Quote:
Originally Posted by Fuzz
Sliver, I'm honestly curious which part of the mountains and outdoors you actually enjoy. Because you seem to want the urban environment to blanket everything, which is kind of the opposite of an outdoor experience.
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Fair question. I've never reflected on that, so I'll give it a whirl.
Okay, I like snowboarding (but not backcountry; give me a chairlift). So I guess that's one main thing that requires mountains.
I think it's the views I like. I really like mountains and forests, but you're not wrong that I'm not a typical mountain guy. Over the holidays we spent the entire stretch at our Canmore place and my favourite two days were when my son and I played the new Call of Duty a bunch. Made it out to Louise twice, but the snow was so mediocre and I've kind of become a snob about conditions over the past few years so I didn't bother going more. Had it snowed I would have gone riding every day.
I like the aesthetic of chalets...it's sort of my favourite type of atmosphere. Like, I don't enjoy - say - formal or fancy restaurants/settings. The mountains just kind of put me at peace, but I don't need to bushwhack around them to enjoy them. We do hike a lot in the summer, but that's mainly because I watch all the movies at The Lux in Banff and then have nothing to do during the afternoons, so hiking it is. Marching around sort of sucks, but I have a little crew I go with and we usually go to The Canmore Hotel after and drink beer/listen to live music, which is my favourite part of the day every time.
I did buy a full suspension e-bike right at the end of last season, so imma give that a whirl. I think I'll like it - really looking forward to exploring the trails around my place.
But just waking up in the mountains is stress free for me. I camp quite a bit at Tunnel Mountain with a big group. We always walk into town, go for a nice dinner, buy a fata-ton of candy, hang out in the park, then go back to our site and all the parents pop a bunch of cannabis capsules and have a great time. Again, it's just the setting and backdrop I like. Most of my group lives in Bonavista (we didn't meet there; we all moved there to hang out all the time), but we transport ourselves to Banff/Waterton/wherever multiple times per year to party even though we could do the exact same thing in Calgary just as easy since we all live in a one kilometer radius. We all get something more out of the mountains, though.
When I talk about expansion in the mountains, that's what I'm thinking of - more chalets and the architecture you get in the Three Sisters area or in Banff or even just the Parks Canada sort of vibe. It's not like I want Evanston or something in the Rockies. I want just more of the same.
Maybe more just a personal style thing, too. I sort of grew up in the skater/snowboarder style and it's just where I'm comfortable existing. The mountains really are a continuation of a vibe I've always felt home in.
Kind of a long answer, sorry.