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I'm about to leave Vancouver BC to move to Washington DC for career reasons. All I can say is, this had BETTER be worth it. Fortunately its only for 2 - 3 years.
How does the DC crew stay sane, being so far from anything resembling a decent mountain?
I have already resigned myself to becoming an XC biking weenie this summer, but winter has me worried. Looks like I need to save up big time for flights and lodging....
Not long ago I moved from Seattle to Chicago for four years. I'd lived on the west coast for pretty much my whole life. Some days (in Chicago) I thought I was gonna go insane, but fortunately I had a good job that kept me busy, and a good partner there with me. It also helped that we flew home 6-8 times a year.
Keep your chin up, you can do it. Stay the course. Defeat the evil-doers.
I was born and raised in Vancouver and have spent the last 3 years working overseas (South Africa and Australia). South Africa was great due to good mtn bike race scene and wildlife/cultral attractions (the job was good to) but Australia sucks (i'm in a very hot small town though).Quote:
Originally Posted by DerJaeger
If you going for the money, don't forget to subtract off your income the cost of flying to decent skiing during the winters.
IMO you should move somewhere for more than just career reasons. Happiness is the combination of a lot things.
We survive by any means possible. Biking in the "off" season won't measure up to North Shore standards, but there are some really epic rides within an hour or two. I'll be honest, skiing is not good. The season is only a couple months long and the mountains are small. If you're into kayaking, DC is a good spot. Mather Gorge has world class whitewater.
There's a good group of maggots out here and we've managed to get together fairly often. Hit me, Tippster, iceman, BigE, EPSkis, and Alioops up when you get into town. We'll take you out and help drown your sorrows.
If I can remember this great quote by Tippster:
"Washington is full of hot professional women who are only looking for the occasional oil change."
I wish someday to visit to see if it is true.
www.blueknob.com for the best terrain with in a days drive of you.
www.7springs.com for second longest season in the area
www.whitetail.com for place nice and close to you
www.snowshoemtn.com for the biggest resort in the area, and usually the longest season. Mid Nov to Mid april some years.
Some of the local ski options their are many more, the only place I still find challenging and is actually alot of fun is Blue Knob. FYI get some skinnier skis for back here too. 175 crossish skis do great here, with like a low 70s waist width.
PS. I know I from pittsburgh but DC and pittsburgher skier hit up the same areas.
I suggest starting to whitewater kayak if you dont already. Or you might want to buy a sailboat and putz around on the Bay.
Luckily there is also lots of good climbing not too far away in this amazing place called West Virginia. Its like taking all the good things about Virginia, stuffing it into a smaller area, and populating it with rednecks. New River Gorge, Seneca Rocks, Cranberry wilderness, Snowshoe(for biking) and lots and lots of miles of really twisty pavement that are great for driving really fast on. A road bike might be a good investment too.
Or you could just kayak down the damn street! Freaking weather stranding me in this shithole called Atlanta:fuckyou: Got to love airport sleeping.Quote:
Originally Posted by CantDog
[Southern Drawl]C'mon down, Boy. We'll make you squeal like a pig.[/SD]
Yes, the chicas are hot. So is the weather (you will HATE the DC summer. Ask Alioops.) No, the skiing is not worth mentioning. Yes it's sliding on snow, but that's about it. Imagine the bumper cars at the Fair and that's your average weekend at Whitetail.
What we do have are great Restaurants, free(!) Museums, no heavy industry, one of the sickest Beach Party towns on the planet 2 hours away (Dewey Beach) and two very good airports that can whisk you away to the real hills.
It takes me less time door-to-door to get to LCC than to Snowshoe. Yes the transportation costs more (flying vs driving) but damn - it's worth every penny. Once you're there the costs are basically the same - Lodging, food, and lift tickets.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fridge
yeah, Girls of the World - remember, it's DC, home to diplomatic cadres and missions from a lot of countries. All colors and sizes.
I'm sorry.
Roadies... putzing around in sailboats? Stop frightening me like that!
I have already resigned myself to racking up the frequent flyer miles this winter -- and to be drowing sorrows in excellent microbrews (at least, I'm told they're pretty good). Do East Coast maggots get together to book condos and the like? Just wondering, because it might be a good way to save money on accomodation in winter.
Unfortunately, I suspect that my girlfriend would frown upon me doing the oil change thing. :D
xyz: I'm originally from Australia. I feel your pain. At least from DC, I can catch cheap flights.
I don't stay sane and is why I'm moving to Utah.
