Are the any Ski Areas left out West that havent been ruined?

chasewild

WKR
Joined
Mar 22, 2016
Messages
1,106
Location
CO -> AK
I remember when calling guys out for asking for honey holes on a public forum was a new concept. Now it's basic knowledge.

Same logic applies to towns these days -- which is crazy to think about. How quickly the internet can actually change a landscape.

But good luck with your search. WHen you find it, don't tell anyone.
 

Hnthrdr

WKR
Joined
Jan 29, 2022
Messages
3,559
Location
The West
Monarch on a week day. Then pizza and beer in Saliada
Yep…. But good luck buy “land” close, the cheapest spots are currently 350-400k for 5ish acres, maybe less, plus you are in an hoa that will dictate build time, types, and bleed you every month. Man I love salida but it’s just as expensive if not more than buying in Denver these days
 
OP
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HornPorn

WKR
Joined
Oct 7, 2020
Messages
320
I remember when calling guys out for asking for honey holes on a public forum was a new concept. Now it's basic knowledge.

Same logic applies to towns these days -- which is crazy to think about. How quickly the internet can actually change a landscape.

But good luck with your search. WHen you find it, don't tell anyone.
I get it for sure. Unlike honey holes, the folks crowding all the ski towns are not guys like us though. Not from what Ive seen anyway. They don't load their own rounds and put on a backpack and go live in a wilderness area for a week+ without coming back to the trailhead. I didn't ask this question on reddit. I thought I was in good company here asking this question, given the assumed audience, and actually still believe I am for the most part. I have received more positive responses than snarky ones, and I have also gotten some really helpful PMs.

Fact is I cant move somewhere if land is not for sale in that area. So, unless you want to buy up all the land in your area, you are getting a neighbor one way or the other. Do you want it to be a guy who minds his own business, but is useful and would help you in any way he could, or do you want an urbanite from a population center who doesn't know how to change a tire, doesn't like you shooting, and wants to start up an HOA? Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving
 
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Hnthrdr

WKR
Joined
Jan 29, 2022
Messages
3,559
Location
The West
I get it for sure. Unlike honey holes, the folks crowding all the ski towns are not guys like us though. Not from what Ive seen anyway. They don't load their own rounds and put on a backpack and go live in a wilderness area for a week+ without coming back to the trailhead. I didn't ask this question on reddit. I thought I was in good company here asking this question, given the assumed audience, and actually still believe I am for the most part. I have received more positive responses than snarky ones, and I have also gotten some really helpful PMs.

Fact is I cant move somewhere if land is not for sale in that area. So, unless you want to buy up all the land in your area, you are getting a neighbor one way or the other. Do you want it to be a guy who minds his own business, but is useful and would help you in any way he could, or do you want an urbanite from a population center who doesn't know how to change a tire, doesn't like you shooting, and wants to start up an HOA? Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving
Lot of truth in that, wish more folks who moved to Co, were as accepting of my lifestyle as I am of theirs, funny how some show up and want to tell those that have been there how it “should” be, sounds like we would get along, would have you Co… unfortunately what you are looking for has been gone for about 20 years or so
 

chasewild

WKR
Joined
Mar 22, 2016
Messages
1,106
Location
CO -> AK
I get it for sure. Unlike honey holes, the folks crowding all the ski towns are not guys like us though. Not from what Ive seen anyway. They don't load their own rounds and put on a backpack and go live in a wilderness area for a week+ without coming back to the trailhead. I didn't ask this question on reddit. I thought I was in good company here asking this question, given the assumed audience, and actually still believe I am for the most part. I have received more positive responses than snarky ones, and I have also gotten some really helpful PMs.

Fact is I cant move somewhere if land is not for sale in that area. So, unless you want to buy up all the land in your area, you are getting a neighbor one way or the other. Do you want it to be a guy who minds his own business, but is useful and would help you in any way he could, or do you want an urbanite from a population center who doesn't know how to change a tire, doesn't like you shooting, and wants to start up an HOA? Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving
You are in good company. I'm guarded, we all are, with things that are important. But, I just won't post any specific words on a forum -- period.

Building a good network of like-minds will help. And I've been lucky to find a few of those minds on this forum, and then they grow into other connections, etc.

Good luck.
 

wapitibob

WKR
Joined
Feb 24, 2012
Messages
5,923
Location
Bend Oregon
Lived in this ski town for 66 years. I quit skiing when the day pass went up to $9 and don't miss it. Skiing is no longer the main draw, we're a 365 day tourist destination now. Town went from 10k to 100k but I understand why people move here. Property has migrated to the "real expensive" side of the meter for people coming in unless they had good equity prior. Nowhere else I'd rather be other than maybe Wyoming.
 

