, but temperatures in our area of Colorado hovered around freezing while we were gone. With temperatures plunging below zero, it might be prudent to keep the thermostat set a little higher, just in case. I suspect the cost of heating would be significantly lower than the insurance premium if you were to suffer water damage from a burst pipe. Just my $.02.

[Mike from back east]

IMO, the 55 choice may be okay if there are NO pipes buried inside of exterior walls. If there are water pipes located in exterior walls, I'd go with 65. In any case, I'd shut off the water before leaving just in case the power goes out.

In the summer, we shut off water to the washing machine when we travel, but leave the water on for the lawn sprinklers.

[McGowdog]

Originally Posted by LBear

Also, Phoenix has great hiking, and the mountains are made out of rock and not "sand", just like Colorado.

Oh, so now you're a rock expert? Much less a climbing expert? I've climbed in Wyoming and Colorado and what do you think some of the best climbing structures are made of? Sandstone! Duh!

Best Colorado Hiking

Eldorado Canyon State Park

Wiki Sandstone

Map of Colorado New Mexico Utah and... and a duh!!!!! Arizona!!!

Devil's Tower National Monument

Oh, and... how many 14ers you got?

[LBear]

Originally Posted by McGowdog

Oh, so now you're a rock expert? Much less a climbing expert? I've climbed in Wyoming and Colorado and what do you think some of the best climbing structures are made of? Sandstone! Duh!

OK GetSmart, the poster was making the statement that Phoenix only had sand dunes. He has since recanted that statement.

Nice try but no cigar!

Originally Posted by borborygmi

True, true. Sorry to offend. I did enjoy hiking Squaw Peak, South Mountain, and the Superstitions when I lived there. I do have to admit that having a place like Squaw Peak to go hiking and the Phoenix Mountain Preserve to go mountain biking 5 minutes out my door, right in the middle of the city, was pretty neat.

[borborygmi]

Originally Posted by McGowdog

Oh, and... how many 14ers you got?

14ers? In AZ? LOL. I'm not sure how many 10ers even exist in AZ.

[LBear]

Originally Posted by steve22

Yeah, and by the weekend it'll be 60 and sunny I'd be willing to wager . Welcome to the West.

So far, it looks like you lost your wager. Since the arctic cold has settled in the Denver area on Sunday with double digit below zero temps, it has been in the teens and lower 30's ever since then.

This weekend it is showing that another cold front is moving in and the temps will be:

Saturday: High 18F - Low 12F (with snow)
Sunday: High 12F - Low -2F below zero
Monday: High 23F - Low -2F below zero
...with wind chills dropping to double digit below zero temps