The Amazing Journey Part III

Day Five:  Breakfast in the concierge suite of the Banff Springs Inn included quiche and every imaginable breakfast food/beverage.  We stopped by the concierge desk to let them know our next destination and ask advise on what to do along the way.  We were not disappointed as we were given an alternate route and directed to fabulous stops along the way.  Arriving at the Chateau Lake Louise (owned by the same chain) we were again greeted with "Gold" service and whisked directly to our room.  Here is the unbelievable view from this room:

The water is really that turquoise color.  We were told it is from the glacier grinding against that particular type of rock and making "glacier flour".   From the Chateau there is a 6.6 km (or 5.5 depending on which sign you read) hike to a "tea house".  I must say that, having had minor surgery the morning before we left, it didn't feel a bit over 6.6 km so I am sticking with that.  What we didn't know when we set out is that the beginning is a leisurely stroll along the lake but after that it is all uphill.   Signs indicate hikers should travel in groups of 4 because of the large grizzly population.  Many hikers were wearing bells and whistles.  Most were in hiking attire including the poles.  We certainly stood out in our jeans.  We didn't feel the need to stay in a group of 4 since the trail was pretty busy that time of day.

   

That is the lake in the background.  Far away huh?  The "Tea House" was a stone cabin with a 3 foot balcony on three sides of the 2nd floor and that is where the food and tea is served.  Little tables and wooden chairs line the balcony. Once a year supplies are helicoptered in and the rest of the needed provision are backpacked in along the same trail we traversed.  (I personally cannot imagine hiking that trail with supplies.  I barely made it with nothing more than a bottle of water.)  There is no electricity or running water and they cook with propane.  Employees stay for 5 days at a time and hike back out along the same trail we took.  We had hummus and chips and a quinoa salad.  Yummy after that long hike.  From here you can see the Six Plains Glacier.  As pieces of this glacier break off and fall the sound is like thunder, including the ground rumbling.  I was told it takes 20 seconds for the sound to reach us.

The good news:  the hike back was all downhill.  By that time my legs felt like jelly so even downhill was a challenge but it was certainly worth the trip. 

We followed the hike with dinner on the veranda.  Up to the concierge for a nightcap and off to bed with our specialty pillows.

Tip for today:  The hotel concierge is always a great source of information on what to do in the area. Wait until you see where they sent us the next day!

Tune in tomorrow for another part of this amazing journey.