Weather is not small talk when you live in the mountains: it affects almost every aspect of our daily lives (November to April, at least). And whether there’s lots of it or it’s just starting to fall, there are many reasons why we love snow.

Mountain weather changes quickly, and a slight drop in temperatures and a lower freezing level will mean amazing conditions in the alpine. Not that we’re saying there’s anything wrong with sunshine or even rain, but life in Whistler means we LOVE the snow.

So here are just five reasons we love snow:

1. Snow Brings Out the Inner Child

Kids love snow and the older we get the more we realize that being a kid is actually the most magical time of our lives. Playing in, riding on, and throwing snow at each other helps us remember (and rekindle) that magic but with the added appreciation of adulthood.

2. Snow is Soft

Everyone knows making mistakes is a key part of learning anything. On skis or a snowboard this usually means falling on your face and/or butt. Falling is how you get better but snow beats concrete, gravel or dirt every time.

3. Snow Makes Everything Beautiful

Take some dead trees, a bunch of gross mud, even a broken down car and add a few inches of fresh white snow… instant postcard! Add fresh snow to an already stunning mountain landscape or an endless panorama of white peaks and sparkling glaciers, and it might just take your breath away.

A stunning view of a snow covered Black Tusk.
The Black Tusk is always beautiful, but especially so with a fresh coat of snow. PHOTO: MIKE CRANE

4. Snow is Multi-Use

You can ski and snowboard on it. You can build snowmen, create snow angels, catch the flakes on your tongue, go tobogganing, zip around on snowmobiles, explore on snowshoes, glide along on cross country skiis, and SO much more – all thanks to snow.

We spend all winter finding new ways to revel in its wonder, and that’s just one of the reasons why we love snow.

5. Snow is Zen

Even if you aren’t into that sort of thing, I challenge you to stare up at falling snow for five minutes and see if your mind doesn’t relax and zone out. And whose mind couldn’t use a couple more minutes of rest these days? Bonus points for catching snowflakes on your tongue (there’s that magic of childhood again).

Two people on a bridge in a calm moment after a snow fall.
These beautiful moments of zen are just part of the reason why we love snow. PHOTO: JUSTA JESKOVA
Author

Feet Banks moved to Whistler at age 12 so his parents could live the dream and ski as much as possible. He ended up living it too. After leaving home Feet did a few good stints in warmer climates and 4 years of writing school before returning to the mountains to make ski movies, hammer out a journalism career and avoid the 9-5 lifestyle as long as possible. He’s been a hay farmer, a hole digger, a magazine editor and has a jump named after him on Blackcomb Mountain, Feet’s Air. It’s tiny.