How is Bend Unique to You? (Portland: how much, college, living in)

[kapetrich]

Figured I'd start a fresh positive thread so here I am!

I'll start:

Yesterday, I woke up to a rainy day in Bend, but was able to drive 20 mins up to Mt. Bachelor to an absolute white out Blizzard with more fresh snow than I knew what to do with. The snow was heavier than the last few storms, but there's nothing like not having to shovel out of my driveway in the morning to hit a powder day.

This entire weekend looks like it'll be the same, too.

To me, as an avid skier, this is one of the more unique aspects to Bend.

[BendLocal]

Yeah the easy drive to Bachelor is great. BTW I think you caught the best day of this storm. The snow up there today was the stuff people call sierra cement or cascade concrete. Hard work even with fat skis. I heard the snow yesterday wasn't as heavy, bummer that I had to work. Being close to all the trailheads is another fantastic benefit of living in Bend.

[Greener_Pastures]

I can already tell this thread will make me jealous every time I read it looking forward to hearing all the great things we have to look forward to once we make the move!! (And I bet a few of them will be new things I don't already know)

[delta07]

For me, Bend is unique in that it has a great sense of community. I've lived in quite a few places that are similar in size to Bend (or smaller) and Bend really wins us over in this regard. We've made more friends in our 5.5 years living here, than anywhere else besides college.

The music scene in Bend is pretty special too. For a town of this size, not close to a major interstate, we get some pretty good bands coming through. We also have a great local music scene. Since my husband is a musician, this is very important to us.

of course, it goes without saying that the outdoor access and scenic beauty here in Central Oregon makes Bend pretty special too!

[whirnot]

When we were looking for a place to move to, a search brought up Bend. We checked it out and loved it. Then we spent a year looking elsewhere, using Bend as a Barometer. Nowhere could match it.

Can't wait.

[Greener_Pastures]

Whirnot: we can't wait either, we've fallen in love too. When are you planning on moving?

[Snownut]

Originally Posted by whirnot

When we were looking for a place to move to, a search brought up Bend. We checked it out and loved it. Then we spent a year looking elsewhere, using Bend as a Barometer. Nowhere could match it.

Can't wait.

Whirnot, We have a similar story, did not not even even know about Bend just a few years ago.

I have looked and looked to find a place with that matches Bend. I haven't yet and just eliminated the last location I was considering.

I plan to write more later.

[BendLocal]

How much of Bend's uniqueness is due to population size? Isn't part of the uniqueness getting outdoors and away from the crowds?

kapetrich, in the future if your 20 mile drive to Bachelor takes an hour plus due to increased traffic on powder days does the uniqueness still hold?

[kapetrich]

For me Bends relative size is one of the reasons I'm here. It's bigger than your average 'mountain town' giving it more culture, things to do and bit more anonymity comparably. So for me, Bends larger population is one of the things that makes it unique and exactly what I was looking for.

I think it really depends where you're comparing Bend to. From where I came the uniqueness holds getting to the outdoors and away from the crowds. That IS the reason I'm here. If you're from a smaller place than Bend I guess this perspective would be different, naturally, but that list is fairly short given the access to outdoors year round.

Originally Posted by BendLocal

kapetrich, in the future if your 20 mile drive to Bachelor takes an hour plus due to increased traffic on powder days does the uniqueness still hold?

Sure, it would change? Why wouldn't it. A big reason I didn't move to the front range of Colorado. But, as a local, that is extremely far off. Last Thursday was a huge powder day and there was like 45 people on the mountain. Plus, after Xmas/New Years only THE holiday weekends would I consider crowded, but I avoid them like the plague which is ironic because they're really not even that bad comparably. This will continue to hold true due to our relative isolation. Our largest Metro that feeds us is just over 3 hours away, Portland. Then 5 plus, Seattle, then 9 plus, SF.

Also, the PNW doesn't get powder days like most of the rest of the nation. We get MANY more, most years anyway, which spreads things out more imo...along with our ski season being, literally months longer. So, if you're a local and you know it's presidents day weekend, like this last one, you might say, hey, I'll wait till the next powder weekend that's not on a Holiday. The issue arrises when you have pent up locals who've experienced a dry year coupled with a holiday weekend that gets all of the snow. That's what seems to create the most crowds.

'nother hijack.

[BendLocal]

Originally Posted by kapetrich

From where I came from the uniqueness holds getting to the outdoors and away from the crowds. That IS the reason I'm here.

Same here. But some popular summer hikes are already so packed they feel like a trip to Yosemite! This summer I had to got farther out to get away from the crowds. Winter is very much the same.

Originally Posted by kapetrich

But, as a local, that is extremely far off.

With all the publicity boosted by the viral catalyst of social media I am not so sure about that. 10 years ago we could hit a big pow-day midweek and have fresh tracks all day. Now the local pow hounds cut it to shreds in 3 hours or less. And during the peak season the bike trails have become a bumper to bumper dust bowl!