Looking for info on Helena, MT

**Jumper Bones** · 07-07-2012, 11:32 AM

I'm considering submitting for a transfer to Helena. The staffing there is low enough that I should be able get it no problem once I put in. The wife and I are from Montana (she even went to college there at Carroll) so we're excited about the opportunity to be back home...my wife a little more so than I, my job here is pretty good but things should be OK there as well.

Generally looking for what Helena has to offer...we're from Bozeman and have numerous friends and family there, and I know it's only an hour and a half away...but I don't think I'll be commuting on up from there, that's just too much life in the car. If anything, I'd do it from Townsend, but honestly we'd probably just live in Helena itself. If there's stuff in BZN we want to do, we'll just drive. It takes me longer to get to the beach from where we live here in CA...

Rec-wise I know there's several lakes, from what I've heard good hiking and mountain biking, and some mediocre skiing up at Great Divide, but I'd love to hear what anybody else has to say. I'm into skiing and biking, hiking's fun, and I'd love to kayak too. Also at some point I'd like to get a sled and 4x4/dirt bike stuff for the summer, but for a lot of that stuff I've been waiting to stabilize and settle down enough, we've moved twice in the last three years already. Don't own a house yet but I'm to the point I can do it. Same for kids, none yet but I'm at least considering it now.

As far as the town goes, how does it compare to Bozeman? Events like music on main, xmas stroll, farmer's markets, etc. Helena seems to be growing, not quite as explosively as BZN but it doesn't seem to be dying like Butte or Great Falls either.

Obviously it's the capitol, and hoping that the wife can get a state job of some kind...my job would be a largely lateral transfer.

Thanks for the help. Third time I've reached out like this here on TGR (reference my previous moves), and each time what people have had to offer has been spot on. Basically I don't have to move if I don't want to, my wife's professional life hasn't quite worked out like we might have wanted to here, SoCal is hot crowded and expensive, and the idea of buying a house here terrifies me, but at least it'd wipe me out financially. The opportunity to make the move is there, it's just that it will be self-funded and I want to make the right one. Were this opportunity for Bozeman it'd be no question, but that's never going to materialize for me and this looks like the next best choice.

**belgian** · 07-07-2012, 01:39 PM

If you end up at the HLN tower you'll probably end up talking to me on the phone at some point since we fly in there.

Other than that I haven't spent much time in Helena but it seems like a typical MT town. Nice enough but more Belgrade than Bozeman.

I've actually been thinking about putting in for MT myself. My first panel will be this one in the fall. Do not want GTF though.

**Bobcat Sig** · 07-07-2012, 01:49 PM

More Belgrade than Bozeman is dead on. Great town, but a lot less going on than Bozeman. Not as many events and activities as Bozeman and it tends to be more family-oriented than Bozeman.

You're right on to live in Helena vs. Townsend. The dining and such in Helena is lacking, but adequate.

The mountain biking is excellent right from town. The interconnected trail network is something that is the envy of the state. Spot on about Great Divide; junk. A bit farther drive is Discovery which is still small but has better terrain - when it has snow. If the roads aren't total junk, Bridger will be worth the drive. Water sports are pretty big in Helena with the proximity of all the lakes. I don't know much about motorized recreation around there. It has to be better than Bozeman, but if it's like the rest of the state, you'lll be surrounded by Forest Service land and chance are that the greenies have had most of the access closed.

Real estate should be cheaper and more affordable than Bozeman. I also get the impression that Helena is an older town, too. Seems to be more gray hairs driving Buicks.

What else can I tell you?

**stuckathuntermtn** · 07-07-2012, 04:18 PM

All I've heard is that there are way way worse places. Way worse.
I believe there is some nice folfing, as well. And biking. You're about 1.5-2hrs away from a lot of other nice places and recreation opportunities.
Gotta be better than Hawaii, right?

**mtflyer** · 07-07-2012, 05:23 PM

Good biking, good breweries, good farmers market. They have a thing called alive at 5 on Wednesdays downtown with music and beer. Skiing at GD is mediocre, but it is only about 40 minutes away. There is decent backcounty skiing within an hour or so. You can float the Blackfoot river, it's got some class 2-3 I think - maybe 1.5 hrs away? Canyon Ferry is the big lake nearby (25 minutes) - it has some beaches.

**Pow4Brains** · 07-07-2012, 09:21 PM

Fishing is arguably the best in the lower 48, skiing is going to take a drive. The sidewalks roll up at 9pm, but with that said, I did meet Brittany Spears in The Gorge one night back when she was hawt and under age...

Sent from my SPH-D710 using TGR Forums

**RootSkier** · 07-08-2012, 08:10 AM

Not only good beer -- the best brewery in the state. That's got to count for something.

**XtrPickels** · 07-08-2012, 08:51 AM

Gabe-
Don't be a dumbass. Move back to Montana.

**Jumper Bones** · 07-08-2012, 09:18 AM

For the 'more Belgrade than Bozeman' part - you mean not quite as nice as Bozeman, or meth tweakerville like Belgrade?

I'd love to hear more about great divide - from what I've read around here it doesn't hold much snow and has lots of parks. I'd be doing the Bridger or Big Sky/MLB thing on my weekends. I'm just wondering if GD is good enough to go spin laps before or after work on a work day. Resort map looks okay.

Rob, fuck, we'd love to be back in MT. Just got back from vacation there, reinforced how much we want to go back.

**mtflyer** · 07-08-2012, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by Jumper Bones

I'd love to hear more about great divide - from what I've read around here it doesn't hold much snow and has lots of parks. I'd be doing the Bridger or Big Sky/MLB thing on my weekends. I'm just wondering if GD is good enough to go spin laps before or after work on a work day. Resort map looks okay.

