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Your life in a ski town

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LynxNation
Posts: 780 - Karma: 5,853
Hey guys. I study geography in college and I'm doing a project about what you could call the "ski town effect" and I want to hear your stories about living in a ski town.

Not necessarily the "oh man I got wasted and let 'someone' pour milk on my tatas" stories. Though if you've got those, that's tight.

I'm looking more for how was it finding housing? Can you afford it? How hard has it been for you to find a job, or something more than seasonal work. What pisses you off about the hoards of people that roll through town on breaks. Does Vail own your home mountain, how has it changed since it's been bought. If you go on a ski trip what makes you choose the spot, affordability, the snow, the terrain, the babes?

That kinda shit.

What have you noticed?

Also, if you ever get a chance to do a project where you professor accepts ski movies as bibliography references, do it.
Nov 5 2015 5:50PM
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eheath
Posts: 61100 - Karma: 118,256
Housing in Park City is absolutely fucked, it's almost impossible to find a place to live, jobs are plentiful because no one can find a place to live. I have a friend who's co-workers are living in their cars because they can't find a place to live.

Vail is taking over the resorts this year and honestly not that much has changed, yet. I'm hoping vail will build more employee housing though, it could help out.
Nov 5 2015 6:01PM
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ModMommy
Posts: 10719 - Karma: 55,326
I can't afford to live without roomates- the market here is so fucked. When I lived in an apartmetn (with two other people) rent was $430 per person.

If you can wash dishes you can get a job, but being in a ski town AND a college town (Thanks Bozeman) it's really hard to get a job. I make $9 an hour an applied for this job back in July, started at the end of September.

Tourist kinda suck, but thankfully most up here put money into the town so that's cool I guess. I hate how most can't drive in the snow though.

My home mountain is a non-profit, and the other is owned by Boyne.

When I go on trips, I want to be able to crash at someone's house or sleep in my car. I can't affford to sleep in a ski town hotel. I pick spots based on terrain, and snow pack.

Bozeman needs more affordable housing, I just want to ba bele to live without worrying if I'm gonna make rent this month.
Nov 5 2015 6:29PM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
My "news" should answer almost all of your questions. I kept a pretty regular blog on here from 2008 to... I forgot when, but I talk about all that stuff.
Nov 5 2015 6:34PM
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-WZ-
Posts: 3600 - Karma: 6,581
I was planning on moving to whis this summer after second semester but i just don't know if ill make it happen. Housing costs are unreal, but getting a job doesnt seem too difficult. Might just have to rough it in the car for a while if i wanna make the dream come true
Nov 5 2015 8:01PM
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erica
Posts: 3449 - Karma: 24,068
Although this will be my first winter season in a ski town, I spent the summer in Jackson and can attest to these questions/ make a reasonable prediction on what my winter will be like.

My housing last summer fell through, and hence I lived in my van May-August. This winter, to save money I'll be living essentially in a Harry Potter closet for really cheap. I still might pick up a second job because cost of living in Jackson is $$, and it never hurts to save up some cash.

As of now I'll be writing at Newschoolers for side cash, and working 7:30-4:30ish at the resort four days a week. Finding a job is the easy part, I'm getting my job back at the resort (free pass!), and because we're such a tourist town there is definitely an excess of jobs.

Tourists are annoying, they don't know how to cross the street, they ask stupid questions, get in the way, but at the end of the day, they bring the money and keep our towns going- so can we really complain?

JHMR is privately owned! Yay!

Ski trip= accessibility to me. Can we drive there in 20 hours or less? Is it affordable? Do I have couches to stay on and lift ticket hook ups? Is the snow good? Good terrain? All are a factor.

Here's a video about employee housing in JH:

https://vimeo.com/141430335
Nov 5 2015 8:12PM
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LynxNation
Posts: 780 - Karma: 5,853
I agree with you guys that finding a job can be easy, but it seems like most work is "seasonal" even if you are a full time employee, the off-season can be a struggle. I'm lucky to be working 10 hours a week right now. Which is the shitty part.

