relocating need help

[trapper]

i want to relocate down a little further south to escape crappy Ohio winters. i want to be within a couple minutes of the AT. would like Tenn or NC. any suggestions reasonable priced property is a big plus.

[Alleghanian Orogeny]

i want to relocate down a little further south to escape crappy Ohio winters. i want to be within a couple minutes of the AT. would like Tenn or NC. any suggestions reasonable priced property is a big plus.

.........because you might get it.

The NC sections of the AT below Fontana are at elevations much higher than Ohio, and to be "within a couple of minutes of the AT" means your residence would be, too. Unless you're up on Lake Erie getting pounded by lake effect snow, I doubt you'll find much improvement in the winter climate in the part of NC below Fontana Dam. You may very well find overall colder winters, albeit possibly with less snow.

NC-TN around Hot Springs is lower (1,332') due to Hot Springs' presence on the French Broad River, but you're right back up to 3,500' to 5,000' on the north and south sides of the town of Hot Springs.

Erwin, TN is at 1,650' but is more like 10-15 min from the AT at Indian Trail Gap, but there are large areas of private property used as residences in the vicinity of Uncle Johnny's at the Nolichucky River crossing of the AT.

US 19E crosses the AT at around 2,700' and there are residences within a couple of minutes there. Ditto Elk Park, NC, but it's at 3,200'.

Hampton, TN lies at 2,030' while Shady Valley, just south of Damascus, VA is at 2,800'.

If you're looking for real, noticeable changes in average daytime highs and nightime lows, I'd have to guess you've got so look for something below 2,500' or maybe even down below 2,000'. The average ambient temp change is between 3 and 5 degrees per 1,000' of elevation, so it doesn't take much elevation for the NC-TN mountains to have a climate more like southern Canada at sea level.

On the plus side, at and above 3,000-3,500' the summertime daytime highs and overnight lows can be noticeably cooler than Ohio. Our family's place at 3,900' near Grandfather Mountain, NC does not have air conditioning and we normally sleep under blankets in July and August.

AO

[fredmugs]

Uncle Johnny told me they really did not get a lot of snow where he's at. Having grown up in Michigan and now living in Indiana I understand your desire to move. When I retire it will be out west however. If you haven't done a hike on the PCT maybe you should try that before deciding to move.

[dmax]

Erwin, Johnson City, Elizabethton, Bristol

[Mr. Bumpy]

TN has no state income tax.

[max patch]

Hanover would be a great place to live but they got a lotta snow.

Damascus would be a great place to live but they don't have any jobs.

[Namtrag]

Look at Roanoke, bigger city with jobs, and the AT goes pretty close by

[Seatbelt]

I have a buddy who lives just off 129 just north of Fontana/Deals Gap and we talk a lot, his weather is almost always considerably warmer and more tolerable that ours in Indiana. He does get snow, but it usually melts fairly quick---he is not up in the mountains, but down in a lower elevation. Not too far from the AT.

[Cedar Tree]

Trapper, your PM inbox is full---not accepting more messages.
Contact me through the Packa website.
CT

[Venchka]

My daughter lives in Boone, NC. A lively, bustling, college town. The nearest AT access is at Elk Park, NC, about an hour's drive away. Naturally, you could live closer to Elk Park and still take advantage of the economic opportunities in Boone.
The weather this year in that part of NC has been CRUD. Snow in Feb., March & April. Rain ever since. However, a terrible day in the mountains of NC beat the heck out of any winter day during the 5 years we lived in western Massachusetts or the two winters that my daughter spent in Columbus, OH.
Word of caution: The folks in NC think a LOT of their mountain real estate. TN may be more affordable.

Wayne

[Lone Wolf]

i want to relocate down a little further south to escape crappy Ohio winters. i want to be within a couple minutes of the AT. would like Tenn or NC. any suggestions reasonable priced property is a big plus.

Damascus, Va.......................

[Lone Wolf]

Hanover would be a great place to live but they got a lotta snow.

Damascus would be a great place to live but they don't have any jobs.

plenty of seasonal work at one of the 7 bike shops

[trapper]

i have a lawn care business up here that i would have to get established wherever i go. love the no state tax

[Alleghanian Orogeny]

i have a lawn care business up here that i would have to get established wherever i go. love the no state tax

Well, the "within a minute or two" of the AT dramatically narrows your choices. If your lawn care business needs a somewhat populated city and/or a resort/vacation home area, and if you can stand being closer to your business territory and within, say, a half-hour to an hour from the AT, you have practically infinite options. Greenville-Erwin-Johnson City, TN come to mind as low elevation TN cities well within an hour of the AT which may be highly populated enough to support a lawn care business.

AO

[Venchka]

Maryville, TN. Full of Yuppies in new homes & a good micro-brewery pub. 1-2 hours from the TN-NC divide.

Wayne

[tarditi]

Look at Roanoke, bigger city with jobs, and the AT goes pretty close by

If you don't mind Virginia, Roanoke has a lot to offer - I live in NC myself, but would consider moving to Roanoke.

[trapper]

Maryville, TN. Full of Yuppies in new homes & a good micro-brewery pub. 1-2 hours from the TN-NC divide.

Wayne

yuppies usually don't mow there own grass so that's a plus for me..it usually takes a few years to build up enough to go full time so i will have a day job for the first few years...i really like damasus go to trail days every year

[daddytwosticks]

Here in western NC, if you are down in the valleys near a town, the winters are not so bad. I'm only 1 to 2 hours away from most trail heads up to I-40. The closest trail head for me is Winding Stair Gap or Neel Gap.

[Jeff]

i have a lawn care business up here that i would have to get established wherever i go. love the no state tax

A booming lawn care business doesn't leave alot of time to hike.

[Tennessee Viking]

Reasonable can be one thing and different to another.

If you are looking at lower taxes for your business. Virginia may have lower taxes. TN has no state income tax but has a very high sales tax. NC taxes are just screwy. State income tax and slowly but growing sales tax.

Damascus VA, Elizabethton/Hampton TN area, Unicoi-Erwin TN/Mars Hill NC, Johnson City TN.

I know a very good realtor in Kingsport TN. She can work with any budget.