wyoming, idaho, or colorado?

[ShredTheRev]

I'm fresh out of highschool so i've come to snowests great members to get your opinion. I'm moving to one of these three states within the next 2 months to gain residency so i can go to college in one of the given states. Given that i'll most likely be going to a 4 year school i need close riding areas to cut driving costs. It would also be nice if there were some hiking trails and downhill mtn biking areas near by to keep me occupied in the summer. I'm a fan of the steep and deep and technical riding.

Steamboat springs has been my #1 all year because it is super close to rabbit ears and colorado mtn college is right in town. But everything sled related seems to be in the much farther southern regions of the state. unless you live in denver, or fort collins and ride the ears on the regular.

Wyoming on the other hand is my #1 but no 4 year schools on the west side except for schools in idaho, and i need my residency in the state of the school im going to. I absolutely love the land and solitude of the small crowd feel there.

Idaho beautiful country. Dunes are an added bonus as i am a motorsports junkie and it would provide endless enjoyment throughout the year. Idaho just seems like you'd have to drive an 1hr-2 to get anywhere of any elevation?

I'm experienced in construction, hard labored farm work, commercial painting and general manual labor. I don't know what kind of jobs a hardworking 18 year old can get in any of these states off the get go. Please any comments, suggestions, life stories would be much appreciated. Especially specific areas and why. The best answers i'm looking for NEED to come from sledders, that is why i've come to snowest for help. thanks

 

[polaris dude]

I heard nebraska has all those things

 

[PowderCrew]

Might wanna look into Reno and the Salt Lake area as well? University of Nevada and University of Utah or BYU. Cant say as to Utah, but Reno also has Truckee Meadows Community College. Elko, Nevada has money flowing right now too and Great Basin College (community) offers alot for a smaller college. Not sure what your looking for?... Distances: Elko to Reno (sierras) 300mi, Elko to Salt Lake (wasatch/uintas) 260mi, Elko to Boise 250mi, Salt Lake to Evanston WY was like 60mi? (it wasnt far at all) 3hrs to Alpine WY...but all 3 have HUGE mountains out the backdoor! Reno/Sierras, Elko/Rubies, Salt Lake/Wasatch-Uintas. You get the picture.

 

[ShredTheRev]

thanks for the reply, anyone else have any solid real world advice?

 

[WyoRMK]

Laramie Wyoming. University of Wyoming, and the Snowy Range is 30 min away. Not quiet as good as tog, but a fair second in the state. Steamboat is about 2 hours away for rabbit ears and down hill biking. Laramie also has a lot to offer in the near area for mtn biking.

The school is almost alway ranked inthe top as far as best buys in the country.

I am biased though, I live here!

Good luck in your search!

 

[Big D rmk700]

I would look into Bozamen MT great riding in many different places and a great college!!

 

[ShredTheRev]

can any one attest to super close parking lot access to riding near bozeman?

 

[jthussey]

x2 on Bozeman.

 

[Ausm7499]

What kind of degree are you going after? I would be looking into which school offers the best education for the degree I want. I went to the UofI (Moscow, Id) because they offer an exceptional Engineering program and I was already an Idaho resident. It seems like every college is known to for at least one of their programs and lots of employers look for that when they hire, for example a WSU engineering grad probably wouldn't get a job over a UofI engineering grad all other things equal. Something to think about.

 

[aebsledder]

x2 on DENVER.

x3 on Denver.

 

[JamesGump]

What kind of degree are you going after? I would be looking into which school offers the best education for the degree I want. I went to the UofI (Moscow, Id) because they offer an exceptional Engineering program and I was already an Idaho resident. It seems like every college is known to for at least one of their programs and lots of employers look for that when they hire, for example a WSU engineering grad probably wouldn't get a job over a UofI engineering grad all other things equal. Something to think about.

This is the best advice your going to get. All of these places are going to have some place close that has good riding. Put your education first for 4 years and riding 2nd and you will come out being able to afford to put riding 1st for a long time after. Don't over look Utah State either. Some of the best riding in utah and its all within 30 min of campus.

 

[ruffryder]

What kind of degree are you going after? I would be looking into which school offers the best education for the degree I want. I went to the UofI (Moscow, Id) because they offer an exceptional Engineering program and I was already an Idaho resident. It seems like every college is known to for at least one of their programs and lots of employers look for that when they hire, for example a WSU engineering grad probably wouldn't get a job over a UofI engineering grad all other things equal. Something to think about.

X3 - focus on the degree. Otherwise you are trading 4 years of good riding for the rest of your life..

 

[christopher]

If you are looking for the most education for your tuition dollar, NOTHING will even come close to BYU-Idaho in Rexburg.

But, you may not be comfortable at an LDS college nor abiding with the rather stringent honor code.

If you are, then you would be 30 minutes from great riding in Island Park, 1 hour from West Yellowstone, and 10 minutes from the Dunes.

