Newbie looking for skis/guidance

good advice from Rose.  But here's my take, if you are $$ constrained.  Buy Line Sir Francis Bacon skis in previous years models (check out EVO, STP, etc.) in the size they recommend for your weight.  It is a ski you can grow into and even end up doing switch and tricks and build on/replicate your snowboarding skills.  But really, because they look soooo good.  They are wide enough in the waist to be truly irritating when traversing/climbing firm snow when boot tops are unbuckled--the forementioned 88-95 are ideal, but so un-American and passe (however, I just ordered a pair of 89s to go with my 76, 80, 95, 98, 105, and 115s).   Buy tech bindings (hard to get a big discount).  Buy obsolete boots, like the Zzero 4: light enough for backcountry and the PU is progressive enough for frontside.  But if you can afford it, the Dynafit One or Mercury or Scarpa Maestrale RS  or La Sportiva Spectres provide good crossover capability.  The best bc boots are the TLT5 and TLT6 but not the best lift served.  But realize that once you find which boot fits your foot (size and width) buy the boot used because almost everyone goes to an aftermarket liner sooner or later and you can fit the liner yourself if you are careful, for example the Intuition Pro Tour is a good one and comes with fitting materials and instructions.  However, something like the Zzero4 PU is being sold new at huge discounts right now.

I ditched the board two years ago and haven't looked back.

I'm 5'11", 165 lbs and ski 177's (I have two pairs of skis both at that length). I'd recommend shooting for somewhere between 172 and 179. Long skis can be tricky in the backcountry- they make kickturns harder, and PNW backcountry skiing usually involves some bushwhacking, and shorter skis are better for that.. so try not to go longer. And below 170 would be pretty short for someone your size.

A little bit of rocker in the tip makes varied conditions much easier. If you choose a length, width, and rocker profile (such as 177cm, 95mm, early rise tip) and are able to be a bit flexible on everything, you'll save big bucks.

I'll go against the grain here to say to look to a Fritschi or Marker binding for your first binding, for two reasons:
-They can be found used for pretty cheap, because many skiers start on a Fritschi/Marker, and then sell them to buy Dynafits later
-If you're just learning to ski, you're going to do some falling. Remember the "grace" with which you started snowboarding, you're about to do it all again.. Dynafits are great bindings, but the release is *arguably* not as reliable as an alpine style binding- it's a good binding for people who seldom fall, maybe not so great for a learner.

If you haven't skied before, a season in the resort is a good idea. If Snoqualmie ever opens perhaps a cheap night pass up there would be a good starting investment.

I personally never took a real lesson, and I managed. But if I were to redo it, I think I would try to take a few- a former ski instructor friend gave me some tips when we were out one day that really took my skiing up a level. I think if I had learned some of that stuff earlier, I could've become a proficient skier earlier in my ski 'career'.

Skiing is fun, learning something new is fun, enjoy! Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions on the one board to two board switch.

Splitboard,
based on the principle that you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Then again, you may not be old, so new tricks may be groovy.

From one bunch of look-alike, thrash alike to another?  Why?  An uptick in portability?  Logistics?  Consider getting half a binding..  It's really where your search begins.  Good luck!