A little girl in Grand Forks, B.C. wanted to find the Grinch before Christmas, so a family friend brought her to one atop the West Kootenay city鈥檚 Observation Mountain.
Six-year-old Olivia Jackson and Frank Phipps went on their quest Monday, Dec. 20, finding the green Christmas character at the summit.
While Olivia has a brilliant imagination, she has difficulty covering long distances. But everything came together when Olivia鈥檚 aunt, Sam Popoff, reached out to her hiking buddy, Phipps.
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Phipps, who鈥檇 never met young Olivia, volunteered to carry her on his back as followed green 鈥淕rinch tracks鈥� up the steep slope.
鈥淪he believes that the Grinch lives up at the star,鈥� he told The Gazette, referring to the mountaintop tower bearing a giant star that can be seen from the valley floor when it lights up at night.
Olivia鈥檚 mom Sandy said Monday鈥檚 excursion had been her daughter鈥檚 first-ever hike.
鈥淪he鈥檚 been into The Grinch for the last couple years, but this year, she started asking if she could hike up and find him.鈥�
Phipps鈥� efforts went a long way to making Olivia鈥檚 Christmas bright.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a struggle for her because she has special needs. So it made the experience so much more exciting for her,鈥� Sandy explained.
Christmas, of course, is a time where anything can happen. So long as you believe.
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laurie.tritschler@boundarycreektimes.com
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