Destination Snow: Lake Louise, Alberta
By Chryss Cada

The most beautiful ski resort in North America is already getting a fresh coat of white.

Located in the heart of majestic, historic Banff National Park, Lake Louise’s scenery will take the breath of even the most seasoned traveler.

Readers of SKI Magazine ranked Lake Louise Ski Area as the #1 ski resort in North America for Scenery in the 2004 reader survey, and the magazine described it as being “ridiculously blessed by nature.”

Man is giving Mother Nature a helping hand by adding a frosting of white to Lake Louise’s peaks. The resort fired up the largest snowmaking system in Canada on Oct. 15 to prepare for an early Nov. 7 opening date.

At Lake Louise, an exhaustive gamut of outdoor recreational activities allows the visitor to not only look at their surroundings, but also get out and enjoy them. In addition to skiing at the resorts, visitors can take in the views on a heli-skiing adventure, a scenic plane ride or a thrilling ice hike.

Second in size only to Whistler/Blackcomb, not only is Lake Louise one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever ski – it’s also among North America’s biggest. The resort has 1,700 skiable hectares (4,200 acres) spread out over 113 named runs plus the back bowls. The longest run is eight kilometers (five miles). Terrain is a mix of 25 percent beginner, 45 percent intermediate and 30 percent advanced. All this is topped off by limitless off-trail adventures. The snow is reliable for a six month long season that stretches from mid-November to mid-May.

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For your days off the slopes, Lake Louise offers excursions that are worthy adventures on their own merits. The most highly recommended is a spin on the Icefields Parkway. A sign at the beginning of the road calls it “The Most Beautiful Road in the World.” After a few minutes of taking in the massive peaks covered with impressive glaciers, it’s difficult to argue with that claim.

While there are more outdoor activities than can be squeezed into the daylight hours, night time is relatively quiet in Lake Louise.

Bars, clubs and restaurants are primarily located in area hotels. For an après treat, stop at the Chateau Lake Louise for a drink. A small lounge, adorned with tapestries and graceful palms, allows patrons to take in the stunning view of Lake Louise through a grand, arched window. For a more down-to-earth bar with local flavor stop by the Lake Louise Bar and Grill. News in the little village spreads quickly, so this is also a good source for insider information.

Dining options include a torchlight dinner at the mid-mountain Whitehorn Lodge at the ski area. Held every Tuesday and Friday, the event includes hot après-ski appetizers, a full buffet, live entertainment and a guided torchlight ski down the mountain. For an unforgettable meal, visit the Emerald Lake Lodge Dining Room at Emerald Lake Lodge 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Lake Louise. The chef fuses Victorian and alpine culinary traditions with local game and produce. It also affords breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

The truly lucky visitor will not only dine at the area’s fine hotels, but check in.

At the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise the majestic mountains soaring skyward are reflected in the vibrant blues and greens of glacier fed lake. The hotel’s quiet “backyard” is laced with miles of cross-country, snowshoe and walking trails. Since the Chateau is the only hotel on the lake, guests feel like the beauty surrounding them is exclusively theirs. That is also the case at the Emerald Lake Lodge, surrounded by 13 mountainous acres of pristine natural setting. The Post Hotel is the Canadian Rockies at their finest. Perched at 1,500 meters (4,875 feet), this cherished alpine chalet offers the highest level of customer service and luxurious comforts.

The lodging and skiing are so fine they almost reach the unattainable level of the scenery.

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