Thread: Teach me in the ways of Seattle...

How difficult is BC access off of I-90? i'll be a weekend warrior out of bellevue area next year, is that my best option?

Very good access from I-90, hiway 2, hiway 410 or hiway 542 (Mt. Baker). There is extensive backcountry, easily accessible from any of the major mountain roads. This is why I rarely ride chairs any more...

Originally Posted by GIR

I don't think the lack of sun will bother me much (I'm from Minnesota after all).

Originally Posted by grrrr

You'll be going from 300 days of sun to 65 days of sun. Just so you know.

That bears repeating.

I'm originally from the midwest as well, and the thing that we don't get much of here is mid-winter high pressure days/weeks like they do there (and Colorado). The norm here is overcast skies, with rain (not snow) from October to April. Plus, there are days every season when it rains right up to the top of every ski area in the North Cascades.

Originally Posted by GIR

Traffic can't be much worse than colorado

It's been a while since I've driven around Denver, so I can't really compare, but Seattle is gridlocked during both rush hours because it's basically an island (water on three sides). The best advice there is to live close to work.

Originally Posted by GIR

I don't think the cost of living is any higher

Like you said, it depends on which area, but Marshall had his house in Denver on gear swap, with an asking of 250K. The same house in Seattle in one of the more desirable neighborhoods would be 50 to 100K higher.

I'm not trying to dissuade you. I actually like it here, but it isn't for everyone.

One quick search revealed this:
http://www.bestplaces.net/col/?salar...city2=55363000

If you want to buy property, Seattle aint cheap though the recent real estate downturn has produces some good deals if you know where to look. The trendiest neighborhoods are still the most expensive.

And, wanted to add to my post above - in the spring when Hiway 20 opens or in the fall before it closes, there is some really spectacular terrain. This link is to a set of pictures of two days of touring I did back in June '11. First day we drove up to near Washington Pass and hiked up/skied Liberty Bell. Camped at a nearby campground that night then tackled Black Peak (12 hours round-trip) the next day.
http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n...eak/?start=all

Originally Posted by timeo

It is easy to get to Xtal from Ballard in 1.5hrs if you leave early enough. I only go midweek when there is fresh snow and leave Ballard around 6AM at the latest to avoid the crowds and be one of the first in line.

If you use TGR math, sure, you can get there in 1.5hrs from Ballard. Which means 2 hours in actual clock time.

I live in Capitol Hill; it's a fun neighbourhood. Lots of whatever you want: boys, girls, both, other. Fun bars, decent restaurants ( but skip Manhattan Drugs ). Seattle is spendy, but it's not San Francisco.

As others have mentioned, the weather is interesting. It's great if you like cool, rainy, overcast, rotten, and overgrown. I happen to like all of the above, so it suits me fine. It's like California, but with rain and mildew.

Some people say that it's tough to make friends in the city. I tend to disagree with this, although I can say that you will have to work at it, and you will do most of the calling at first.



Sent from my Paranoid Android using TGR forums.

Originally Posted by Alkares

1.5 hours from Seattle? I worked at Crystal for 2 seasons and never ever made it to Seattle under 2 1/4. 410 almost always has at least 1 speed trap on it heading up and definitely 1 or 2 going down, I've had 3 speeding tickets in 1 season between Enumclaw and Crystal, been there, seen that, don't try it....

So, you're the fucker in the minivan doing 55 on 410.

Originally Posted by shroom

How difficult is BC access off of I-90? i'll be a weekend warrior out of bellevue area next year, is that my best option?

I'd be a lot more concerned about navigating the Bellevue "backcountry" unless you bring your own.

Sent from my Paranoid Android using TGR forums.

Originally Posted by CookieMonster

I'd be a lot more concerned about navigating the Bellevue "backcountry" unless you bring your own.

if it walks.....

