Everyone says that living on the west coast must be great since we have all the mountains close to us and the ocean not far away as well. I really do miss the city most days, but as I have learned from moving back and forth from the mountains, you get to miss those too.
I was lucky enough to call Banff my home for 1.5 years. I lived there over 8 years ago. It's crazy how you think about time going by so slow and then boom you're almost in your mid 30's missing the early days of travelling, partying and living somewhere else.
I had some great times living there and some pretty shitty times too. Times where I would breakdown and just want to eat dumplings by myself in a big city where no-one would recognize me. Other times laughing and smiling in the snow with a cold beverage in your hands.
This past week I was in Revelstoke with my brother and it made me think back to those times of living in the mountains. Being in a place where the scenery is so beautiful and the mountains are so large that you think of yourself as a tiny little pea at the bottom of a giant mound. Places where you look around and there is so much natural, untouched beauty that you can barely look at it anymore.
As I write this, it's almost spring time and you can smell it in the air everywhere you go. The mountains are still snow capped, but the rest of the snow on top of the roof is melting, sounding like rain on the patio. The giant mounds of snow are starting to get covered in dirt and grime from the trucks on the road.
This time of year was my favourite time of year when I lived in Banff as well. The sun beams down on you and reflects off the snow almost blinding you. Skiing and snowboarding on bluebird days when you are in a sweater. Drinking beer in the sunshine after almost killing yourself to get down a giant drop off a mountain. Firepits lit outside so people can hang and get some much needed vitamin D with a craft beer in hand. Just some of my favourite things.
Currently, you can almost wear a sweater outside and not have to put on your gloves anymore. It's a good time to be outside and it's a time when people are a bit nicer and bit more open to talking. People are shaking off the cold from the winter and are beginning to relax again. You may even get people to open up about themselves and get them to share activities they do in the area.
The ski season is a little bit shorter in some places in BC but during the later part of the season you can get some great runs in without freezing your face off. During this trip I decided not to snowboard the actual Revelstoke Mountain. I'm an intermediate snowboarder and that mountain isn't meant for intermediate anything. I was pretty good when I was out on the hill twice a week, but I've only been out to the hill twice this year. I chose to stay and read inside and check out the many coffee shops of Revelstoke while the other members of my travel group enjoyed the slopes. Sometimes you have to know when to quit before you fall and I figured this was a good time.
Some of the best parts about the ski lifestyle come after the runs on the mountain are done. Relaxing and taking a bath. Drinking a tea and getting some work done if you need to. Maybe going to grab a crispy cocktail or hot chocolate while you are still able to stand. You also might want to find a hot spring that's around to soak your body in before you get up the courage to try it again the next day.
You feel a mix between great and horrible as your struggle to waddle around in all your gear. It's probably that leftover adrenaline in your blood from the final run of the day. Somehow you might be able to make your way to the bar, to grab another cold one and everything is all good.
People have it good out here. There is lots of space to play and get in touch with nature. We are lucky to live in a country that is so vast and full of natural beauty. It is nice to get out there and see it if you can.
The next time you're in Revy, check out Monashee spirits for cocktails, Taco Club for the burrito's and Nico's Pizzeria for a slice and a cold beer!
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