Some suggestions needed (Seattle, Issaquah, Snoqualmie: neighborhoods, living in, cost of)

[thinkingof_seattle]

Hi All:

We currently live in the bay area (CA), and work-wise we have an option to relocate to Seattle. We both love outdoors and enjoy cycling, hiking and backpacking in summer, and snowshoeing in winter. We recently moved here from CO and hence find that these activities a bit harder to do in CA given that we live in an urban sprawl. More over the cost of living sucks here. That's the motivation for considering the Seattle area.

Having read so many stories regarding weather, and having visited there a week ago, we do have some concerns and want to get some information:

a. What are the hiking/backpacking opportunities nearby?
b. Are there day or weekend trips one could take to get some Sun? I heard that eastern WA offers some possibilities (particularly east of the Snoqualmie pass).

Thanks

[la_fuerza]

Tiger Mountain is great for hiking. It's real close (Issaquah). I wouldn't worry about the weather too much. I moved back to Seattle after living in the Bay Area for several years and the weather isn't that bad. Like you said you can get some sun over in Eastern Washington.

Tiger Mountain in Issaquah:

[thinkingof_seattle]

Thanks. That's a great picture.

Are there places to get "dry" hikes?

In winter, I heard that the Snoqualmie pass gets closed. Are these closures frequent?

[la_fuerza]

Not sure about the "dry" hikes. My advice would be to hike when it's not raining. It doesn't rain all the time like people say. I get my exercise by walking through Seattle neighborhoods, not on hiking trails. The city is pretty hilly and there's alot more to see IMO.

I don't think Snoqualmie Pass is closed that often. I-90 is a major interstate and alot of trucks go through there.