 

[philsummers21]

Like others have said. Pick out what degree you want then go from there. There is places all thru the states that have good-decent riding. Wyoming has the sierra madres, snowies, Horns and tog. I know sheridan college is growing quite a bit and there is damn good riding here in the horns if we get snow.

 

[AndrettiDog]

Sounds like you are getting recruited!

What do you mean that there is not much in terms of riding in Colorado other than the southern part of the state? The Rocky Mountains run from the northern border to the southern border and has the highest elevation average of any of those states. (now I'm just bragging)

 

[ShredTheRev]

Sounds like you are getting recruited!

What do you mean that there is not much in terms of riding in Colorado other than the southern part of the state? The Rocky Mountains run from the northern border to the southern border and has the highest elevation average of any of those states. (now I'm just bragging)

By south I'm talking Buena vista area, almost everyone said that they'd rather go to the snowies even if they lived in northern Colorado because it is so clustered.

Keep in mind all others I'm working for a year to get y residency in one of these states to cut my tuition in half. So I want good riding when I'm off.

 

[ullose272]

boise!! we have great riding 1.5 hrs to cascade, 2 to mccall, 2.5 to trinities all well worth a little drive, 2 mx tracks in the valley, 4 hrs from dunes. and BSU isnt bad either. plus awesome outdoors, u can float the boise river, pretty decent downtown bar scene with some hotties runnin around (for when u get older) few lakes to go boating, drag strip and 1/4 mile oval.

 

[ShredTheRev]

boise!! we have great riding 1.5 hrs to cascade, 2 to mccall, 2.5 to trinities all well worth a little drive, 2 mx tracks in the valley, 4 hrs from dunes. and BSU isnt bad either. plus awesome outdoors, u can float the boise river, pretty decent downtown bar scene with some hotties runnin around (for when u get older) few lakes to go boating, drag strip and 1/4 mile oval.

Any downhill mtn bike courses in Idaho? And what elevations are you guys mainly riding at, the thing that deters me about idaho is that some parts look like a dry grass desert, while other parts are a lush wilderness land, location, location, location I guess, that's in any western state

 

[snowww1]

Colorado has great riding, hiking and mountain biking. As others have said, look into what school has the best program for you. Steamboat has excellent snow and is a resort town with many resort jobs available for someone your age. Construction is still a little slow, but should be coming back. Winter Park has very good mtn biking.
May want out check out Mesa State College (I think it has a new name) in Grand Junction, Colorado. Not far from the Grand Mesa and Moab.

 

[JAW]

I graduated in December from Carroll College in Helena, MT and the next day moved to Steamboat Springs, CO to work as a snowmobile guide so I have spent quality time in a few of the places you are considering.


First, I wouldn't trade anything for the time I spent in Montana. I am a small town kid and leaving my hometown for college was a big step for me. Living in Montana made me feel right at home. There is so much opportunity for outdoor recreation both motorized and non motorized. In my 4 years at Carroll I made frequent trips to both Bozeman and Missoula. They are both nice places but as a sledder I liked the people and terrain out of Bozeman way better. There is something special about Montana that other places I have been lack. It's a genuine place with genuine people. Random people will say good morning to you at the gas station, waive to you on the road, open the door for an elder lady, buy you a drink at the bar, give you a helping hand on the side of the road etc. It's those little thing's that make me still have a positive mindset about the future.


Moving to Steamboat was definitely a culture shock to me in a sense. I had never lived in a "ski town" before so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I really enjoyed my time there but it was no Montana in my opinion. I may have some bias because I worked as a guide and dealt with my fair share of people that make you scratch your head. I also spent a lot of time around town getting the full "boat" experience. The biggest thing that stuck out to me was that there was no real such thing as a local. Even the people who had lived there for 30 plus years had originally moved to the boat from the east in pursuit of deep pow turns. Now don't get me wrong I met some great people but the majority of people in Steamboat during the winter are rich tourists who are there for a week and leave. This caused me to get a bitter taste in my mouth at times because they lacked an appreciation for others and the outdoors. The huge plus to Steamboat for me was that I could ride the Ears or Buff Pass and only have to spend 15 min in my truck. Even with a poor snow year I was still about to put on 1,300 miles and find some fun technical zones. From my understanding the CMC (or as the locals say See Me Ski) is filled with a bunch of "bro's" who are on the 8 year track to a 4 year degree but I don't know that first hand.


Like others have already said research the schools and see which has the best program for what you are going into. There is plenty of time for play after you earn that degree and nothing says you are locked into a 9-5 office job just because you have a degree. There was a couple of different times I wondered why I had a degree and was working as a sled guide...and then I remembered because life is too short to do something you don't love. Right now I love sledding and my degree is something that can't be taken away from me. College is a great time and you will be done before you know it. It's a time to find out who are you and what you might want to do someday. Hope this helps a little and good luck! PM me if you have any questions about Montana or Colorado. I have made quite a few good connections in both places.

JW