I could be in a spot where the work really fluctuates depending on the season, Mt Hood's not really a destination when it's raining.


Places like Salt Lake seem to have a little more consistency.
Nov 5 2015 8:44PM
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eheath
Posts: 61100 - Karma: 118,256
LynxNationPlaces like Salt Lake seem to have a little more consistency.


Let's get something straight here, salt lake city is not a ski town. Park city is a ski town, Jackson is a ski town, aspen is a ski town.

I don't id even consider Bozeman a ski town either.
Nov 5 2015 9:32PM
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LynxNation
Posts: 780 - Karma: 5,853
eheathLet's get something straight here, salt lake city is not a ski town. Park city is a ski town, Jackson is a ski town, aspen is a ski town.

I don't id even consider Bozeman a ski town either.


Do you think that because of proximity to the actual resort(s)? Or because of what the main focus of the city is.

I don't know if I would consider slc a solid ski town but the people that can't afford to live in pc can find something more affordable in the area down there, which is one of the downsides of ski towns, like you said housing is fucked.
Nov 5 2015 9:44PM
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eheath
Posts: 61100 - Karma: 118,256
LynxNationDo you think that because of proximity to the actual resort(s)? Or because of what the main focus of the city is.

I don't know if I would consider slc a solid ski town but the people that can't afford to live in pc can find something more affordable in the area down there, which is one of the downsides of ski towns, like you said housing is fucked.


Proximity comes with the territory of being a ski town, thats just how it works.

SLC metro area has a population of over 1 million, its a 'city'.

My agrument for bozeman is that because 1. its a college town 2. the economy is more outdoor tourist based vs ski tourist. I would say bozeman is a tourist town, not a ski town.
Nov 5 2015 9:46PM
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LynxNation
Posts: 780 - Karma: 5,853
eheathProximity comes with the territory of being a ski town, thats just how it works.

SLC metro area has a population of over 1 million, its a 'city'.

My agrument for bozeman is that because 1. its a college town 2. the economy is more outdoor tourist based vs ski tourist. I would say bozeman is a tourist town, not a ski town.


For sure I see your points.
Nov 5 2015 9:47PM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,500
Honestly it was a ton of dudes, very few girls, and lots of drug addicts and shitty people. Basic nsg in real life.
Nov 5 2015 9:54PM
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*Frankie*
Posts: 532 - Karma: 703
Pour milk on my tatas
Nov 5 2015 11:29PM
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ModMommy
Posts: 10719 - Karma: 55,326
eheathProximity comes with the territory of being a ski town, thats just how it works.

SLC metro area has a population of over 1 million, its a 'city'.

My agrument for bozeman is that because 1. its a college town 2. the economy is more outdoor tourist based vs ski tourist. I would say bozeman is a tourist town, not a ski town.


in my geography class we tack Bozeman as both a ski town and a college town.
Nov 6 2015 12:12AM
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,844
Housing in Banff is retarted. Rent price is comparable to Toronto and Vancouver, and theres a 0% vacancy rate. You basically have to move in either fall or spring to find a place. during popular tourist seasons everything is full. Places get picked up same day theyre listed.
Nov 6 2015 1:09AM
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,844
millions of girls here. tons of australian and uk. also tons of other europeans. about on par with canadians.
like others have said tons of job and few places to live. People will be forced to leave because they cant find a job that pays enough to support living here.
been here 2 years now and changed from teaching skiing to working in bank to sort of get the best of both worlds. can afford to live and still ski. teaching on weekends for the free lift pass.
Nov 6 2015 1:12AM
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3597 - Karma: 3,895
eheathHousing in Park City is absolutely fucked, it's almost impossible to find a place to live, jobs are plentiful because no one can find a place to live. I have a friend who's co-workers are living in their cars because they can't find a place to live.

Vail is taking over the resorts this year and honestly not that much has changed, yet. I'm hoping vail will build more employee housing though, it could help out.


