Living to Boat in the Pacific NW
Printed From: ProfessorPaddle.com
Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
Forum Discription: Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4599
Printed Date: 04 Nov 2025 at 12:38am
Topic: Living to Boat in the Pacific NW
Posted By: James
Subject: Living to Boat in the Pacific NW
Date Posted: 14 Feb 2007 at 2:46pm
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This thread is all about people moving to the NW trying to get aquainted with their local watershed's or even just learning about them. Everyone that wants to participate, tell us about where you live and what you think about the general topics that boaters face. |
Replies:
Posted By: James
Date Posted: 14 Feb 2007 at 2:47pm
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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.
Average Rent: $1300.00 per month 1 bedroom apt. Average Drive to Creeks: 1 Hour ( http://professorpaddle.com/rivers/riverdetails.asp?riverid=657 - Top Tye , http://professorpaddle.com/rivers/riverdetails.asp?riverid=627 - Stilli etc) Average Drive to PnP: 10 – 20 Minutes ( http://professorpaddle.com/rivers/rapid.asp?featureid=13&task=view&riverid=588 - BHW , http://professorpaddle.com/rivers/rapid.asp?featureid=62&task=view&riverid=634 - Little Paradise , GBW, http://professorpaddle.com/rivers/rapid.asp?featureid=7&task=view&riverid=586 - Split Rock etc…) Season: Year Round http://professorpaddle.com/rivers/riverdetails.asp?riverid=586 - - kykomish , 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. Prime Living Zone: Average Rent: $1000 per month 1 bedroom apt. Average Drive to Creeks: 1.5 Hours ( http://professorpaddle.com/rivers/riverdetails.asp?riverid=603 - FITW , Ernies, http://professorpaddle.com/rivers/riverdetails.asp?riverid=596 - Season: Nov - Jul Contender #3 Prime Living Zone: 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 RoundContender #4 Prime Living Zone: 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 |
Posted By: hutchm
Date Posted: 14 Feb 2007 at 3:53pm
| How bout spokane, new play park goin in, any creeks??? |
Posted By: Yotes
Date Posted: 14 Feb 2007 at 4:18pm
| 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. |
Posted By: James
Date Posted: 14 Feb 2007 at 4:35pm
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Ref to Spokane update. No Park sorry folks. Creeks are a long drive and the park and play is there but it is nothing like the wenatchee or skook. I would not be all bummed if my work landed me in spokane, but I doubt I would move there. ------------- |
Posted By: RemAcct2
Date Posted: 14 Feb 2007 at 8:10pm
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Hood river would get my vote... Seriously, though, James - do you want to move just because Renton won't build a play park? ![]("smileys/smiley36.gif") ------------- |
Posted By: Kyle K
Date Posted: 14 Feb 2007 at 10:53pm
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Spokane PnP is actually pretty good. There is something to play on at all levels. Dead Dog Hole is a lot of fun and the locals there are good. No, it's not Rodeo Hole (although it's only a 2.5 hour drive, not much more than from here) or Skook, but Skook's a day away from Seattle, quite a bit further than Spokane in fact. I don't consider Skook to be a local spot to Seattle so I'm unclear as to why it's a reference, no offense intended.
Spokane Creeking: Seth Warren told some of us when he was at OAC last year that the Idaho panhandle had "the goods" in spades. He even said it was a great place to move to for a boater. Sand Point is only an hour from Spokane and would be a nice town to live in. Seth is a way better boater than I'll ever dream of being and he's paddled pretty much everywhere on the planet so I'm trusting him to have a clue.
I think I would still vote for Hood River though as the lifestyle / social scene is more appealing in my opinion. ------------- "I used to be somebody, now I'm somebody else." Bad Blake |
Posted By: James
Date Posted: 15 Feb 2007 at 8:04am
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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. ------------- |
Posted By: Kyle K
Date Posted: 15 Feb 2007 at 10:06pm
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Well put James, I understand your thinking and it makes sense to me.