Don't be fooled by GDs map, it makes it look better than it is. It does have a fair amount of area to explore and hardly any people, but the vertical sucks and so does the lack of snow. That being said, it's definitely better than nothing, and like any other area it can be pretty fun when they have snow. Once the season gets started and they have enough snow to make it, I believe their park is the largest in the state(?), or so they say.

**montanaskier** · 07-08-2012, 02:49 PM

Great Falls or Havre are where it's at.

**stuckathuntermtn** · 07-08-2012, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by XtrPickels

Gabe-
Don't be a dumbass. Move back to Montana.

Yeah seriously. Why is this even a question?

**Meadow Skipper** · 07-08-2012, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by montanaskier

Great Falls or Havre are where it's at.

Those are good, but - and I shouldn't even be saying this because then everyone will move there and ruin it ala Bozeman - Wolf Point rocks.

**Jumper Bones** · 07-08-2012, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper

Those are good, but - and I shouldn't even be saying this because then everyone will move there and ruin it ala Bozeman - Wolf Point rocks.

Wolf Point? I heard the place to be was Poplar.

**single** · 07-08-2012, 07:36 PM

helena is a great place to get to other places from...

And wolf creek is unreal, not sure about point.

You looking at working at the helena tower or for approach?

**Jumper Bones** · 07-08-2012, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by single

You looking at working at the helena tower or for approach?

It's both, approach is part of the package deal. Non-radar, woohoo! Not sure anybody else knows what that means, but it's generally unpleasant. My choices for living in MT are Great Falls (GTF), HLN or Billings (BIL).

**single** · 07-08-2012, 08:32 PM

Its pretty strange that helena has no radar and an approach. Must be one of the only in the country?

Between those choices, I would probably pick helena, including over san dimas. I grew up 30 minutes south of there. If you do have or are planning to have kids, I can tell you anywhere in montucky is 1000x better than the greater LA area. Coming from someone who made the move just before hi school.

Billings doesnt suck, but helena is closer to more better things.

In related news, I have my first solo cross country to helena at 8am tomorrow.

**Jumper Bones** · 07-08-2012, 08:37 PM

Yeah, two actually - them and Twin Falls, ID. I guess it used to be more common, but they've put radar in most places. No idea why nothing in HLN, but those guys in the tower have some sharp eyes!

I'd say to tell them I said hello, but I've only visited once so I don't think they'd know my name just yet (but you're welcome to try). You could say that guy who wants to xfer in from CA says hi...maybe that'd work. Congratulations and enjoy the view on your solo xc! I've flown that route too.

BZN and MSO, I'd love it...but those are worked by another company, and it doesn't look likely to change.

**stalefish3169** · 07-08-2012, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by RootSkier

Not only good beer -- the best brewery in the state. That's got to count for something.

I hope you get banned from the K-hole for this blasphemous nonsense!

**RootSkier** · 07-09-2012, 07:58 AM

Originally Posted by stalefish3169

I hope you get banned from the K-hole for this blasphemous nonsense!

I am sure the KHole doesn't want to stop taking ridiculous amounts of my money.

**danimal's dead** · 07-09-2012, 11:02 AM

Of your 3 choices, I'd choose Helena for sho. It's nice over there, lots of sunshine, water all around you, good mt biking, I'd go for it. I have friends over there that relocated from NW Montucky, his wife is chief legal counsel for MT public schools. There are lots of public sector jobs for the wifey. And they seam to like it. Of course they come back quite a bit in the winter for better snow.

**Bobcat Sig** · 07-10-2012, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Jumper Bones

It's both, approach is part of the package deal. Non-radar, woohoo! Not sure anybody else knows what that means, but it's generally unpleasant. My choices for living in MT are Great Falls (GTF), HLN or Billings (BIL).

It's been said; Helena of those three. You don't want to be in not-so-Great Falls and/or Dirt Falls. Billings is better known as the tragic city. That place fucking blows. I lived there for two years. I'd suck start a shotgun before I moved back to that dumpster fire.

Helena will be great and since you're resigned yourself to a drive for skiing on weekends; even better. Welcome.

**toast2266** · 07-10-2012, 12:12 PM

I'll jump on the pile of people saying stay out of Mediocre Falls and Billings. Helena is your best bet of the 3 options. Not much new to add: great biking, good beer (although not sure about best in the state), an ok downtown.

I always get a different vibe in Helena than in other comparably sized Montana towns. It's not really a college town, but it's way more white collar than you usually find in Montana (due to it being the state capital). Lots of professionals. It's not a bad vibe, it's just... different. Could just be my perception though. Agreed that it is an excellent place to use as a home base to go elsewhere. Lots of nice options within 2-3 hours.

**butterscotch** · 07-10-2012, 12:23 PM

i'll take red lodge over blackfoot brewery, but they're still good (better than anyone around bozeman).

great divide is a fun little area -- kinda flat but interesting terrain, beware the rocks. backside at discovery is $$.

**Bobcat Sig** · 07-10-2012, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by toast2266

I always get a different vibe in Helena than in other comparably sized Montana towns. It's not really a college town, but it's way more white collar than you usually find in Montana (due to it being the state capital). Lots of professionals. It's not a bad vibe, it's just... different. Could just be my perception though.

Agreed. That's sort of what I was trying to say prior. It's a weird mix of heavy blue-collar, government types and the white collar professional. I got a very old people vibe, too. None of it's bad; just different.

Originally Posted by butterscotch

i'll take red lodge over blackfoot brewery, but they're still good (better than anyone around bozeman).

backside at discovery is $$.

Madison River is pretty hard to beat in aggregate. I haven't skied Disco with the new lift back there, but when I did, it was indeed money.