Park city is a ski town that has pushed those out who make a ski town. Vail doesn't care they just see $$. Once a good town is now over priced to the point where you can't live. And I'm not talking about $10/he lifties, they were always fucked. It's now to another level, where the lack of housing, price gouging and lack of anyone caring is slowly destroying the town.
Nov 6 2015 2:12PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 36687 - Karma: 110,613
well, my parents moved us up from salt lake to park city for a few years. it was fun and we lived in a cool area but it was just too expensive. Landlords are crazy in park city and housings ridiculously expensive, even for kinda shitty apartments. We eventually moved over to the heber/midway area which is a little bit better, more of a rural small town feel and its still near the skiing. I eventually plan to move to salt lake because of its proximity to the skiing and everything else in the salt lake valley.

Jobs are easy to find but most people I have worked with live down in salt lake or live at the employee housing that places like Deer Valley offer (because they are employees there as well). I typically hear its hard for them to find an affordable place and either live down in SLC/commute or rely on employee housing. Too be honest, Vail hasn't changed much besides prices. Not really any "Running businesses out of town" yet and I didn't have too bad of a time working for them. If you work your way up, they do seem like a decent company.


Ski trips, terrain/snowfall and town atmosphere/culture is kind of what I am into. Ive been in the PC area for a while and the while the high-end stuff is cool, I enjoy more true ski towns that aren't nothing flashy, just cool places to visit/live with rad skiing and cool people. I remember watching an MSP film with a Bralorne, BC segment and I was determined to live there one day.
Nov 6 2015 2:33PM
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JahFeels
Posts: 779 - Karma: 587
Mammoth seems to be getting harder to find affordable places to live but jobs are everywhere if you look.
Nov 6 2015 2:34PM
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eheath
Posts: 61100 - Karma: 118,256
SkiBum.Park city is a ski town that has pushed those out who make a ski town. Vail doesn't care they just see $$. Once a good town is now over priced to the point where you can't live. And I'm not talking about $10/he lifties, they were always fucked. It's now to another level, where the lack of housing, price gouging and lack of anyone caring is slowly destroying the town.


I'm going on my 4th year living in park city, I know how fucked up shit is right now. Luckily, the new city council and current county council know as well and things are going to change.
Nov 6 2015 2:45PM
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3597 - Karma: 3,895
eheathI'm going on my 4th year living in park city, I know how fucked up shit is right now. Luckily, the new city council and current county council know as well and things are going to change.


I lived there for 7. Just left for greener pastures for lack of a better term.

Would be nice to see the city really get involved. Get the seasonal employee housing started in conjunction with the resorts. Keep the workers around that need the low cost living option.

Hell, I sold my place in old town within 30 days on the market and it got immediately turned into employee housing. Doctor bought it and rents it to his workers. That's when you know things are tight.

Hope it snows there this year. You guys deserve it after the past 3 years.
Nov 6 2015 2:55PM
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eheath
Posts: 61100 - Karma: 118,256
SkiBum.I lived there for 7. Just left for greener pastures for lack of a better term.

Would be nice to see the city really get involved. Get the seasonal employee housing started in conjunction with the resorts. Keep the workers around that need the low cost living option.

Hell, I sold my place in old town within 30 days on the market and it got immediately turned into employee housing. Doctor bought it and rents it to his workers. That's when you know things are tight.

Hope it snows there this year. You guys deserve it after the past 3 years.


Yeah man, just hoping for a normal year, that would be phenomenal.
Nov 6 2015 2:56PM
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firecrotch
Posts: 1470 - Karma: 5,504
I just graduated High School and I am planning on working at a lodge up at the base of Alta because I couldn't really find anywhere else that would be affordable if I had to pay for rent and food and a pass, but it'll be my first time out west so I really have any experience yet.
Nov 6 2015 3:01PM
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CHORIZO
Posts: 2003 - Karma: 10,039
nocturnalHonestly it was a ton of dudes, very few girls, and lots of drug addicts and shitty people. Basic nsg in real life.


haha thats quality sig material
Nov 6 2015 11:32PM
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ghosthop
Posts: 631 - Karma: 1,027
eheathI don't id even consider Bozeman a ski town either.


