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Vancouver, BC
Canada
302 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2012 : 1:45 PM
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| I just moved here and open to meeting new people for day and/or overnight trips. Any takers? I will be available most weekends. Any one available this coming Easter weekend? |
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348 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2012 : 6:26 PM
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| I am usually game to go! |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
1186 Posts |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
302 Posts |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
1186 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2012 : 08:20 AM
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| How are you finding it in Calgary so far? |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
302 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2012 : 2:00 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Marko
How are you finding it in Calgary so far?
Well, I have not been super homesick so far. That might however change at any given point. In point form, in no particular order:
- Cold (last few days have been good though)
- Windy
- Brown (aka not green unlike Vancouver)
- Lots of highways and fast drivers
- Big trucks
- Spread out
- Friendly people
- Public transit leaves a lot to be desired. Buses are infrequent
- Heavy traffic downtown during rush hour - everyone comes in and leaves at the same times
- Rent for a decent place is expensive..way more then I expected
- Cheap gas
That's just off the top of my head...probably some things I forgot
On another note, the drive here from Revelstoke -> Canmore was awesome (done it before but never in the winter). Rogers pass was really sketchy going down but great scenery. Obviously, the possibilities to hike and explore are infinite.
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3787 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2012 : 2:56 PM
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Out of curiosity, what sort of rent were you expecting, and what have you been finding?
The urban sprawl is awesome. But if you try, it is possible to set yourself up in a place where you can be close to work, home, and stores. Public transit sucks. We say it, you can go ahead. The train isn't too bad, but buses are unreliable even when they are scheduled at reasonable times. And the way it all stops working in poor weather is ridiculous for a city that gets poor weather every year.
Albertans do love their large trucks. For every old farm truck, there's five people who just need a big shiny truck just to haul around their wife and dog.
The transit issue and the rush hour issue is why Marko and I both recommend living close enough to walk and bike to downtown.
Our spring comes late, and we do tend to be brown, but with the snow coming in tonight, I'd bet we'll start greening up once that melts. and June pours, so there's usually a brief green period then. :)
But Calgary's awesome for the Rocky Mountains, not for Calgary. And they have a good bit of green!
It's interesting hearing the impression. You'll get homesick in October when you haven't seen green in three months, and won't see it again for another six. :D Or maybe in November when the first nasty cold snap hits. I find the different expectations interesting. I am used to the brown, but get really itchy when there is no sun for more than two days in a row.
What sort of level of hiking are you looking for? (typical distance/elevation?) |
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348 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2012 : 6:38 PM
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| Marko I haven't seen a single invitation yet.. |
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High River, (just south of Calgary eh!), Alberta
Canada
1697 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2012 : 7:35 PM
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Welcome to 'Calgary' stormwolf. I haven't used the COC but hear good things, that might be your best bet to get started.
That, or post a proposed trip and see if there are any takers, I've been enticed into a few that way even though most of my trips are with established partners or solo. My weekend isn't totally booked out yet - sorta need to see what the weather does and a few work related deadlines/loops over the next couple days. Saturday has a 'maybe' look to it. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
302 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2012 : 8:03 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Rachelo
Out of curiosity, what sort of rent were you expecting, and what have you been finding?
I found around approx 1200$ for a 1 bedroom condo in Hillhurst, Bridgeland, Beltline, Kensington, areas. That is getting close to Vancouver prices. I was probably thinking it'd be more along the lines of 800-900$.
quote:
The urban sprawl is awesome. But if you try, it is possible to set yourself up in a place where you can be close to work, home, and stores. Public transit sucks. We say it, you can go ahead. The train isn't too bad, but buses are unreliable even when they are scheduled at reasonable times. And the way it all stops working in poor weather is ridiculous for a city that gets poor weather every year.
...
The transit issue and the rush hour issue is why Marko and I both recommend living close enough to walk and bike to downtown.
I am in a walk-in raised basement apt near Cambrian Heights/Northmount now. It's not bad but I think I will move to Hillhurst area as soon as I find a decent place. That way I will be able to walk to / from work. Now, I find I have to wait for buses sometimes upto 20 mins or more. I refuse to pay exorbitant rates for parking. Eventually, I will ride a bike to work as well but for now bus it is.
quote:
Our spring comes late, and we do tend to be brown, but with the snow coming in tonight, I'd bet we'll start greening up once that melts. and June pours, so there's usually a brief green period then. :)
But Calgary's awesome for the Rocky Mountains, not for Calgary. And they have a good bit of green!
Looking forward to the spring and some good hiking.
quote:
What sort of level of hiking are you looking for? (typical distance/elevation?)
I am looking for anything from day trips for to overnight weekends. I am a bit out of shape due to not having hiked over the last couple of months but feel I should be back into it in no time. Probably start off with snowshoe trips/hikes 10 KM, 600-700 M and then in a few weeks proceed from there and get into the alpine..maybe a bit of scrambling. Let me know if you are interested.
