Western mountains vs Eastern mountains

[bikendan]

Being a map geek, I found a great map showing how different the two halves of the country are, regarding mountainous regions.
Most Easterners have no clue about the difference. They think they can see everything in a couple of weeks.
Our coastal hills are often higher than the Appalachian.

[757Dave]

Cool! I can spend hours looking at maps.

Thanks for sharing!

[tragusa3]

I live in the Appalachians and travel out west each summer. I know both pretty well. While my jaw drops every time I see the sites out west, I have the same reaction when I come home.

Having been to a large number of National Parks, people often ask which is my favorite. I don't rank them like that. They each have their own beauty and can't compare. Same is true for East vs. West.

All that said, if there were no other factors, I'd move to live right in the middle of "the west" so that I could explore forever!

[russhd1997]

Here in the northeast Mount Washington is the highest mountain at 6,289'. It is nothing compared to Pikes Peak which is 14,114'. I have been to the top of both and they are both spectacular in their own way. We live in a beautiful country and are privileged to have the freedom to travel and see it.

[CedarCreekWoody]

I totally agree, each park has its own beauty, and I love them all. Dan, I'm like you and can really get into maps and nautical charts. Took maps are really intriguing.

[DABoat]

If you look at the blue section at the very bottom of the map in southeast Louisiana, that is where I have lived my entire life. My pre-teens have only travelled to beaches.

I took the family RVing to North Alabama, Tenn, and NC last year. It was an amazing sight for kids to stand at Lookout Mountain and Clingman's Dome.

The Little River Canyon view and streams were amazing to my daughter.

While the swamps of my region have beauty, nothing here can compare to those views.

I am now looking west for next summer. Grand Canyon? Yellowstone?

Any opinions on pulling an RV from S. La a reasonable distance to enjoy the west side?

[TheWolfPaq82]

The Awe of seeing Mountains for the first time, you never forget. The Awe of seeing what's behind what you see from the road is breath taking. First time backpacking the Bitterroot Mt's...in 1980...I can still picture every step of the 4 days hiking and all the views.

[DrLewie]

X2

Originally Posted by tragusa3

I live in the Appalachians and travel out west each summer. I know both pretty well. While my jaw drops every time I see the sites out west, I have the same reaction when I come home.

Having been to a large number of National Parks, people often ask which is my favorite. I don't rank them like that. They each have their own beauty and can't compare. Same is true for East vs. West.

All that said, if there were no other factors, I'd move to live right in the middle of "the west" so that I could explore forever!

I live in the east but have travelled extensively through both the Rockies and the Appalachians and visited many national parks across the country. While the Rockies are magnificent in their size and features, the eastern mountains offer a lot to see as well. I'll never forget my first trip west and driving into Grand Teton NP. My first reaction to seeing the lakes and snow-capped mountains beyond was that it couldn't be real...it had to big a big painting!

[ronheater70]

Think the big difference is terrain.. the mountains aren't as high on the east, but doing 10 miles up a 7%-9% grade with 10 MPH switch backs that have you constantly slowing to a crawl and accelerating again is hard on any vehicle..

[keith52]

Originally Posted by DABoat

If you look at the blue section at the very bottom of the map in southeast Louisiana, that is where I have lived my entire life. My pre-teens have only travelled to beaches.

I took the family RVing to North Alabama, Tenn, and NC last year. It was an amazing sight for kids to stand at Lookout Mountain and Clingman's Dome.

The Little River Canyon view and streams were amazing to my daughter.

While the swamps of my region have beauty, nothing here can compare to those views.

I am now looking west for next summer. Grand Canyon? Yellowstone?

Any opinions on pulling an RV from S. La a reasonable distance to enjoy the west side?

You can pull that RV all over the west to see this amazing country. Just depends on how much time you have.

[jkoenig24]

"We live in a beautiful country and are privileged to have the freedom to travel and see it."


AMEN!!!!!


and a very Happy Thangsgiving to all forum members!

[benchmarks]

Originally Posted by jkoenig24

"We live in a beautiful country and are privileged to have the freedom to travel and see it."





AMEN!!!!!





and a very Happy Thangsgiving to all forum members!

Cheers!

[jtesta1]

West side mountains are a lot,higher in elevation but the eastern mountains have a lot steeper grade angles.

[amblt]

I lived in and around Montreal for some years and often went skiing in the Laurentian Mountains to North of us. I always thought they were a northern extension of the Appalachians, but was I ever wrong. I found the following on Wikipedia:

The Adirondack Mountains in New York are sometimes considered part of the Appalachian chain but, geologically speaking, are a southern extension of the Laurentian Mountains of Canada.

I have visited relatives out West in Alberta and love the Rockies. I agree with those who say that they all have their individual charms.

My father, born and raised in Alberta, never accepted the term "mountain" for what we have here in the East.

Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving from a fellow map geek.

[oldsmasma]

Your country and mine are so huge it's hard for Europeans to understand the scope. Years back the British parents of a good friend visited her in Ottawa Ontario for several weeks. One of their requests was to pack a picnic and drive to Alberta to "see the Rockies".

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the USA.

[CurtPutnam]

I grew up in the East but was taken with the West during my 1st drive up Hwy 1 through Big Sur. Started my career on the East coast but always longed to see the West again. Had the opportunity to move to SoCal in my mid 30s and took it.

I agree with the assertions that both regions can be beautiful but, in my mind, nothing quite beats the awesome, breathtaking nature of the western vistas. We found Yellowstone to be so incredible that we will return as soon as I am able.

[Bose04]

I have lived in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts my whole life but have been to the Rockies a few times in my life. When I think of the two the Appalachians remind me of an old weathered man who has aged gracefully with weathered rolling hills and gorgeous views. The Rockies remind me of a strong towering young man in their prime that age has not yet weathered and still has towering sharp lines and majestic views. Both are beautiful in their own way. Also most on the east coast are aware of the western mountains.

[mjones12]

Originally Posted by Bose04

I have lived in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts my whole life but have been to the Rockies a few times in my life. When I think of the two the Appalachians remind me of an old weathered man who has aged gracefully with weathered rolling hills and gorgeous views. The Rockies remind me of a strong towering young man in their prime that age has not yet weathered and still has towering sharp lines and majestic views. Both are beautiful in their own way. Also most on the east coast are aware of the western mountains.

Well said.

[bikendan]

One of my points was how many mountain ranges cover the West half, compared to the East half.

[HangDiver]

Originally Posted by bikendan

One of my points was how many mountain ranges cover the West half, compared to the East half.

Yea, but having lived in both halves each have their allure. I live smack in the middle of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado but I also appreciate the fall colors of the northeast in the fall.

There is beauty everywhere if you take a moment to find it.