morpeth

Missoula quite a nice town, but I think anyone considering moving to Montana must visit their proposed location in winter to see how they can imagine life there. When I was in north Idaho rarely did I find temperature a serious problem in winter, biggest problem was Californian transplants who had never driven in winter.

Steerpike

A good friend in Scottsdale just built a second home between Kalispell and Whitefish as a retreat from the heat. He said it's stunningly beautiful Sounds like many of the residents there are part-timers, so amenities in the winter could really suffer.

SanDiegogirl

Did the Durango/Silverton train trip last year. Wonderful, spectacular scenery.
Silverton is fun. I would recommend taking the coach back to Durango as going back down by train leads to a very long day.

dc koop

We sat in the cars with the open windows going both ways. We were a little sooty from the engine blowback at the end of the day. Great experience though

scrubbedexpat099

The trip back is usually nicer in that it is less crowded.

dc koop

It was less crowded coming back. Since we had knocked off a bottle of wine and 4 beers we didn't have to weave our way very far to the Best Western just along the road from the railway station

BritishGuy36

I get it. I knew all that already.

Thousands of people live and work there, so nobody can say it's not possible to do so. I'm not playing down the winters, just like I would expect you not to play down my capacity to cope with them - you don't know me, just like there will be stuff I don't know about the area in question.

When we are not outside or at work my wife and I prefer the quiet home life anyway, we aren't interested in nightlife or entertainment out of the house. We just want a cold climate and beautiful places nearby when the weather allows us to see them.

Thanks for your input.

Steve_

I know human beings, and I know a lot of people who've moved here from the UK and also a lot of people who've done it from their comments on this forum. And a large percentage of them can't stick it and end up moving.

And comments like that are what they say and illustrate they don't have a clue, with all due respect.

For example, one winter I had cabin fever so bad after being stuck indoors for so long I went for a two mile walk and it was -20. I seriously considered calling 911 when I got home, no joke. There's one part of a wall in my house I have to pin reflectix to because otherwise I get ice on the wall INSIDE the house. (And then people say oh that could be fixed, yeah, most of my neighbours have even worse problems).

Once you're on day #150 of the death march to Spring you will look back fondly on humid summers in Ohio. There's a difference between not wanting to go out and not being able to go out. There's days where I have to put on a ski mask to collect the mail during the winter.

I agree with the advice above, book a couple of weeks in the Homewood Suites in Kalispell over Christmas. Even then, it doesn't quite work because you have it in the back of your head that you're going to leave.

Maybe I am underestimating your ability to cope with it, but don't overestimate your ability either! Remember, I live here, I'm talking from personal experience.

Saying loads of people live there is another mistake - look how many people live in Alberta, the population of Calgary alone is much larger than the whole State of Montana. Americans can live further south. Huge numbers of people in Montana go south for the winter. If it wasn't for the USAF and the tourist industry around the national parks, the population of Montana would be even smaller - but geographically it's the third largest State!

Go to any town in Montana and they have casinos and that's what people do during the winter, sit in a casino getting drunk. Huge alcoholism problem in Montana. I saw a sheriff's deputy come out of a casino once and he was clearly drunk and then he got into his squad car and drove off.

Steve_

Hmm that was interesting, I thought Kalispell and Whitefish bordered each other until I just checked on a map.

But since they built the new shopping centre in Kalispell it's not that bad in terms of amenities, I just think to myself, well we have the Chinook Centre and the whole +15 setup downtown, and in Edmonton they have the WEM, so there's something to do in the winter. In Kalispell, well, there's only so many times you can go to Wal-Mart. It's better than Great Falls though, they still haven't got HD on all the network channels yet.

I totally get why people visit and want to move there though, honestly flathead lake on a sunny day is the most beautiful place on the face of the planet arguably, and I include Lake Louise in that comparison.

kodokan

It won't let me rep you again, Steve, but great colorful description of extreme winter above!

Steve_

Yeah I would prefer Coeur D'Alene to Missoula I think, because of the weather. But if you're going to move to Coeur D'Alene you may as well go whole hog and move to Spokane, bigger city and there's no income tax in Washington.

Steve_

One time I got into a car with a can of pop, and this particular car had been parked outside for a few hours, I forget how long exactly. So I put the can into the cupholder in the centre console and drove off. Few minutes later, couldn't have been more than ten, the can starts overflowing in the cup holder. So I pick up the can and take a sip and get a mouthful of ice crystals and about a quarter of the contents have turned to solid ice.

There are ads on the TV here during the winter telling you to check your car engine for cats before you drive off because they are attracted to the heat.

BritishGuy36

Once again you've decided that you know exactly how I will (or won't) cope with the weather.

You have no need to contribute further to this thread.

morpeth

A few comments about weather, and I have spent time in southwest Ohio, north Idaho, and visits to Montana. The weather in Ohio is atrocious, the humidity in summer is very unpleasant- but even in winter it can often cause a dampness which while bearable is a bit un pleasant too. Summers in north Idaho re generally pleasant, and while yes there is snow and once in a while very cold, but it doesn't have the humidity of Ohio. Montana ? Only suggestion I could say is someone considering moving to Montana to go there in winter for a period of time, I also have opinion even if you like cold weather Montana can be way too much.

As far as Spokane, I mentioned only that if one wishes to get the "amenities" of a north American city at least in Coeur d'Alene one is fairly close to Spokane. I would not recommend anyone living in Spokane, not an impressive city in my opinion. And why live there when one can live in beautiful Coeur d'Alene.For example Coeur d'Alene has a downtown one can pleasantly visit in summer, have dinner overlooking the lake, or have a small picnic on the small beach near the lake. (Though a fair percentage of Coeur d'Alene goes south for the winter).

Steve_

Hey you were the one who asked if there was anyone on here who lived near there - so far I'm the only person who has responded. Look I'm sorry if you're aggrieved by my opinion but honestly any idiot can stand outside in a pair of shorts in 25F. Try doing it for more than five minutes in -25F and my impression of how well you will cope might change.

(And thinking about it, I'm from the same country originally and I do the same job!)