Originally Posted by Zeedashbo

Crystal is by far the best mountain. Stevens is totally flat with no bc access and permanently closed gates. It constantly rains at alpental and the locals are total hacks. Baker is too far away and there's too much snow and not enough super ripping semi pro locals to track it out. Hope this helps.

pretty much spot on

Can I bump and redirect this from where-to-ski to where-to-live in Seattle, if you were working in the south end, want easy access to downtown and the U district, and not really feeling Eastside suburbia? I guess East would be better access to mountain biking and the Cascades, but I think I'd be bored over there otherwise. I like the Wallingford/Greenlake/U District areas, but would commuting across Lake Union south in the morning and north in the afternoon be a terrible idea? Not sure I'm sold on West Seattle after checking it out but maybe someone could argue otherwise. Is anywhere with decent space for outdoor gear in central or close in north Seattle (Cap Hill, Montlake, Madrona, Lake Union) going to be insanely expensive? Ok end of questions. Hope some long time Seattle mags can chime in about their hoods.

Originally Posted by powski3

...Is anywhere with decent space for outdoor gear in central or close in north Seattle (Cap Hill, Montlake, Madrona, Lake Union) going to be insanely expensive? Ok end of questions. Hope some long time Seattle mags can chime in about their hoods.

In my experience, mostly yes. I live in Greenwood (near Greenlake) and really like it. I used to live in Cap Hill and liked it there as well, although Greenwood is a lot more laid back I prefer that. Cap Hill/Montlake would be much more convenient for myself and S.O. to get to work as she works on First Hill and I work in Kirkland. However, a 2BR apartment in a secure building with parking, good storage space / work area etc. is far more expensive in that area. We lived in a cool place in Cap Hill with lots of space, parking etc. all at a good price. The only catch was the meth heads streaming into the building at all hours and the noise from Broadway which we were right next to. If I had a lot less sports equipment or could find a place for the right price I might consider it.

Where is work going to be in the South end and what kind of commute time are you looking to be under? That might help narrow down the Neighborhood search a bit...

My N.E. Seattle to First Hill commute (~8-9 miles door to door) varies between 12-30 minutes depending on traffic on I-5 across the ship canal.

Originally Posted by GIR

I don't think the lack of sun will bother me much (I'm from Minnesota after all).

You're going to wonder why people whine about the weather here. It's really fricking moderate. The biggest gripe is that it often rains a little. It's never hot. It's never cold. It never snows much. It hardly ever rains much.

However, don't totally discount the increased cost of living. Every time you pay anyone to do anything, it will cost more. From car repair to vet bills to getting a haircut-- mo' money.

Whoops. Might as well answer the actual current question.

Originally Posted by powski3

I like the Wallingford/Greenlake/U District areas, but would commuting across Lake Union south in the morning and north in the afternoon be a terrible idea?

In a car? Yes. It's a terrible idea not to figure out how you could take the bus.

Get a place in Eastlake and go mountain biking in the I-5 colonnade.

Where is work going to be in the South end and what kind of commute time are you looking to be under? That might help narrow down the Neighborhood search a bit...

In a car? Yes. It's a terrible idea not to figure out how you could take the bus.

Get a place in Eastlake and go mountain biking in the I-5 colonnade.

Work's in Kent. I think my tolerance is probably 45 mins. I'm cautiously (ignorantly?) optimistic that traffic won't be that bad once past downtown. I haven't really seen a decent way to take the bus from Seattle down there. There's an express on the Eastside but not Seattle. But I could be wrong. Might be able to work out a carpool to at least utilize carpool lanes. Eastlake would be great but it seems really expensive. If you were just north of the canal would it really be that much worse than being just south of it?

We lived in a cool place in Cap Hill with lots of space, parking etc. all at a good price. The only catch was the meth heads streaming into the building at all hours and the noise from Broadway which we were right next to.

Yeah the crackheads in Cap Hill definitely concern me. I assume the safety/sketchiness gets better as you get more residential towards Madrona/Leschi?

Originally Posted by powski3

Work's in Kent. I think my tolerance is probably 45 mins. I'm cautiously (ignorantly?) optimistic that traffic won't be that bad once past downtown. I haven't really seen a decent way to take the bus from Seattle down there. If you were just north of the canal would it really be that much worse than being just south of it?