Conversely, it also means that it's a lot like skiing with SnowSlider at Liberty. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Tippster
Bush - How DARE you forget www.skiliberty.com !?!?!?
Heh, CJ made me laugh.Quote:
Originally Posted by cj001f
Well DerJaeger, I can tell you that the skiing sucks as does the heat.
My first time skiing here I just about cried. I also got many funny looks on my Launchers/Silverettas. I at least left the skins at home. Just plan many trips elsewhere. Since you are moving here for a good job, you should be able to afford it. Take the mountains here for what they are and make the best of it. Night skiing with EP and Slider can be lots of fun if you hit the bar between runs and don't get busted for skiing "out of bounds". :rolleyes:
The summer heat really, really, really, really sucks. I have yet to figure out how to get around this, except run from air conditioned house to air conditioned car to air conditioned place of work.
There really are some good points. Believe it or not, there is great mountain biking and climbing. There is culture and night life to be found.
Best perk of all, the Mid-Atlantic Mags!
I lived in the Baltimore/ DC area for 15 years. Eventually I went insane and moved to Utah. Now at least I can enjoy my insanity and ski powder.Quote:
Originally Posted by Terpski
I actually might be moving to DC as well, but from RI, so its not a HUGE change really. Its about 50/50 between DC and NYC if I end up getting the job that I'm trying to get. The only nice thing about DC for me is that its not that far from the outer banks, for surfing. I'm kind of hoping for NY though.
it's not close at all. between 6 to 8 hour drive. DC IS BORING for people whole like the out doors.Quote:
Originally Posted by davey
Its only about 5 hours, which is a lot closer than it is to new england. I still would rather be in NY though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Terpski
Heh - five hours.... Maybe if you drove down at midnight....
Somewhat similar situation.Quote:
Originally Posted by DerJaeger
I just started working a job in NYC that I plan on being at for at least 2 to 3 years. Taking the job fucked up my plans to move out west and will make my next few winters very difficult. I must say it's rough and I regret the decision quite often. But I focus on what I can save and what I will be able to do after I put this time in. I too hope it is worth it.
Good luck.
Sarcasm aside as cant mentioned there's some pretty damn good WW and WW paddlers, as well as plenty of sailors. Also flyfishing, cragging and mtbiking. If you are stuck on mountains and skiing you'll be SOL, so recalibrate the sports compass, because there is plenty to do, or take in the culture of a capital city to compensate. If you've the $$ there's good food, culture, and ass from all over, as well as jet flights to Yurp or the West.Quote:
Originally Posted by Terpski
In a John Cusack 80's movie sort of way.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tippster
Dude - I'm 40. It's MY way.... :D:D:D
hot profesional women in DC will all want to run a credit check on you before even thinking of going beyond a conversation.
best option for skiing in DC is a RT ticket out of Dulles or BWI to somewhere out west ;)
I went to a bachelor party down there. I think we were buying 30 packs of Hamm's for something like six bucks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tippster
the stripper we got had just come from a NASCAR post race party. I still shudder when I think of that girl.
You obviously cheaped out on the stripper. Everyone knows that unless she has an Eastern European accent you're not gettin' "top shelf."
it was a world class shit show on many levels. not the least of which was that stripper.
Haven't been able to check in much recently, but congrats/condolences on the DC thing. Like someone said, if you're hung up on one thing (like, say, Whistler-like skiing), you will be very disappointed or very jet-lagged. But, instead, if you use this as an opportunity to explore some other time-wasters, you may find it to be a pretty decent spot.
Oh, and the heat. Yes, well, it's not so much the heat as the humidity. I used to be like Ali, scurrying in between the A/C during the dog-days of summer, and I grew up in this general area! But then, for some reason about 6 or 7 years, maybe after hearing too many of the "when I was your age" stories, I decided to just embrace it and go outside and play and let the sweat just pour off. I have been mountain biking and at a stop pushed down on my helmet and a stream of sweat has come out for 5 seconds or so. Like I said, embrace it. And, after a quick shower, which won't take, hit the outdoor pool. I think that's the key.
Solid advice. Yep, I'm looking at this from a perspective of embracing what the area has to offer. To some extent, any place is what you make of it. I'm looking forward to hooking up with the DC crew too. There's not enough of you, so some boosting of the numbers is in order.Quote:
Originally Posted by Big E
Buy a motorcycle and ride western NoVa/ WV. Definately some great roads out there!
Skiing is a contact sport, bitch! Rubbin's racin'.Quote:
Originally Posted by EPSkis