what it's like livin' in a small mountain town

there are many reasons why someone would want to live in a small mountain town - but lemme break it down for any deniers

first tho, we have to establish that we aren't talkin' livin' about off-grid, gravity pumping-yo-own-water-from-a-nearby-steam and a-compost-toilet kind of mountain livin'...

believe me, we've lived that and its hard work!

what we're talkin' about here is livin' in/near a ski town, or mountain valley, where the population swells like crazy with tourists in the winter, and more regularly now, in the summer, and for the rest of the year you get to live in a small, mountain, town with people you know at the library, one of two grocery stores, post office and/or hardware store that a simple chore day becomes a super social event

we're also talkin' about running water, hydro hook up, good internet, like all the modern stuff but with an ol' timsey vibe in your 'village' with only one street light

 

 

(yes, we live in what is still referred to as a 'village'. its fricken awesome)

now let's get back to those reasons we love mountain livin':

 

1. incredible views - like in every direction

you only have to start driving towards a mountain town, seeing the snow build up or the start of glaciated mountain ranges, before you start to get all giddy and uber happy when you see all that amazingness all around you

whether its lush, fern-filled valleys, sunset-pink spread across snow-covered peaks or rushing gorges and rivers, the beauty of the mountains leaves us breathless

we highly recommend at least monthly if not weekly (daily!) skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer, as mountain views refresh us and inspire us

 

2. that crisp, cool air that just pumps up your heart, and soul 

if you wake up and start your day inside, with coffee and social media, you are missin' what ancients have been saying for millennia: get outside to seek health and wellness

the mountains in particular, in some way or another, have always been associated with good health, strength and well-being and more often than not, guidance and enlightenment

extreme elevation gains and thin fresh air, free from pollution, has us breathing deeper, heavier and with longer gasps that can have a huge revitalising effect on us, leaving us feeling super satisfied and happier, recharged, refreshed and rejuvenated!

 

3. livin' the good life with adventure, fitness and friends

from planning hikes in the summer to ski days in the winter, there is nothing like setting off on a mission to bag the summit or finding stashes of powder among steep ski lines with your besties

with numerous activities to choose from, too many to name here, mountains let people gather together in a fun activity; share your ski chair or the hiking trailhead location, and voila! you're golden 

you're now feeling charged up, stoked to be outside and fulfilled spending time with your friends as we all know how spending time with positive, lively friend groups impacts our health greatly by reducing stress and anxiety 

go on, get outside to some mountains and breath that clean mountain air

 

4. feeding your connection with nature

studies show that being present and appreciating the natural beauty around us helps us reconnect with where we have always belonged: a part of mother earth

watching the unfolding of a new leaf, or green sprout unfurling from the soil, slows down our adrenals, hormones and nervous system, as we leave the stresses of daily life and appreciate the simple things in life, that are often truly magnificent

whether it's the sound of song birds at dawn's first light, the echo of aroused Pacific chorus frogs or the feeling of gentle spray from a rushing waterfall, mountains offer the opportunity to feel at one with the natural world that brings us so much happiness and joy

 

5. super peaceful vibes

funk and i often laugh after a weekend in the city, "wow how happy are we that we go to the city for a weekend and live in the mountains full time, rather than the other way around!"

as soon as we head home up the sea-to-sky highway, along the coast range, and we see those tantalus range mountains, we feel an overwhelmingly tranquil serenity and unconsciously always say how thankful we are to live in the mountains

mountains offer the perfect channel for finding a quiet place to contemplate life and the beauty of it all - reflecting upon majestic mountains usually brings a feeling of smallness upon us that is strangely reassuring, and relaxing

and maybe mountains aren't for everyone, but there's no denying that mountains offer a sense of peace simply for being away from the busy noises, and often corresponding stresses, of the city