Squamish would be a great place to live. Or even Vancouver if you're into city life. It's my favorite city that I've been to. A couple hours closer to Skook and all that great boating in Whistler and inland. Can't go wrong and the beer is good too!
Eugene is a pretty cool town too (though out of Skook range per your formula). There seem to be an awful lot of good boaters from Eugene/Corvallis, both players and creekers along with ocean surf. Hard to get good unless there's enough stuff to play on so I guess there must be quality spots/runs there.
I should mention that I know a ton of OR boaters and, though they try to be polite about it, there is a common perception there that we Seattle boaters tend to be really good at flatwater but not so good when we get on the feature. (Being that I'm not that good at either, I'll excuse myself!) It kind of ticks me off when I hear this so some of you hot shots need to head south and throw down in Bob's Hole or whatever and dispell that notion! ------------- "I used to be somebody, now I'm somebody else." Bad Blake |
Posted By: James
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2007 at 9:17am
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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 ------------- |
Posted By: Kyle K
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2007 at 2:15pm
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I've seen the same thing; whenever the PDX boys come to town they look real good on the wave or in the hole. I think you're right, they are generally better at us at play (again, I suck so I'm not basing this on me). They do have more year rouns play options from what I can tell so that is a factor.
I like the flatwater rodeo idea. That would be kind of fun! Maybe Rob M. could do his no-paddle FW loops. and spank some of those PDX folks.
Seems the Norwegians are pretty good pool paddlers as well. I've seen lots of video of those guys doing amazing things. Must be those long winters stuck inside. ------------- "I used to be somebody, now I'm somebody else." Bad Blake |
Posted By: dave
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2007 at 3:57pm
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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. ------------- Nomad |
Posted By: James
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2007 at 6:14pm
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I agree... As much as I want a run in my backyard... literally... I do not mind living in Renton at all. No matter what direction I am going I am always in the middle... its nice. As for Rob M and his Hand Loops... I think I am going to have to enroll in his seminar. Mine are a little rusty in this new 62gal Tank, but boy gimme that Air and were talkin turkey. ------------- |
Posted By: RemAcct2
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2007 at 7:11pm
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Perhaps the answer is a 40'-50' live-aboard power or sail boat and a motorhome with chucky in tow...
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Posted By: dave
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2007 at 7:21pm
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Not that I am a true kayaker anymore, more like a wani be.
------------- Nomad |
Posted By: Chuck e fresh
Date Posted: 19 Feb 2007 at 12:38am
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I like to paddle, yeah I defenitly like paddling... ------------- There's no such word as can't!so stop making excuses!!!! |
Posted By: Chuck e fresh
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2007 at 4:25pm
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Did I mention I like too paddle... ------------- There's no such word as can't!so stop making excuses!!!! |
Posted By: James
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2007 at 4:38pm
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. ![]("smileys/smiley3.gif") ~J ------------- |
Posted By: huckin harms
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2007 at 5:39pm
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who is this post jester?
reveal thy self/
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Posted By: Chuck e fresh
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2007 at 12:37pm
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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!!! ------------- There's no such word as can't!so stop making excuses!!!! |
Posted By: Chuck e fresh
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2007 at 11:33pm
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booyeah! ------------- There's no such word as can't!so stop making excuses!!!! |
Posted By: huckin harms
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2007 at 5:35pm
| nuts |
Posted By: munkyboat
Date Posted: 16 Apr 2007 at 4:23pm
| James or Waterwacko or anyone--- Do you know of construction/building/ 4 days 10 hr shifts a week for plentiful paddle time opps in the leavenworth to Index area? I'm moving out there for runoff but might need to make some $$. Let me know! |
Posted By: windwaves
Date Posted: 16 Apr 2007 at 4:59pm
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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. |
Posted By: Chuck e fresh
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2007 at 10:05am
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I agree with windwaves !!! ------------- There's no such word as can't!so stop making excuses!!!! |
Posted By: Russ
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2007 at 2:32pm
| My wife and I have moved to Cashmere, we are glad to be here, look forward to getting out. Any locals looking to get out, we are "retired" right now and live 5 minutes from the river! |