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The Lodge at Kananaskis

by Dave Shultz

The first thing to do here is learn how to pronounce Kananaskis.  It's an Indian word for 'Meeting of the Waters' and it's pronounced (can-an-ask-ess).  It became really easy after a little use.  Kananaskis is noted for its Indian Pow Wow events in the summer and snow activities in the winter.

The lodge is nestled at the foot of the eastern Canadian Rockies only 60 miles from Calgary and overlooks the Kananaskis River as it flows through a lush valley.  The rooms in the lodge are large, warm and inviting and definitely portray and ambiance of mountain resort.  Fountains, ponds and very natural landscaping highlight the grounds between the buildings.  You can explore countless miles of trails surround the lodge that offer spectacular hiking in the summer and cross county skiing in the winter. 

Count on plenty of animal watching year round.  Moose, elk and deer make up the larger varieties and an abundance of smaller animals and birds fill in any gaps.  Twice a year during April and October, there is a mass migration of Golden Eagles going to or from Alaska that travel over the lodge and counting eagles has become a favorite pastime of locals and visitors alike.

When the Canadian Pacific Hotel chain first started attracting visitors to the Canadian Rockies during the last century, they realized that their guests wanted to experience more than just a pleasant stay in the mountains.  They wanted to experience everything the local geography had to offer.  The hotels were not adequately equipped to escort them into the mountainous wilderness so they brought Swiss guides in to teach them how to climb the mountains safely.  Thus was born the Canadian Pacific Guides.  The Guides are still escorting guest around the mountains today and in fact will celebrate their 100^th anniversary in 2000.

I was fortunate to have Bruce Bembridge a Field Naturalist with the CP Guides escort my group on a nature walk around the Lodge.  Bruce, with his ever-present Pony Stetson hat is a former schoolteacher and present naturalist and a wealth of information about the history of the Canadian Pacific and the flora and fauna of the region.  Tall and lean with a quiet demeanor, Bruce has a way of answering questions with questions that make you work out the answers on your own and leaves you with a much better understanding of the subject.  It’s easy to believe he was and excellent schoolteacher.  An experienced tracker, his explanations of the wildlife in the area really brought them to life for us.  We learned the importance of conservation and preservation and the consequences of failure to do so.

My favorite place for lunch was Brady's Market.  I found a combination that's hard to beat: good food at an excellent price with an atmosphere of an old fashioned market.  If your looking for classical elegance for an evening meal, stop at the Fireside Lounge.  Authentic Italian food is their specialty and they have a variety of fine wines to make the evening in front of the fireplace a special occasion.

The Lodge At Kananaskis
Canadian Pacific Hotels
Kananaskis Village
Alberta, Canada TOL 2HO
(403) 591-6250
Fax (403) 591-7756
http://www.cphotels.com

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

 Photos by Dave Shultz

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