Tag Archives: Lake Louise

Room 300 at Deer Lodge

Deer Lodge, Lake Louise, AlbertaAs unbelievable as it may seem with summer-strength sunshine blazing in Calgary, there’s plenty of snow in Lake Louise. The mountains are still open for top-to-bottom runs. Deer Lodge, just a five-minute drive from the ski hill, is the perfect location for a last hurrah spring skiing weekend getaway.Boating on Lake Louise, Glenbow Archive,1910Staying at Deer Lodge is like traveling back in time, to the era when this fabulous woman went boating on Lake Louise (just a few minutes up the road from the hotel). You’ll find photos like these all over the rustic hotel, which opened in 1925, after welcoming guests for two years as a teahouse.Stairs at Deer LodgeIf you stay here, know going in that the operating word here is rustic, and that the main aspect of the lodge’s charm. This is not a five-star hotel. There’s no room service, and no elevators. Room 300 at Deer LodgeAfter climbing three flights to the top floor of the Tower, we found the Crosby Room, full of delightful nooks, nary a television in sight. It’s named for Gertrude Crosby, the original founder of the lodge who opened it to bust the exclusive the Chateau had on the area.Room 300 at Deer LodgeThe bed, with its super-thick down duvet, was tucked into its own alcove…View from Room 300 at Deer Lodge… with this glorious view of the Victoria Glacier. Which definitely made up for the Scald Warning sign in the bathroom. With the charm of original hand hewn logs comes original plumbing. Although, fyi, I didn’t find it dangerous. I kept the temperature warm instead of hot, and experienced a few cold shots instead of scalding.piano at Deer Lodge, Lake LouiseThe charm carries through to the bar, the restaurant, the games room and the library, where ivories are available for guests to tickle. I found one television, downstairs with the pool and foosball tables…Games at Deer Lodge.. but who wants to watch TV in the Canadian Rockies, when there are a stack of books and games for fireside entertainment?Lake Louise is meltingUp next, did I pay attention to this sign on Lake Louise? How did I possibly entertain myself without easy access to television? How was the snowboarding this late in the year? And what about apres ski at Deer Lodge? Hint on that last one:  so good that I will probably break my food porn rule. Again.

Blue Besos

Spring Snowboarding at Lake Louise

Ski Lake LouiseIt’s the middle of April and the ski season is still going strong in the Canadian Rockies. Lake Louise Ski Resort, located in the heart of Banff National Park, is just a two-hour drive from Calgary.Lodge of the Ten PeaksThe Lodge of the Ten Peaks at the base could be the ultimate ski chalet. Those are hand-skinned logs btw. It is Canada’s second largest log structure. But (sorry!) I can’t tell you where to find the first largest. More on Canadian manners further down in this post.View of Lake Louise from Lake Louise Ski ResortOnce you’re on the hill, if you take a rest stop on the first run (like I tend to do) you may notice that you’re at the same altitude as the ski hill’s namesake:  Lake Louise, still frozen and looking like it’s tilted. (Although that’s crazy, because lakes don’t tilt. I checked.) Can you see it across the valley? And yes, that would be the Valley of the Ten Peaks. If you’re a vintage currency collector, you may recognize the vista from two former versions of the Canadian twenty dollar bill.

Next, head to the lift that you can see just past my right foot.Top of the World LiftThere’s plenty of room to stretch out on the Top of the World six passenger chair.Top of the WorldAt the top, aka Top Of The World, you have a double black option. I went for the poser option.Top of the World Lake LouiseLuckily there’s a green run down from every chair lift. And look at those Rockies!Sign at Top of the World, Lake LouiseA handy sign tells you the distance to Tokyo and Cape Horn, just in case you feel like a long run. Whitehorn Lodge Lake LouiseIf you can tear yourself away from the epic spring ski conditions, check out the Whitehorn Lodge. It’s always been here, mid-mountain on the front side, but it was only just converted to an upscale restaurant this season. Normally the ski racks out front are packed, but we were here on a Monday. Game Platter Whitehorn Lodge Lake LouiseNothing like eating lunch 6700 feet above sea level. Usually I just have beer and wings on a ski day, but the the Rocky Mountain Game Platter for Two  at Whitehorn couldn’t be passed up. After a winter of snowboarding 4 different mountains in 3 different provinces/states, and sampling the restaurant fare with all associated mountain resorts, I now feel it is safe to say that I am a game platter expert. The air-dried buffalo, cured chimney sticks, peppered duck breast, artisan cheeses, figs, sun dried cranberries and raincoast crisps on this one qualify it as Awesome.

Just to keep it carnivorous, I followed it with the Bison Burger. At Whitehorn, it comes three ways:  with blueberry compote and brie, roasted red pepper and goat cheese or bacon and cheddar. I hadn’t had a burger with blueberry jam before, so I gave it a try. Delicious.  The bison is locally sourced. The only other high-end mid-mountain dining option I’ve tried in recent memory was at Jackson Hole. Couloir may use Kobe beef in their burgers instead of bison, but Whitehorn is a lot closer to home. It’s not pictured here, but the inside of the lodge has been nicely decorated with wood accents on the walls and tables with amazing views.Grizzly Express GondolaWith a belly full of food and enough libations to inspire your inner Robert-Redford-from-Downhill-Racer, take a fast one down the front side. The Grizzly Express Gondolas will float you up to the top in minutes.Paradise Bowl Lake LouiseFrom there, if you head over to the back side, you can pick your poison:  green, blue or black diamond.Larch Chair Lake LouiseThe Larch Chair will take you up another peak. With 4200 skiable acres, Lake Louise is one of the largest ski resorts in North America.Apres Ski Lake LouiseBack at the base, there’s nothing like having a beer at the end of the day — right by the lift. I took this after they’d closed up shop. With blazing sun at 5:30 pm, I wasn’t the only one lingering in the 10 degree temps. (That’s Celsius, folks).Sorry No Smoking Lake LouiseThis being Canada, even the No Smoking signs are super polite.Bright Day at Lake LouiseThe lifts will keep running at Lake Louise until May 11. Saturdays they’re open til 5pm. Then they shut down … and open for summer season just three days later. Which will probably go for ages, since they have still have a 200 cm base. See you soon, Lake Louise! Hopefully on another day when it’s so sunny and bright I need my goggles on, even after I take my snowboard off.

BesosWhitehorn Lodge on Urbanspoon