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I agree about the weather. My only impressions of CO have been when we visit my father in-law (both summer and winter) in Snowmass. He lives on the mountain about 10,000 feet up. We can ski right onto the slopes out his back door. That's wonderful! Not, realistic for us....price wise But...we leave MI in the winter freezing and arrive there mid Jan, same temps, but with the sun, altitude and dry air if feels 20 degrees warmer. Same in Summer, only the 85 degree day feels like 75. Which is great! But, their winters are very long.
That's why I want to be careful where we buy. I can't sleep at 10,000 feet and I don't want winter for 9 months! If it weren't for talking to all of you, I could have visited....let's say Leadville in July and thought it was great!
I want to be able to ride our horses as much of the year as possible. I find here in MI...when it's in the mid 80's (humid) it's too hot to ride and when it's below freezing it's too cold.....well that means there is at least 4 months we don't ride and then of course we have lots of rainy days in between!
I've been meaning to ask the horse people.....being there aren't many bugs in CO, are there horse flies? We have them BIG time for about 6 weeks from late July through Aug. They're HORRIBLE!! The poor horses have learned that we will kill them for them so they'll run to me and just stand there begging for me to get rid of the fly
I want to be able to ride our horses as much of the year as possible. I find here in MI...when it's in the mid 80's (humid) it's too hot to ride and when it's below freezing it's too cold.....well that means there is at least 4 months we don't ride and then of course we have lots of rainy days in between! I've been meaning to ask the horse people.....being there aren't many bugs in CO, are there horse flies? We have them BIG time for about 6 weeks from late July through Aug. They're HORRIBLE!! The poor horses have learned that we will kill them for them so they'll run to me and just stand there begging for me to get rid of the fly.. Thanks again for all of your help!! Catherine
There are bugs here, but nothing like those in humid areas of the country. A few horses will wear blankets to keep the flies off ... they are here. When I took riding lessons last summer, we always put bug spray on the horses, and there were plenty of mosquitoes up at Chatfield State Park where we rode, but that area is wet and swampy along the canal... I have to expect that there ... that day we rode the temp was in the mid 90's but with dry air, so we were fine, not dogged out like 90's back east in VA, where you'd be dying from the combination of heat & humidity.
Along the Front Range, people can ride most or all of the year, this year has been much worse for snow than others, but it's been gone from here for weeks. Yesterday we saw a gal riding in the parkland behind us, a dalmation trotting along with her ... I'd suspect that people on the Western Slope are also able to ride all year too.
Yes Nadine, many people have a wrong impression about Colorado. They think all of Colorado is Leadville. There are many climates in Colorado and deserts, flat plains and mountains. Somehow everyone who hasnt been to Colorado thinks Colorado all looks like Vail or Aspen. And each area can have micro climates due to the altitude. It may be 70 degrees in one part but go ten miles and it could be 50 degrees. I think that is why so many areas are also "banana belts" since there are several scattered throughout Colorado. The warmest though temp wise statistically shows Grand Junction being the warmest but again it is a desert area. They grow peaches and grape vineyards there so it must be warmer than other parts. But there are many milder parts of Colorado too. Something to factor in too is wind. Wind can make things feel colder and I know southwest Colorado has less wind than most of Colorado. The northern part gets the most wind. Since Colorado has so many climates, it is hard to explain to somebody when they ask, "Is Colorado cold?" "Is it hot?" It is like, "do you have an hour so I can answer that?!"
Grand Junction area, Fruita, Montrose do grow peaches, grapevine etc. But they are not the only place. We have a winery here and altho most of our orchards have been torn out for houses. We did grow lots of fruit too. There are a few still surviving. The first weekend in May is a big Blossom and Music Festival. Before the orchards and the big gardens were destroyed it was only the Blossom Festival. Always had lots of grapes and we are not on the plains. But Grand Junction is hotter and colder than we are---go figure. That's Colorado, don't try to out guess it.
