Eight different homes, two children, and three countries had made the past 12 years seem like about two. My wife and I woke up one morning and made the realization that we needed to hit the “pause” button- and fast.

Over those years of living abroad and moving about, we had been surfing real estate websites, trying to find what we thought would be the perfect fit. Fortunately for us, we both had jobs where we could live anywhere in the world. The only consideration was that we needed to get the kids into a school where we would be certain they would be getting a good education. Both my wife and I were avid skiers before the responsibilities of life made it impossible, and we had been secretly looking at ski hills and dreaming of what it would be like to live our childhood dreams of living right on a ski hill. When we learned that Big White had a K-12 school at the bottom of the gondola, we were in. We purchased a home, and made the move- all within a few months.

Life on the hill is everything and more than what we had hoped for. To our delight, the hill has a thriving community, consisting of some very interesting people covering a diverse spectrum of life experiences. Without exception, all are active and interested in getting the most out of life, and weʼve discovered many new friends. Our children are enjoying their idyllic life on the hill- free from many of the stresses of larger communities and schools. During the ski season, the snowbank in front of the school looks like a porcupine with all the kids skis and snowboards. Special hours during the ski season (early start/early finish) allow the kids to get an afternoon of skiing in before the lifts close. If the kids want a break from skiing or snowboarding, there is also nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and ice-skating (on an outside rink!). By making up the time in fall and spring, the school is on a 4 day week and weʼre able to ski with our kids, or get away for a “long weekend” every week! As you might imagine, there are some very good skiers going to that school!

The biggest surprise that we had in our first year on the hill was the discovery that the fun and excitement didnʼt end when the lifts closed. In fact, the spring and summer periods were a welcome change. Once the lifts close, many take to snowshoeing or nordic skiing to get their exercise. I quickly picked up a pair of telemark skis and skins, and I stretched my ski season to May 13th! Great exercise and some outstanding runs with nobody else in sight. Evenings throughout the year are filled with socializing with like-minded friends who appreciate the simplicity of life on the mountain. Enjoying a glass of wine and a theme dinner while gazing out over the Monashee mountain range is common, and the tall-tales from the dayʼs adventure are sure to abound.

As the snow melts, itʼs like a scavenger hunt when going for hikes. The kids love finding treasures that have been dropped by the skiers, and it gives them a lot of incentive to go hiking up the hill. By the end of spring, their piggy-banks are burgeoning with the Loonies and Toonies theyʼve collected. With many lakes and hiking destinations in the area, there are plenty of days where we just head out with the kids for some exercise and a picnic.

Of course, there are days when we need to get our fix of golf, so we make a trip to the valley where there are many golf courses to choose from. Some days are for just lazing around, and thatʼs when we head to the local restaurants on the hill to enjoy some of the fantastic food that is available- yes- in the summer. With the construction that is happening on the hill, Big White employees, sightseers, and several businesses that are operating, there is a growing demand for year around facilities. Everyone is enthusiastic and excited about the growth that is happening.

September is what I believe to be the most beautiful month on the hill. The colors, of fall are in full swing, with the blazing reds and oranges covering the runs. Going for hikes during this time is a feast for the eyes- and the knowledge that the ski season is just around the corner is tantalizing. We couldnʼt be happier with our decision to move to “The Hill”.

Let it snow!