Best place to live in Washington for backcountry skiing

[skimore]

I have been thinking about moving the family to Washington and wanted to find a possible ideal location. I need to continue backcountry skiing and would like to find an area that has plenty of options. Not looking to use a a sled, so approaches and access need to be reasonable. Hoping to find a place that is within an hour drive of a town or city that has jobs and housing. I may find myself staying in Colorado for these options.

[PNWbrit]

There are a load of where to live/ski in Washington threads if you do a quick search.

"Town or City" and "Jobs and Housing" is a perhaps a little vague too?

Do you need ski lifts/Areas close by? That'll cut out a bunch of mountains if you do..

A major issue in WA is quite limited winter access to the bulk of the Cascades (and Olympics) whether that's passes being closed from late Fall thru to June or July, NPS gate closures due to budgets or the few all season roads that go into the Mountains anyway.

[Timberridge]

Moses Lake

[Hugh Conway]

Just stay in Colorado, it's way sicker brah.

[skimore]

I have seen some threads on here but mostly about resort skiing. I am looking for backcountry specific and do understand that access is limited. Just trying to see some easy access backcountry exists and where most like to ski mid-winter and spring.

Trying to see if options are better for people in the Seattle area, south of Seattle or north of.

Thanks

[Mofro261]

I have seen some threads on here but mostly about resort skiing. I am looking for backcountry specific and do understand that access is limited. Just trying to see some easy access backcountry exists and where most like to ski mid-winter and spring.

the only thing limited is your imagination!

[Hugh Conway]

backcountry specific is prohibited by the Washington State Constitution, they've grandfathered in the "made in America/Vashion Island" K2 corp minions and OR gear hangers on in SoDoSeattle for marketing purposes though. But otherwise there's no BC specific fun in Washington. At all.

Look - Washington isn't Colorado. At all. Most people live in Seattle because that's where jobs and housing are. On the west side of the cascades, other people live in Bellingham, because there are some job's and housing and things. Some other people live on the east side of the cascades because it's pretty durn nice, but it doesn't have nearly so much on the jobs that pay money front until you get really far east. Like almost Idaho east. Really on the job's front most of them are in the Greater Seattle megapolis.

[creaky fossil]

I am writing a "piece" for a new startup journalism enterprise online. Think of a combination of blister, Wild Snow, newschoolers, telemark tips and of course TGR's forums. But better. More homegrown organic, less corporate. My first "piece" will be on Washington backcountry skiing, because I feel that's where we need to grow the sport. Growing the sport will eliminate racism, bigotry, sexism, homophobia, misogyny, misandry, misanthropy, sociopathy, psychopathology, and Republicans. Plus it's not elitist to grow the sport. The more participants we have, the more cool new shit we get because let's face it, new gear purchases are driven by hobbyists and people who buy but never use the gear. The more gear buyers we have, the cheaper OUR gear. So let's grow the sport together, and we'll all be Hoji.

[PNWbrit]

I am looking for backcountry specific

Volken's new statewide guide book might be helpful for your research in terms of what is available where.

Lots of the Backcountry skiing is tied to ski areas since most of our few all season roads have ski resorts on them or are all season because they lead to a ski area.

If you're not tied to being near lifts then there are a few more options although Job and City might start to be an issue and some are more limited without a sled - For instance the eastside of Cascades.

Trying to see if options are better for people in the Seattle area, south of Seattle or north of.

I suppose in theory your options are a little wider being north of Seattle since it puts you within somewhat easier reach of Baker, Stevens and still ok for Snoqualmie. Plus a head start on going to Canadia and the North Cascades Highway when i opens.

Further from stuff to the south though obviously. Depends what is your cup of tea.

[Mofro261]

Trying to see if options are better for people in the Seattle area, south of Seattle or north of.

Thanks

On a more serious note, yes, yes, and yes, regarding touring options, depending on where your job is located. And what pnwB and HC said.

[skimore]

Hey thanks for the imput. I have looked at the old version of his book as well as a couple other publications. I have a few friends who have lived on the east side of the Cascades and said that a sled was needed. Wife wants to live near water, which is fine but I need to find a happy medium for us both.

Volken's new statewide guide book might be helpful for your research in terms of what is available where.

Lots of the Backcountry skiing is tied to ski areas since most of our few all season roads have ski resorts on them or are all season because they lead to a ski area.

If you're not tied to being near lifts then there are a few more options although Job and City might start to be an issue and some are more limited without a sled - For instance the eastside of Cascades.

[skimore]

Thanks for the reality of it. I live in the Denver fornt range area now for the same reason, jobs. I have heard mixed reviews on Bellingham and have experienced Seattle first hand.

So many people flock to Colorado for skiing, I was hoping the Seattle area had people who may not be as interested in skiing, maybe less crowding in the mountains. I am getting the idea that is not the case.

backcountry specific is prohibited by the Washington State Constitution, they've grandfathered in the "made in America/Vashion Island" K2 corp minions and OR gear hangers on in SoDoSeattle for marketing purposes though. But otherwise there's no BC specific fun in Washington. At all.

Look - Washington isn't Colorado. At all. Most people live in Seattle because that's where jobs and housing are. On the west side of the cascades, other people live in Bellingham, because there are some job's and housing and things. Some other people live on the east side of the cascades because it's pretty durn nice, but it doesn't have nearly so much on the jobs that pay money front until you get really far east. Like almost Idaho east. Really on the job's front most of them are in the Greater Seattle megapolis.

[PNWbrit]

maybe less crowding in the mountains.

The enormous difficulty accessing the huge expanses of less crowded WA mountains is the real problem.

The bits you can get to without it becoming an expedition or involving snowmobiles or helicopters are mostly fairly crowded.

[wooley12]

Don't put Seattle between where you live and you want ski and get way more time to ski. My impression after 3 years here is North, South, Windward or Lee there are more miles/vert available to ski tour than the time in years to do it all.

[skimore]

Don't put Seattle between where you live and you want ski and get way more time to ski. My impression after 3 years here is North, South, Windward or Lee there are more miles/vert available to ski tour than the time in years to do it all.

Good advice. Where is your favorite place to tour for the day?