Montrose is a nice town, about 15,000 or so and growing. Montrose is getting a Jc Penny this fall and a target soon. Montrose is warm but not as warm as GJ because its 1000 ft higher in elevation. There are no Orchards or Vineyards here but I imagine that there could be, there is a Vineyard in Olathe which is 15 minutes North of Montrose. The winters are mild with an annual snow fall of 19 inches or so, although this year they are at 35+. There are beautiful views of the San Juan Mtns from in town but I think it's too busy a town for me. I like towns with less than 2000 people. I prefer the real rural setting. I think you have to find Nirvana when you are looking for a place to hang your hat. I think that you should experience the local scene before making any decisions. Go to furniture stores and the grocery store. Check out the Non-tourist places, then make a decision. What if you move and you hate the people in the community? It's not always about weather and home and land prices, I think towns have a feel.. a heart and finding the one that beats like yours is essential. The North Fork Valley is full of Orchards, Vineyards, and vegetable farms. I love the food of the North Fork! We have organic, or gently grown beef, chicken and pork, great fishing, cherries, peaches, raspberries, apples, pears and everything else you can imagine. The valley is very sustainable. If you get hot in the Summer your 45 minutes to the Grand Mesa with 200 lakes(fishing) beautiful forests and great camping plus its never over 75 or so. Hotchkiss, Crawford, Paoina and Cedaredge are great communities. (Hippies to Cowboys to Retirees)
[mod cut] In my car are some essentials... Sorrell snow boots, extra wool socks, a good pair of ski gloves, a ski jacket, a great wool hat, and a pair of sandels. I wear a vest most of the winter in Montrose and Hotchkiss, but head South to Ouray and you never know what you'll need. When I lived in Ridgway I went to GJ, it was July, When I left GJ it was 102 and when I got home to Ridgway it was 75 (not in town but about 7800ft). The high alpine desert is amazing. I moved here from Texas which is very humid, so it was an easy adjustment to the beautiful mild 4 season climate on the western slope. I don't have any desire to move anywhere else. [mod cut]
Last edited by Mike from back east; 03-07-2007 at 03:03 PM..
Reason: Please, no realtor advertising or soliciting business.
I agree about the weather. My only impressions of CO have been when we visit my father in-law (both summer and winter) in Snowmass. He lives on the mountain about 10,000 feet up. We can ski right onto the slopes out his back door. That's wonderful! Not, realistic for us....price wise But...we leave MI in the winter freezing and arrive there mid Jan, same temps, but with the sun, altitude and dry air if feels 20 degrees warmer. Same in Summer, only the 85 degree day feels like 75. Which is great! But, their winters are very long.
That's why I want to be careful where we buy. I can't sleep at 10,000 feet and I don't want winter for 9 months! If it weren't for talking to all of you, I could have visited....let's say Leadville in July and thought it was great!
I want to be able to ride our horses as much of the year as possible. I find here in MI...when it's in the mid 80's (humid) it's too hot to ride and when it's below freezing it's too cold.....well that means there is at least 4 months we don't ride and then of course we have lots of rainy days in between!
I've been meaning to ask the horse people.....being there aren't many bugs in CO, are there horse flies? We have them BIG time for about 6 weeks from late July through Aug. They're HORRIBLE!! The poor horses have learned that we will kill them for them so they'll run to me and just stand there begging for me to get rid of the fly
Thanks again for all of your help!!
Catherine
Yes we have horse flies but not to the extent I understand more humid places do. There is a nasty fly we call a deer fly that can bite like the dickens too. But the use of garlic and spays take care of most. My x neighbor from MI told me that we don't know what horse flies are or bugs for that matter. So I guess we rate well in that category
Catherine, a general rule of thumb (but know there are exceptions), is most places in Colorado that are 7,500 feet or below in altitude will generally not have bad winters but will have four seasons. Anything over 7,500 feet will get more snow and anything over 8,000 feet will be colder. Anything over 9,000 feet really isnt fit for most people except the hardy souls. Again wind, humidity, different weather cycles etc can factor in too, but that is a general guideline to go by.