GClyde28

FNG
Joined
Dec 7, 2017
Messages
44
Location
Austin, TX
Buy a place in White Sulphur Springs, Montana. Showdown is a great hill.
Just left that town elk hunting (which didn’t go well) and drove by Showdown and that’s the first place that came to mind after reading this post. Didn’t see a single thing that would make me think “ski resort”.
 

Wingnutty

FNG
Joined
Sep 8, 2020
Messages
95
Glad I don’t live in the shadow of a ski area. Everyone is looking for their slice of heaven and turning it all into hell in the process.

“I just want to buy property, but I don’t want to change it or make it more like the other places that are already wrecked.” Yup, yeah, got it, get in line behind the rest of Johnny come latelys who have destroyed our hometowns.
 

MTtrout

WKR
Joined
Jan 2, 2013
Messages
381
I get it for sure. Unlike honey holes, the folks crowding all the ski towns are not guys like us though. Not from what Ive seen anyway. They don't load their own rounds and put on a backpack and go live in a wilderness area for a week+ without coming back to the trailhead. I didn't ask this question on reddit. I thought I was in good company here asking this question, given the assumed audience, and actually still believe I am for the most part. I have received more positive responses than snarky ones, and I have also gotten some really helpful PMs.

No snarky here but not sure you get it. Rokslide is a public forum and any googling for best “unknown” ski town… also searched Rokslide. Just saying
 

bradmacmt

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Nov 14, 2014
Messages
268
Location
Mont.
Lived in this ski town for 66 years. I quit skiing when the day pass went up to $9 and don't miss it. Skiing is no longer the main draw, we're a 365 day tourist destination now. Town went from 10k to 100k but I understand why people move here. Property has migrated to the "real expensive" side of the meter for people coming in unless they had good equity prior. Nowhere else I'd rather be other than maybe Wyoming.

I live in Bozeman, but in 2010 took a trip out to see Bend. I'd followed its weather and was curious about it, especially given I've use Nosler bullets since the1980's. At that time Bend was 75,000 people. It was the downturn, and housing was a bit less than here. However, in the intervening 13 years, you've added 25,000 people (double what we've added in the same years) and housing prices are absolutely on par with Bozeman (which are by no means "affordable). Our local ski hill is mostly ruined (Bridger Bowl), and the big ski resort down the road (Big Sky) is a pricey mess. The days of dirt bag living are pretty much over in places like Bozeman and Bend. All these areas are being "loved to death." Such is life - the only constant is change.

Eidt - looking more carefully, I believe Bend's median house price has outstripped our own.
 
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Joined
Aug 9, 2017
Messages
988
Location
Montana
The days of dirt bag living are pretty much over in places like Bozeman and Bend. All these areas are being "loved to death." Such is life - the only constant is change.
This is the truth. The dirt bag way is dying off like the cowboy.

Old ski rags like Ski, Powder, Transworld etc. helped kill the mountain west ski towns decades ago. Just like the discussion on hunting magazines blowing up spots. It’s the same thing.
All of the old dirt bags I know elk hunt as a way to get in shape for ski season and to fill the freezer for the long cold winter.
 

Douglasr

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Nov 23, 2023
Messages
191
You are in good company. I'm guarded, we all are, with things that are important. But, I just won't post any specific words on a forum -- period.

Building a good network of like-minds will help. And I've been lucky to find a few of those minds on this forum, and then they grow into other connections, etc.

Good luck.
Me, you and the uncuckable Willy Lames.
January 15th-March 1st.
The top of Woodward express.
Main line.
Big air.
Best trick.
One run.
Pressure on.
Competition will be judged by 2 rs members, 2 ht members and one 24 hour member given permission from their parole officer.
loser never skis Colorado again and admits that the winners birth region produces the most dominant athletes in the world.





ps. dude the online hunting community is really small and I know you guys are really well connected in society and obviously this is just a joke and pleas don't lock me up with Derek Chauvin.
Happy T-day.
-Dougs Chrondre
 

Elk97

WKR
Joined
Feb 14, 2019
Messages
799
Location
NW WA & SW MT
Whitefish is full of the rich and famous but there are still small towns not too far from there that might be worth checkng out. Bozeman/Bridger/Big Sky - great place to live but pricey. $2500 yr for season pass I'm told at BSky.
 

Douglasr

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Nov 23, 2023
Messages
191
“If paradise gets old, you’re in trouble”
Do you really want to live on vacation?
Living in the mountains on vacation everyday is prob pretty cool, but there’s just not enough room for everyone to do it.
I’d rather own a cool place in the Midwest and just go on vacation more often and not contribute to urban sprawl out west.
 
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