Kent...oh THAT far South. Eastlake/Cap Hill is maybe 5-10 min closer than say Green Lake, but at some point the distance from home to I-5 becomes a bigger factor in the city. There are some really nice hoods in the Leschi area and Madrona and nicer towards Lk WA, but your commute wouldn't be really that different than from say Wallingford/Ravenna if you need to get to 5 South. Traffic flow does get much better just south of downtown, and Northbound in the afternoon as usually worse than the mornings. It's gotten noticeably worse since they started tolling on 520 with people heading N-S to avoid the toll.

What was it about W. Seattle you didn't like, and where did you look? W. Seattle's pretty big and if you're working in Kent it seems an ideal place.

I'm currently looking into a few of the areas you listed (from fremont to belltown), and would be heading south as well (Renton) for work. Kent seems like it would be a hell of a commute from N Seattle.

Originally Posted by powski3

...Yeah the crackheads in Cap Hill definitely concern me. ...

don't worry about crackheads, it is the hipsters that are the problem.

Living north of downtown and working south of downtown is incredibly fucking stupid.
Actually working anywhere outside of seattle and living in seattle is pretty stupid. Unless you like spending 1-2 hours a day in your car.

Originally Posted by powski3

Work's in Kent. I think my tolerance is probably 45 mins. I'm cautiously (ignorantly?) optimistic that traffic won't be that bad once past downtown. I haven't really seen a decent way to take the bus from Seattle down there. There's an express on the Eastside but not Seattle. But I could be wrong. Might be able to work out a carpool to at least utilize carpool lanes. Eastlake would be great but it seems really expensive. If you were just north of the canal would it really be that much worse than being just south of it?

Kent (well... Covington) is where my parents live and I went to high school. A reverse commute wouldn't be as awful as doing it the other way around but it will still suck, especially in the evenings. Past downtown I5 will be fine southbound so long as you leave early enough. They just got done widening 405 from Tukwila to Renton so you should have no issues there either. 167 usually doesn't get backed up until the 2nd or third Kent exit southbound, but they have a pay to play HOV lane so if you get a pass for it you could fly down 167 without worrying. If 167 is a crapshoot go West Valley Highway or even Benson though they just lowered the speed limits on the latter. To/From I5 from Kent I would take Orillia Rd up the hill. Quick and easy to I5 and also the airport if need be. I tend to avoid I5 between Tukwila and... well Olympia, really. 99 and 509 are good for backed up I5 treks heading north.

As far as public transit is concerned just forget it. Unless you can somehow get on the Sounder train you will be looking at a 2+ hour commute each way. Public transit in Kent (and the sound in general) is abysmal and getting to Seattle from Kent is even worse. There are some "express" routes from Kent to Seattle via Tukwila however; they travel the West Valley Highway and are only really express once leaving the mall.

Good luck and make sure to have lunch at Spiros downtown. Best Greek food around. $2 beer night Tuesdays at the TBirds games as well.

Commuting from home in West Seattle to work in Kent or Renton and back is pretty good. You have the option of avoiding I-5 by using W. Marginal Way/Interurban. Lots of Boeing employees live in West Seattle.

As DBS says, living N of downtown and working S of downtown makes is a bad idea unless you are working very strange hours.

Yeah, now knowing that "south end" is Kent, forget about public transpo. Thought you were going to Boeing Field or something.

Not a local, but having gone through dozens of times can say that it's breathtaking scenery when it can be seen (both days a year), the days are VERY short in winter, and the traffic is fuct.

If you can stand a freeway clogged with Prius with obligatory REI or "I brake for something" or Eco-dweebism decals ALL driving between 5-10 mph BELOW the speed limit across the highway so no-one can get through, (and categorically REFUSING to pull over), well, good on you.

Fantastic nature, nice folks, plenty to do, but the weather and drivers would make it a no-go for me.