Mountain Living

So, as some know, I recently moved from FL to LA, CA. I really like living in the LA basin. The weather is great, and I have everything I could want within a short walk. However, I work in a small component of a huge operation locally-based out of San Bernardino, so it's possible that I will be moving to that facility at some point.

Rather than moving to a suburb or to a setting that would just be a lesser version of what I presently have, I have been looking into the mountain town of Crestline, just north of San Berdoo. Crestline is about 20 miles of twisties from where I would be working, at about 4,500 ft elevation. I can get a hillside cabin for 2/3 the price of my current studio, and I would have four solid seasons, which I have never had before.

My most important criteria is reliably being able to get to work. I hear that the area has snow that comes feast or famine, with amounts up to a few feet dumped overnight. I'm reading that finding out whether roads are plowed is a must, level off-street parking is extremely important, and that an SUV is practically a requirement. Perhaps a Subaru would do? What else should I look into? I assume that the cost of heat could be pretty substantial.

Here's a look at Crestline's average annual weather.

If I head out that way, should I just hit the easy button and stay in the valley?

The climate sounds a bit like what we get here and the precipitation charts look similar-ish.

A Subaru should do the job, however more importantly you really want snow tires. One of the guys who works for me happily drives a Panther chassis over a 7200' pass in the worst weather, but then again he grew up in North Dakota.

One recommendation - I'd try to find a place with a garage. It sucks digging your car out from under a foot of snow.

Oh yeah, and I'd totally make the move. Me likely mountains.

Not sure where that is, but my parents live in Yucaipa, off the road that goes up to Big Bear, I think. They say it is really bad when the drunks come down off the mountain. I imagine further up the mountain it will be really bad. And people in the PRC don't know how to drive in snow. Just something to think about.

Mountains are best.

XJ Cherokee.

Dr. Hess wrote: Not sure where that is, but my parents live in Yucaipa, off the road that goes up to Big Bear, I think. They say it is really bad when the drunks come down off the mountain. I imagine further up the mountain it will be really bad. And people in the PRC don't know how to drive in snow. Just something to think about.

How do your parents like Yucaipa? I could rent a place there for $400 less/mo than I'm paying now.

My Dad has a cabin in Fawnskin, on the north shore of Big Bear lake. Beautiful area!

I'd go for a Subaru personally. No need to waste those twisty roads with an SUV in the summer!

What do you do again? Did you move within the company from FL to CA?

I work on the distribution side of a large online retailer. I worked for a grocer over on the east coast.

I don't live in the area, but mountains are wonderful. Just be careful that commute isn't too long, or you'll hate yourself later. A Subaru should work fine, but I'd definitely make sure you've got snow tires and try to find a place with a garage. Other than that, best of luck!

My parents like it OK. They have a really nice house there. The crime rate used to be zero because it was the HQ town for the Hells Angels. They kept things very quit there; no one caused trouble in their town. Then the HA moved their HQ out to some other town and crime in Yucaipa started going up. It is still not as bad as other areas, I think, but higher than it was. We were out there last week. It is convenient to have local shopping, compared to me. I have to drive 15 minutes to town, they drive 5. So, as part of the greater L.A. area, I would say Yucapia is OK.

Comments not specific, just mountain and weather general.

1. A few feet of snow will stop everything but a snowmobile. So, do expect to be snow bound when that happens. Yes, you can clear your driveway, but if the road is blocked, you're still not getting out.

2. Fires and ground slides happen. Rock slides for rock mountains, mudslides for dirt mountains. Some areas worse than others, but it's the nature of the situation. Both are things I would check on just to know with regards to specific areas, all the way down to specific sides of specific mountains. Evaluate and prep your house or house site approprately.

3. Mountain folk are different. If you can't get along with them, you're life in the mountains will be unpleasant. The more "up in a holler" you go, the more different they tend to be.

4. Power goes out on mountains. Sometimes for days on end. Make sure you're ready for it, and are the type of person that can deal with it.

5. You will learn an appreciation of level spots.

Crestline and Lake Gregory are a pretty nice areas (CA18 is a fantastically smooth and fun 4 lane highway until you get to Crestline maybe further but I take 138 into the high desert.) I personally think that Big Bear (might be a little far for you) and Arrowhead are much nicer. Wrightwood is a hole.

Most of the guys I work with that live in that area generally either drive a Subaru year round or have an XJ, FJ, or some form of a full size pickup that they drive during the winter months. The big thing to keep in mind up there is that you'll need chains. The roads will be closed off when it snows unless you're a resident and even then you'll need to have chains on the tires before CHP will let you through.

Other than that the biggest complaint I hear is that internet connections are very limited up there, often requiring long periods of time on a wait list before you can get a connection. It's way nicer than many parts of the high desert with only a couple exceptions.

Arrowhead and Big Bear also tend to have more newer construction so if you're looking for a garage you may want to look in that direction.

With the chains on I have driven several miles through snow over the front bumper but below the headlights. The tires are 33x12.50 so I would think that the top of the bumper is over 3 feet from the earth. Top speed is about 30 mph in that much snow.

I lived in Lake Arrowhead for a year in 1998. Snow will be an issue on occasion, a Subaru and chains will be fine. The few times a year there's more snow than that can handle, you will be working from home. Get a house with a garage. Ask me how I know.

Foxtrapper is dead on; locals called it Mountain Time, as in things happen at Mountain pace. Have a fire plan and earthquake kit and plan. Probably won't need it, but you should have it.

You will be living in a resort area; barren during the week, a nut house on weekends. Make sure your grocery shopping and errands are done during the week.

The drive up and down the Mtn is not bad. You will get really good at it. Again, you will have to deal with the tourists. I enjoyed it, but I did not have to commute every day.

If you love the outdoors, it's fantastic. I basically had a year off when I lived there. Hiking, climbing, skiing, biking. Endless opportunity.

Mitchell wrote: My most important criteria is reliably being able to get to work.

You've never lived in the mountains, have you? You are in for a surprise.

If that REALLY is your most important criteria, don't move to the mountains. The fact of life in the mountains is that sometimes you get snowed in. You will not get out in a 4x4, a Subaru, or anything else. Additionally, there will be times you CAN get out, but there is not much point. That 20 mile run might take 4 hours each way.

Don't get me wrong... I LOVE the mountains. By far my choice of a place to live.

But it is a different life, and you learn to accept you are not in control of things at times (like the elements).

Oh so you'd be commuting from Crestline down into the Valley? Yikes, seems like a commute.

Lots of fires around San Bernadino in the mountains this year..

In reply to PHeller:

He just wants an excuse to go canyon blasting every day.....also note the excessive need to watch out for those people. If the 10r board is any indicator, most of them aren't all there.

Also.. depending on how far out you are, get a generator and have a backup heating/cooking source, always..

In reply to Fueled by Caffeine:

and those fires are what lead to the slides

I had a coworker who used to do that exact commute. He loved it and said he would recommend it if it's ok to miss work every now and then when there's a storm.

I'll have to see what the work situation will be like.

Cheesuz mang, look at this view! The wood everything!

As for those that inquired about my experience with mountains, I am completely, utterly ill-equipped. Prior to moving out here, even in international travel, I had never so much as seen anything greater than a hill.

So, you'd be paying $700/mo for a room in someone's house. I think you would do better in Yucaipa and drive to the mountains when you want to.

You are probably right. My $1100/mo studio, going rate for my 'hood in LA, has certainly warped my perception of living costs.

I haven't read much about Yucaipa, good or bad, so I will have to do some research.