Best Mountain Towns based on Public Transit

[nieveparasiempre]

I live in Seattle because I love the city. Art, music, diverse people, and huge wilderness areas on the horizon in all directions. But without a car its difficult to live here and get to the mountains easily. So I want to find a place where you can have the best of both worlds - Interesting city or town next to big mountains, with public infrastructure that allows you to get out without needing your own vehicle.

What are you talking about? Seattle has awesome public transport to the mtns.......if you have 12 hours to spend getting there.

Alls you have to do is:

The night before, take amtrak up to B'ham. Crash on someones floor there.



The next morning, take the short bus from B'ham to Baker.



The rest of WA sucks anyway. No need to go anywhere else.

This question was the bane of my existence last season.

[Altaholic]

I guess SLC could be one of the best in NA. Public transit exists but still, from downtown it takes what... 2 hours to get up either one of the canyons?

And Vancouver... What is transit like between the city and Whistler? A charter bus?

No, they don't go late night from downtown, you can't do anything fun at night, 'cause the last trax leaves @ 10:45ish. The ski buses are not made for employees the last one leave the mtn at 6PM, I had to drive my car everyday to work. I like the JH START buses where the buses go from 5:30 AM 'til midnight from Jackson to the Village. In Jackson, I barely ever have to drive to the 'Vill.

[farmer]

find the debbie does montana thread. I think someone said there was a free bus from bozeman to both big sky / moonlight basin and bridger. plus, based on what I saw yesterday at the MSP premiere, lots for hot college chicks.

[PowTrees]

Vail is flat so it's easy to have a free bus system. The Vail bus system does cover the valley fairly well. There are trailheads at many of the bus stops, some of them leading to wilderness...

Summit, Vail, Aspen all have good public transportation with access, take your pick.

[keipow]

Nagano has a Japan High Speed Rail link and a bus system that runs like clockwork.

You can get good public transportation in most French, Swiss, and Austrian towns in Europe. If you are OK with being late, then Italy is OK.

As for the North American ski towns, I just wanted to add that Tahoe has a rail/bus link to Reno, Sacramento and San Francisco, with a local bus system. Personally, I would not have picked a place to ski based mainly on the existence of public transportation.

[lameduck]

Bellingham, moped to Britton Rd, hitchhike. I did have a car, but I hitched up from there probably 80% of the time. I also lived in Glacier without a car for a season, not a big deal, there's not really anywhere to get to.

[Shaggy]

And Vancouver... What is transit like between the city and Whistler? A charter bus?

Getting to and from the city requires a Greyhound or charter bus ride. $40 round trip for the Greyhound, $100+ for the airport charter companies, and ~ $60 for the snow bus which is probably your best bet if you're just coming up for the day since they arrive and depart at the most skier friendly times. There's also craigslist for carpooling.

[Kyle Miller]

I live in Greenwater and I hear there are great hitchhiking opportunities.

[Shredhead]

Yeah, but he also said art, music, and diverse people which rarely = mountain town.

Aspen has all that. RFTA works well and the best part is the free bus to the airport or for a small fee Amtrak in Glenwood.

[XXX-er]

I pick up hitch hikers all the time on the way up the hill just for karma but I am not very reliable due to late starts & hangovers

note to kids with pants on the ground with cigarette in hand smoking with thumb out ... unless that is a reefer in yer hand no way I am gona pick you up

[bodywhomper]

if you are ok with not leaving town or almost completely relying on friends, bike, or thumb to get outta town, mammoth lakes.

[hop]

Aspen has all that.

Art and music, perhaps. When I was living in the RF valley, that region was the whitest place I'd ever been.

[Hugh Conway]

Start your own ski bus to Mt. Baldy and live in LA

[azphi]

Jackson, Bozman, Bend, Roaring Fork Valley, Park City......

Just a couple of towns with rides vailable to the mountain for cheap or free.

LouPenya

[jon turner]

Aspen/RFV is about the closest you are going to get if you want true city-like culture and good transportation to the ski hill. I would say Jackson, Park City, or Summit County would be second, but neither gets the music/art/social scene that aspen has.

[Lani]

Mexico City.

[alto]

News flash = Seattle is a big city on the ocean, not a mountain town.

I think of Seattle as a big mountain city on the Puget Sound.

But don't worry, I think I found the answer.

[Hugh Conway]

diverse population being a whole bunch of short swarthy bolivianos?

[Scotsman50]

Hakuba: Japan.
5 resorts with sidecountry access all with public bus system serving them= free.
Bus back to Nagano, bullet train to Tokyo.

Didn't rent a car when I was there although getting on bus with full ski gear was a hassle until you developed necessary skills.

[donkeykong]

Simple and sad fact is transportation in NA is soooo heavily dependent on cars it's pathetic. no matter how good it is in some places, it's not as good as in europe.

That said, Jackson and Asssspen are two ski towns that have great bus systems, but neither are cheap places to live. If you want to ditch the car to save money, make sure it will actually be money saved rather than money spent elsewhere.

[Hicks]

Move to Bregenz and hop on the train to Stuben and St. Anton or ride the bus to one of all the other hidden Vorarlberg gems.

[Zeppelinskier]

I would suggest Tahoe City
Transportation can be hitch hiking or organizing rides here.
Just a thought.

[The Snow Troopers]

I would choose SLC (mountain "city"). Had a truck break down on my way out of SLC years ago and would have to stay for a week while it was fixed. Took a cab up but soon found out the Busses got you there from anywhere in the city! Took the bus back down that night and rode it the entire Christmas Holiday.

[Rooster]

Done it in Alta(ski'd at the Bird of course) and Jackson, but Cham would be my first choice.

[The Snow Troopers]

That's funny Kyle, but great advice... That is how I did it at Jay Peak Vermont thumbing from Montgomery Center. First day thumb, Second day thumb(same people picked me up), third day was part of a carpool.