East vs West Coast Mountains?

[GraysonKelly]

Hi all,
I thought this might be kind of fun and I'm interested in what you might say. I just got done reading the "where is your ideal place to live" thread from 2007-2008 and I'm curious.
If you have had the opportunity to compare them, which mountains do you prefer? A lot of people who chimed in on that thread said that they really wanted mountains no matter where else they lived. I'm curious about which one's you'd prefer. I've been to Colorado and I have to admit....THOSE are MOUNTAINS! But, I am born and bred in West Virginia so I have a definite fondness for my smaller, more rounded "Hills". I think I would love living in CO, but would undoubtedly miss my mountains.
What is your opinion?
Gray

[wildhawk]

I have been fortunate enough to live in both types of mountains. I grew up in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia, but also lived in Wyoming for a while with a 360 degree view of the Teton Mountains from my cabin. I have hiked and horseback rode in both. The air is thinner in the Tetons, but the air is cleaner (not much in the way of pollution since the factories are much fewer out west). However, if i had to choose, and now that I am more into cycling, I would choose the Blue Ridge. The Tetons had no foothills and required more caution (wildlife, mountain climbing, etc.), whereas the eastern mountains have more accessibility should something go wrong (i.e, emergency help, etc.) Both types are absolutely gorgeous however and I consider both states my “home”. Alas, I now live in Florida and crave a good hill climb every now and then. I plan to retire further north in the Blue Ridge, and I definately want a nice mountain view from my new home and studio! Nice survey - it will be interesting to see what other responses you receive.

[OakLeaf]

I've never lived in mountains, but I've visited the Rockies several times (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico), cycled in Napa-Sonoma once, and we live in the Appalachian foothills and frequently travel south to Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky. To me, while the western mountains are definitely awe-inspiring and I love to visit them, I'm a country girl at heart, and for me it's all about the land. I just could not live somewhere so dry and austere. I wrote a poem about it once (it was a love poem actually, using contrasting lands as metaphor for before and after finding love, but anyway) - the line went "life's blood clawed from parched earth, each blade of grass proof of a battle won."

So for me, for a place to live, it's the eastern mountains hands down, the dripping of water off leaves in the morning, the loamy smell of the earth, the deep cover of fallen leaves, daffodils and mushroom hunting in the springtime, the intense smells of honeysuckle, blackberry and rose blossoms in summer, the lush gardens in the lowlands, fireflies in July lighting up the trees as bright as the Las Vegas skyline.

Sorry Gray, you caught me at a homesick moment.

[GraysonKelly]

I've never lived in mountains, but I've visited the Rockies several times (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico), cycled in Napa-Sonoma once, and we live in the Appalachian foothills and frequently travel south to Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky. To me, while the western mountains are definitely awe-inspiring and I love to visit them, I'm a country girl at heart, and for me it's all about the land. I just could not live somewhere so dry and austere. I wrote a poem about it once (it was a love poem actually, using contrasting lands as metaphor for before and after finding love, but anyway) - the line went "life's blood clawed from parched earth, each blade of grass proof of a battle won."

So for me, for a place to live, it's the eastern mountains hands down, the dripping of water off leaves in the morning, the loamy smell of the earth, the deep cover of fallen leaves, daffodils and mushroom hunting in the springtime, the intense smells of honeysuckle, blackberry and rose blossoms in summer, the lush gardens in the lowlands, fireflies in July lighting up the trees as bright as the Las Vegas skyline.

Sorry Gray, you caught me at a homesick moment.

No need to apologize at all! You just described almost exactly how I feel about living here. I love this area. I love CO as well and want to move there really badly, mainly because of jobs and different attitudes, but this will always be my home. It's funny you mentioned the smell of honeysuckle: the other night at work I was walking down the hallway and said, "I smell honeysuckle". One of the nurses said, "Does honeysuckle even have a smell?" I never heard anyone else talk about the smell of the earth and deep cover of leaves like I do. I love that smell! I'd live either place, but I'd always come home here.
Gray

[Eden]

It's funny you mentioned the smell of honeysuckle: the other night at work I was walking down the hallway and said, "I smell honeysuckle". One of the nurses said, "Does honeysuckle even have a smell?"

Does honeysuckle have a smell?!? Of course it does and its heavenly.... (and quite distinct). Maybe she's never seen or smelled it.... I remember when I was a kid we used to pick the flowers, pull the bottom off, pull the stamen through and eat the "honey".

[GraysonKelly]

Does honeysuckle have a smell?!? Of course it does and its heavenly.... (and quite distinct). Maybe she's never seen or smelled it.... I remember when I was a kid we used to pick the flowers, pull the bottom off, pull the stamen through and eat the "honey".

That's what we did! Actually, I still do. And we chewed on birch bark. I don't think she ever has smelled it. That stuff they sell in bath and body works just isn't "it" you know? and I don't know if there is honeysuckle out west or not, I haven't explored that far yet.
Gray

[shootingstar]

You should visit Vancouver, BC now Oak. It's pretty lush where we are..right now it's draped in abit of snow. But the mountains are more stark..than ie. Vermont.