Here is my general wrapup of the areas that I have been too. I am considering a move and these have been the topic of my research. All have Hi Speed Internet.

Contender #1
Prime Living Zone: Woodinville to Index

Average Rent: $1300.00 per month 1 bedroom apt.

Average Drive to Creeks: 1 Hour (Top Tye, Stilli etc)

Average Drive to PnP: 10 – 20 Minutes (BHW, Little Paradise, GBW, Split Rock etc…)

Season: Year Round

Skykomish, wow hard to point out a down side. Creeks -Check, Play - Check, Big water play - Check, Gnarly Waterfalls - Check, PnP, Check and Longest duration through the year of all drainages.

Contender #2

Prime Living Zone: Kent to Issaquah

Average Rent: $1000 per month 1 bedroom apt.

Average Drive to Creeks: 1.5 Hours (FITW, Ernies, Upper MidForc, Carbon)

Average Drive to PnP: 30 Minutes (Paradise, Happy Hour)

Season: Nov - Jul

Snoqualmie - Well this is easy, First the Play is not that great, there are some Ok III+ runs but not much play. Then there is the goodness of FITW and Ernies if you can hang (not me), There are less discovered sections of IV-V on this drainage too.

Green - Another easy one to peg out. No creeking. Nothing over IV maybe IV-V at super high flows but thats rare. But one of the best PnP spots is at the end of a nice III-IV run called Paradise Ledge. Oh man is it good.

Contender #3

Prime Living Zone: Hood River, OR

Average Rent: $800 per month 1 bedroom apt.

Average Drive to Creeks: 30 Minutes (LWS, Truss, Farmlands)

Average Drive to PnP: 30 Minutes (White Salmon - Rattlesnake)

Season: Year Round

Contender #4

Prime Living Zone: Bellingham, WA

Average Rent: $800 per month 1 bedroom apt.

Average Drive to Creeks: 45 Minutes (Horseshoe Bend, BC goods)

Average Drive to PnP: 45 Minutes (Spots on Nooksack)

Season: Year Round


Edited by James - 23 Dec 2008 at 2:49pm

Don't know about creeks, but there's park and play all up and down the spokane river. Lots of good boaters out there too.

Hood river would get my vote...

Seriously, though, James - do you want to move just because Renton won't build a play park?

Anyone thinkin about squamish? Thats another contender in Canada.

The reason I mention skook is because as far as Big Wave Freestyle goes that is your only reliable place on the western seaboard. Yes there are a few waves that come in from time to time and there are ocean spots. But for prime freestyle it is not only one of the best places in the world it is also in our backyard. Lachine is better, White Nile  is better, so yes it does get bested, but Skook is still one of the meccas of air boating. So distance becomes a relative thing. The reason I mention seattle with the Skook is because Seattle well Renton to be exact is the farthest city you can live in while still being able to leave work on a week night and make the 10:00pm Ferry.

I am serious if you live anymore south than renton/kent you will not be able to make the last ferry unless you leave before 3-4pm. That makes this spot a full day approach for people living in other areas. But for folks in seattle, and even more so for bellingham it is a after work drive and if your into freestyle that could make it worth it right there.

So if you ask me ... Skook is something I will always consider wanting to be close too. I might not mind moving farther away from it but ... you better believe there will be a good reason. If anything I want to be moving closer to skook not farther away.

I hate to say it but it is dang true..

I am not sure if the Oregon crowd is just an older group and so they are better or what it is. But PDX guys do throw down. I have been at skook a few times with some folks fom OR and they rock it. I have been told that there is more PnP down there throughout the year so they just get more of it.

 I am down on the agreement that we need to show those southerners how to throw it around. Maybe we could have some of them up here to lake washington... Then we would really shine!!! Boo yea

Actually James if you think really hard and you are a true Kayaker, living right here is the optimum spot. You are surrounded by some of the best variety of Whitewater YEAR AROUND and some awsome sea kayaking too. I'm tlaking about living in the Renton area because it's so centraly located.


Edited by dave - 16 Feb 2007 at 4:02pm

Perhaps the answer is a 40'-50' live-aboard power or sail boat and a motorhome with chucky in tow... 

For all the jesting at thy posts... I crown you the "Post Jester" and with such a title I bestow upon you the responsibility of keeping the Viener Schnitzel Group company.



~J

It is I, "Tis a gift to symple. tis a gift to be  free, tis a gift to paddle wilts being trixy!!!" I likith to paddlith!!!

nuts

I would venture to say that anyone with any construction skills would have no trouble finding work in the  Wenatchee area this Summer.  Contractors and Subs are extremely busy with the building boom.  Probably extends up into Leavenworth as well.