WildTrekker, fired off a PM to you. Also joined the 2 Meetup groups that Marko suggested. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
302 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2012 : 8:04 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Sodbuster
Welcome to 'Calgary' stormwolf. I haven't used the COC but hear good things, that might be your best bet to get started.
That, or post a proposed trip and see if there are any takers, I've been enticed into a few that way even though most of my trips are with established partners or solo. My weekend isn't totally booked out yet - sorta need to see what the weather does and a few work related deadlines/loops over the next couple days. Saturday has a 'maybe' look to it.
Thanks Sodbuster. Yeah let's keep it open. Fire me off a PM if you feel like doing something on Saturday. |
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vancouver
3 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2012 : 8:38 PM
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| well I for one think vancouver is the poorer without you. hope your rocky mountain adventures are as good as your coastal ones and look forward to seeing the trip reports ... |
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Kootenay Bud
2695 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2012 : 10:14 PM
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| Public transit might suck but the bike paths are great for commuting. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
1186 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2012 : 07:16 AM
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| There are a lot of trucks and with the gas prices going up this summer, I don't understand it. Most people just use them to commute from their suburban neighborhoods to work. There is a mentality here that "bigger is safer." I crashed my Toyota Yaris and didn't have a scratch. The tow-truck driver called it a "coffin on wheels" and suggested that I get a truck. With gas prices going up this summer, I'm pretty happy to be driving a small car again. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
1186 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2012 : 07:23 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by wildtrekker
Marko I haven't seen a single invitation yet..
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=31939
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=31832
I might have had some other ones too as part of other threads.
I don't think there is enough of a base of Calgary contributors on club tread to successfully find hiking/climbing company. I usually have people sign up through the Calgary Outdoor Club, though it's usually the same people. I've also had a bit of success with facebook scrambling groups. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3787 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2012 : 10:46 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by sandy
Public transit might suck but the bike paths are great for commuting.
If you live right on the bike path, work right on the bike path, and don't bike at more than 20km/hr.
I'm the world's slowest biker, and *I* cruise at 20km/hr, so I'm sure the serious commuters are going much faster. And they actually ticket people who want to get somewhere.
I think the pathway system is great for going for a bike ride with the family, but not actually practical for getting around for most people. |
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calgary, ab
Canada
149 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2012 : 10:47 AM
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| It's really hard finding anyone on clubtread on the alberta side to go hiking with. I do most of my trips solo, since my girlfriend cant keep up with me. I'll send you a pm when i start going out again. Mostly doing little trails around bragg creek and in town right now, since i don't snowshoes. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3787 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2012 : 10:51 AM
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That is pretty brutal. Keep looking for places. I'm only a little back from those areas, and I'm paying $1000 for a small 3-bedroom place. But it might be that 1-bedrooms are really high too.
I agree with Marko. The Alberta section is just fairly small, so it's hard to reliably get people. But it can happen!
I'm in rough shape right now and moving slowly trying to get my lungs working again. But if you don't mind slow, I might be going out on Sunday. Waiting to check conditions and such. Email me if you'd be interested. |
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Kootenay Bud
2695 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2012 : 3:30 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Rachelo
And they actually ticket people who want to get somewhere.
I used 'em to bike commute for 10 years. Thought they were awesome, although I never saw anyone get ticketed for anything. Kept me off the icy roads in winter and made cycle commuting safer and more pleasant than fighting with aggressive drivers IMO - which Cowtown is full of. But, living on the west side of Calgary, cycling home every afternoon into an aggressive wind sure did suck some days.
I would suggest you surf over to http://www.rmbooks.com/outdoors_forum/index.php
to look for partners.
Not dissing CT, but the folks on that board are into bigger, more difficult trips and get out a lot. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3787 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2012 : 4:19 PM
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If you live in the west with a path right from home to downtown, it makes sense.
I'd rather commute on a bike path than on the roads, but I've never worked a job where there was a bike path for more than a third of my route to work.
The ticketing does seem to be a more recent problem. I've known two people to be given tickets for safely riding their bikes along a bike path with no interactions with anyone else - just above the absurd speed limit.
I think the people who figure bigger is safer are not talking about crashing your car into a ditch or a guardrail, but about when your car and another car crash, and preferring to not be badly outmatched. I'd commute in a smart car if everyone else did, but in Calgary, I'd be terrified of my smart car ending up crunched on some pickup's grill without him even noticing...
The RMMB is also pretty much local, so that's a good bet too, assuming you're looking for big-mountain buddies.
ClubTread is much more of a discussion forum, and attracts a broader group of interests and abilities. |
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1078 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2012 : 7:37 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Marko
There are a lot of trucks and with the gas prices going up this summer, I don't understand it. Most people just use them to commute from their suburban neighborhoods to work. There is a mentality here that "bigger is safer." I crashed my Toyota Yaris and didn't have a scratch. The tow-truck driver called it a "coffin on wheels" and suggested that I get a truck. With gas prices going up this summer, I'm pretty happy to be driving a small car again.
If crash safety is truly their primary concern, all the truck and SUV owners should trade-in for a minivan; somehow I doubt this will happen. ;-)
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Calgary based members
