ok, not to start a royal pissing contest – well maybe just a little good natured one…
if one were moving to a region in north america solely for the BC terrain & BC community, what are your top 3 regions from rockies west & why? please take into consideration a) sheer amount of terrain, b) variety of terrain, c) amount of steep & difficult of terrain (difficulty being a good thing) d) accessibility of all said terrain (within a reasonable drive from population center for a day trip) e) enthusiastic split community f) anything else pertinent not listed.
Anywhere but the PNW. It rains a lot, the snow is wet and heavy, it’s mostly flat, the season is short, the cost of living is high, and the job market is tough.
Oh yeah, the locals are jerks too.
I’m might be joking about some of those but two are the truth, maybe 3. 😉
a) sheer amount of terrain,-This depends on what you consider an “region”. PNW is a region but you’ll have way different experiences in Bend then you will in Enumclaw and so forth.
b) variety of terrain,-see comments on A. c) amount of steep & difficult of terrain (difficulty being a good thing)-Do you mean that can be accessed by skinning or do you include mountaineering approaches or helicopters? d) accessibility of all said terrain (within a reasonable drive from population center for a day trip)-What’s a population center and what’s reasonable? e) enthusiastic split community-Washington is an enthusiastic split community, Republicans east of the mountains and Democrats west. f) anything else pertinent not listed.- Snow-pack stability
d) accessibility of all said terrain (within a reasonable drive from population center for a day trip)
but on terrain and snow…
Umm, Alaska? Lol.
I agree.
AK 1st, then AK 2nd, then daylight, then everything else. Not that there aren’t plenty of other places in North America, you guys are so lucky… Tetons, Wasatch, Rockies, Sierras… I’d be happy anywhere
Chugach Alaska Range Wrangells Tordrillos Haines Neacolas
yet II am curious to know what are the best places on Rokyes for a future holiday backcountry in North America. :bananas:
I prefer areas that are not necessarily super-snowy (..course there must be snow 😆 ), but to ensure the possibility of finding several nice days in a row with high vertical drop.
For example here in the Alps from my house within 2 hours of car I have the possibility to turn all the Western Alps and access to all conditions and terrain. Already within 30 minutes of car I have a lot of choice
Yo, I think the Wasatch kills it in all of those categories except for amount of terrain… Kind of a small area.
Although the snow quality is off the hook, given the fact that there are public bus stops at every couloir bottom and a resort every time you top a peak I dont know if thats good advice
a) sheer amount of terrain,-This depends on what you consider an “region”. PNW is a region but you’ll have way different experiences in Bend then you will in Enumclaw and so forth.
region (thus PNW) may be too big of a word – maybe “area”? i’d consider bend a different area/region than baker. the idea is an area to move to an area purely for split terrain…not that you wouldn’t visit other areas for a trip, but looking for epic “home base”
b) variety of terrain,-see comments on A. c) amount of steep & difficult of terrain (difficulty being a good thing)-Do you mean that can be accessed by skinning or do you include mountaineering approaches or helicopters?
helicopters out (budget), mountaineering in (effort, skill)
d) accessibility of all said terrain (within a reasonable drive from population center for a day trip)-What’s a population center and what’s reasonable?
drive, accomplish objective, drive home. population center (where you’d live)
e) enthusiastic split community-Washington is an enthusiastic split community, Republicans east of the mountains and Democrats west. f) anything else pertinent not listed.- Snow-pack stability