Snow (Vancouver, Camas, Washougal: lawyers, house, homeschool)

[donnalw3]

Hi Everyone,
My name is Donna. I have a husband named Jim, and a 14yr. old son named Seann. My husbands boss has relocated to Vancouver. We are trying to find a place to live where there is just more of a dusting of snow every once in awhile. Our son has lived in Ca. all of his life and really wants to live where it snows. I know from all the research that we have done basically tells me that it rains, rains, and rains. With an occasional dusting of snow. I also have heard that there is more of a chance of some snow that stays if you live on the East side of Vancouver. I have only visted Wa. 2x, to visit some friends. That was in Sumner. We did all the Vistor stuff. I remember, btw, it was 20yrs. ago, but I remember how beautifully green Wa. is. But anyway any idea's of where we could live that it does snow, but we are still in a somewhat city atmosphere(sp). Also besides the rain, what do you folks think of living in Wa. I have lived in Ca. for 33yrs. now. Wow I am really getting old. Anyway any info on Wa./Vancouver would be ever so welcome. Thanks so much.
Donna

[PNW-type-gal]

Just go up in elevation - Hockinson, the foothills around Camas. At about 1,000 feet or higher you'll get dustings of snow (and ice, unfortunately) in the winter.

[Bilbo]

Hi Donna. Well, I've been here about 20 years (which is not that long, really), and it seems to me that anywhere in the Portland/Vancouver area gets a little snow two out of three years. In other words, once every two or three years we'll have a winter with NO snow, but we usually expect at least a little snow most years, even down in the city. It usually lasts a day or two, then it's gone. Rarely does it last more than a week. And we like to make a Big Deal out of it. :-) If we get three days of snow, the news channels start blasting away with bulletins on "The Storm of '93!" or whatever.

I think we're in for heavier sledding over the next several years, however, here in the PNW. In fact, contrary to the expectations of Global Warming enthusiasts (or Climate Change or whatever we're calling it this year), there's a sensible case to be made that we are just as likely to be on the cusp of a Global Cooling event. (We are just a few days away from breaking a 200-year record for no sunspots. Google "Maunder Minimum" for more info.)

But that's a whole 'nother story -- except to say that I'll bet you could move to downtown Vancouver (forget the foothills; too much commuting) and your son will get his fill of snow before he turns 18!

Good luck!

[StealthRabbit]

I'd choose higher elevation eastside (Camas or Washougal)
snow about 20 times this year (we had 4" yesterday, unexpectedly)

10 min commute to shopping mecca and airport

Your son is just the right age... get him into a youth skiing / snowboarding program (we used Skamania Cty ~ $20 !!!) and then when he is in HS he can become an instructor at Mt Hood Meadows or Timberline (1.+ hr commute)
They can take the employee bus from Hood River (1hr) and avoid much risk of getting smashed by errant drivers

My kids both did that and learned to ski / board very well (mandatory training), got paid minimally + learned to work with various ages and whining kids + learned to drive well in snow (I also sent them to 'skid school' at PIR). You can also work as a volunteer at the slopes and get free passes (We did that first, when they were age 14-15). They got to do some work with search and rescue, as each had medical 'first responder training', also did some snow cat grooming as they got older (due to more homeschool activities such as operating my dozers and excavators, since they each had to build a house before 11th grade, when they went to college).

Off topic of snow, but important for 14 yr olds... (Must test in 10th grade, DON'T MISS IT)
Running Start- college instead of HS for grades 11 & 12 is worth moving to WA, tho have him get back to CA to enjoy CHEAP college for the final 2 yrs. He can establish CA residency in the spring of his senior HS year, and then get a job / experience while completing residency requirements. He can get a 'contract' at his college of choice and complete the pre-reqs for jr admission while in WA - FOR FREE under Running Start (must pay for books), and get an AA degree + HS diploma... Its great for many kids, especially aspiring Drs and Lawyers who could use a head start + less debt. Academics - Running Start CA might have a similar program, so I would move to Tahoe !! (rain is not my thing)
http://www.clark.edu/academics/progr...S_brochure.pdf