Bridger isn't quite the destination ski resort that is Jackson. BZN is not the same as DIA. Whistler doesn't have a university in town. But there is a significant portion of the population that is here because there is rad lift served 20 minutes down the road.

I don't think a town necessarily has to have an international airport or skier visits in the millions to qualify.
Nov 7 2015 1:12AM
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jAsonjenningS
Posts: 34 - Karma: 330
DeebieSkeebieswell, my parents moved us up from salt lake to park city for a few years. it was fun and we lived in a cool area but it was just too expensive. Landlords are crazy in park city and housings ridiculously expensive, even for kinda shitty apartments. We eventually moved over to the heber/midway area which is a little bit better, more of a rural small town feel and its still near the skiing. I eventually plan to move to salt lake because of its proximity to the skiing and everything else in the salt lake valley.

Jobs are easy to find but most people I have worked with live down in salt lake or live at the employee housing that places like Deer Valley offer (because they are employees there as well). I typically hear its hard for them to find an affordable place and either live down in SLC/commute or rely on employee housing. Too be honest, Vail hasn't changed much besides prices. Not really any "Running businesses out of town" yet and I didn't have too bad of a time working for them. If you work your way up, they do seem like a decent company.


Ski trips, terrain/snowfall and town atmosphere/culture is kind of what I am into. Ive been in the PC area for a while and the while the high-end stuff is cool, I enjoy more true ski towns that aren't nothing flashy, just cool places to visit/live with rad skiing and cool people. I remember watching an MSP film with a Bralorne, BC segment and I was determined to live there one day.




I live in heber too
Nov 7 2015 4:38AM
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freestyler540
Posts: 13045 - Karma: 18,292
I moved to Nelson, BC 3 years ago from Quebec city and never regretted it. There is no work and rent can ruin you there. However, you have to be creative if you wanna live there. That is what seperates a ski town from a city.

When there is a snowstorm, the town shuts down and everyone goes skiing instead. Its sick, cops wont pull you over because you have 6 other people in your pickup, driving above the speed limit in 2 feet of snow. Everyone is in a happy mood and generally happy to live in that location.

Its much more tight knit community than just another city. Everyone knows each other, went to school together...its strange coming from a city where you are the background noise in someone else's life.
Nov 7 2015 5:31AM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,005
Housing is fucked in big sky, the rent rates do not correspond with the wages the resort provides and there is a total lack of normal housing options. Everything that is being built is high dollar shit and nothing affordable. Almost no pet friendly places unless you own, and owners all deal with hellish HOA fees. Funny seeing sammi bitch about Bozeman rent prices cause up here we're all mad jealous of how cheap it is down there.
Nov 7 2015 8:39PM
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.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,864
ericaAlthough this will be my first winter season in a ski town, I spent the summer in Jackson and can attest to these questions/ make a reasonable prediction on what my winter will be like.

My housing last summer fell through, and hence I lived in my van May-August. This winter, to save money I'll be living essentially in a Harry Potter closet for really cheap. I still might pick up a second job because cost of living in Jackson is $$, and it never hurts to save up some cash.

As of now I'll be writing at Newschoolers for side cash, and working 7:30-4:30ish at the resort four days a week. Finding a job is the easy part, I'm getting my job back at the resort (free pass!), and because we're such a tourist town there is definitely an excess of jobs.

Tourists are annoying, they don't know how to cross the street, they ask stupid questions, get in the way, but at the end of the day, they bring the money and keep our towns going- so can we really complain?

JHMR is privately owned! Yay!

Ski trip= accessibility to me. Can we drive there in 20 hours or less? Is it affordable? Do I have couches to stay on and lift ticket hook ups? Is the snow good? Good terrain? All are a factor.

Here's a video about employee housing in JH:

https://vimeo.com/141430335

I thought you were going to school in Bozeman?
Nov 7 2015 9:32PM
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ModMommy
Posts: 10719 - Karma: 55,326
.Rybak.I thought you were going to school in Bozeman?


She is for this semester. :)
Nov 7 2015 10:01PM
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