Yes Nadine, you are right, Colorado, don't try to out guess it!
I prefer the real rural setting. I think you have to find Nirvana when you are looking for a place to hang your hat. I think that you should experience the local scene before making any decisions. Go to furniture stores and the grocery store. Check out the Non-tourist places, then make a decision. What if you move and you hate the people in the community? It's not always about weather and home and land prices, I think towns have a feel.. a heart and finding the one that beats like yours is essential.
[mod cut] In my car are some essentials... Sorrell snow boots, extra wool socks, a good pair of ski gloves, a ski jacket, a great wool hat, and a pair of sandels. I wear a vest most of the winter in Montrose and Hotchkiss, but head South to Ouray and you never know what you'll need. When I lived in Ridgway I went to GJ, it was July, When I left GJ it was 102 and when I got home to Ridgway it was 75 (not in town but about 7800ft). The high alpine desert is amazing. I moved here from Texas which is very humid, so it was an easy adjustment to the beautiful mild 4 season climate on the western slope. I don't have any desire to move anywhere else. [mod cut]
I couldn't agree with you more! That's why all the questions and several (if not more trips). It was a job that brought me to MI. It took me a few years to fall in love with MI, despite the weather. It is beautiful, where we live (surprisingly so). We have great neighbors and a really nice town. We too live rural. My parents recently retired up here and are very happy. It's nice having them close after 20 years of living 3 hours away. My adult son also lives here. My husband has family in Aspen and the big thing is the lack of sunshine here. My husband has had enough. He is always sooo HAPPY when we visit CO. The beauty and SUN are something to behold. We trust there will be a time in our near future that we can find a place in the beautiful state of Colorado, to call home
I'm expecting to enjoy the dryness also. I've heard it can take a few months to get used to it. I do get a little bit of a nose bleed when I visit. I drive with similar things in my car, just in case I break down somewhere, minus the sandles
I couldn't agree with you more! That's why all the questions and several (if not more trips). It was a job that brought me to MI. It took me a few years to fall in love with MI, despite the weather. It is beautiful, where we live (surprisingly so). We have great neighbors and a really nice town. We too live rural. My parents recently retired up here and are very happy. It's nice having them close after 20 years of living 3 hours away. My adult son also lives here. My husband has family in Aspen and the big thing is the lack of sunshine here. My husband has had enough. He is always sooo HAPPY when we visit CO. The beauty and SUN are something to behold. We trust there will be a time in our near future that we can find a place in the beautiful state of Colorado, to call home
I'm expecting to enjoy the dryness also. I've heard it can take a few months to get used to it. I do get a little bit of a nose bleed when I visit. I drive with similar things in my car, just in case I break down somewhere, minus the sandles
Thanks for the tips!
Catherine
The nose bleed could be altitude change. My hubby used to have one every time we came down from Leadville and back. Or it could be dry climate. A little Vaseline and q tip was my boss's cure. She was a nun from Switzerland. I go thro lots of oil in my tub for dry skin and lots of lotion. I have never had trouble with my hair tho some do. But then I seldom us curling irons or hair dryers.
My sister is an RN and I learned from her that using Vaseline or any petroleum based product in your nose can cause pneumonia, if the Vaseline goes up the nose and into the lungs. It is best to use a saline solution, such as Ocean brand saline spray, to keep your nose moist. Saline also keeps down bacteria and virus counts down from the nose to possibly lessen getting a cold or flu.
Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 700,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 15,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads. 
But...we leave MI in the winter freezing and arrive there mid Jan, same temps, but with the sun, altitude and dry air if feels 20 degrees warmer. Same in Summer, only the 85 degree day feels like 75. Which is great! But, their winters are very long. 
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