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Chateau Lake Louise

by Dave Shultz

Chateau Lake Louise is known as a Diamond in the Wilderness and anyone who ever stood on the frozen lake and watched the sun rise light up the top of the mountains would certainly have to agree.  The history here has been shaped by the hotel since the 1890's when it became the center of mountaineering and tourist adventures in the remote Canadian wilderness.

Lake Louise is fed by six glaciers and is surrounded by majestic mountains that afford Chateau visitors a view reminiscent of Swiss Alps.  The lake is a deep emerald color in the summer that isn’t found anywhere else in nature.  In the winter it becomes a wonderland of ice-skating, ice sculptures and horse drawn sleigh rides. 

The hotel abounds with old world charm and everywhere you look brings new views of painted accents and solid wood furniture.  Swiss influence shows everywhere in the architecture and decorations in the hotel.  High ceilings house unique chandeliers comprised of buxom maids lighting your way.

Skiing is still the most popular winter past time but the landscape offers so much more.  While snow mobiling is a popular mode of transportation through wilderness areas, there is nothing more rewarding than old-fashioned snowshoes for truly experiencing the forest during the winter.  A short trek from the Chateau into the forest with Bruce Bembridge of the CP Guides opened up a winter wonderland of scenic views and a silence that can almost be felt.  The sounds of civilization quickly fade as the snow passes under the webbed snowshoes that keep you from sinking into the 6 to 8 foot drifts.  When you pause, you hear nothing at first but if you are quiet and ignore the sound of your own breathing, you might hear the faint trill of a Mountain Jay calling its mate.  Listen a little longer and you will begin to hear the wind whispering through the pines causing clumps of snow to drop from pine boughs to the white blanket below.  These are things you could never experience from a snow mobile.

The snow shoes are not as awkward as they seem once you realize that you walk naturally, placing one foot in front of the other.  If you walk with your feet too far apart, you get tired muscles quickly so the shoes are shaped to walk naturally.

Dinner in the Walliser Stube Wine Bar reflects the European influence and fondue is their specialty.  We sampled the seafood, beef and cheese fondues and barely had room for the marvelous chocolate desert fondue afterwards.  The dining room has a unique feature I've never seen anywhere else, a wine library.  At one end of the dining room is a wooden library ladder on wheels that leads to a marvelous selection of wines stored overhead.

For even more elegance, try the Edelweiss Dining Room.  The food is only exceeded by the atmosphere and the staff is extremely helpful and pleasant.  Be sure to leave room for desert. The preparation of the Strawberries Foster was the highlight of the evening and tasted better than it looked.

Chateau Lake Louise
Canadian Pacific Hotels
Lake Louise, AB, T0L 1E0
Tel. (403) 522-3511
Fax: (403) 522-3834
http://www.cphotels.com

Getting There
Air Canada
800-776-3000
http://www.aircanada.ca

Photos by Dave Shultz 

Lodge at Kananaskis  Back  Jasper Park Lodge  Banff Springs Hotel

-Updated 5-5-99-

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