Chateau Lake Louise

After a long skiing trip to Lake O’Hara Lodge the previous day I was ready for a relaxing day in the Rockies and we headed up to Chateau Lake Louise. We were hoping  the ice sculptures from the winter festival was still being exhibited. Unfortunately they were not, possibly due to the warm days that Lake Louise had experienced. It was still a nice day for some sightseeing around this icon in Banff National Park. We normally stay clear of this area when we are in the Rockies as it is packed with visitor and usually very busy, but this is the first time we have been here during winter and the atmosphere is definitely more relaxed here during the cold season!

It was a nice day for being outside as the temperature was comfortable, but not a great day for photography as it was overcast and the pictures turned out a bit dull. So what do you do? Turn them into B&W and play around with the contrast! Hope you enjoy the photo series.

The boat house at Lake Louise. During winter you can rent snow shoes. 

A ice skating range with an ice castle in the middle on the lake

LAKE OF LITTLE FISHES

Chateau Lake Louise is a year-round luxury mountain resort and its history starts back to 1882 when Thomas Wilson discovered this scenic location. In the summer of 1882 Thomas Wilson was employed by the Canadian Pacific Railway who wanted to build a rail way over the close by Kicking Horse Pass.. The Stoney Indians that was hired in as local guides showed him this lake that they called ”the lake of little fishes.” Wilson was the first white man to see the lake and he named it Emerald Lake inspired by the blue and green water.

”As God is my judge, I never in all my explorations saw such a matchless scene.”

Thomas Wilson

The lake was later renamed Lake Louise in honor of Queen Victoria’s fourth daughter, Princess Louise Caroline Alberta. Wilson also named nearby Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park that we visited in the post ‘Emerald Lake Winter Getaway‘.

My handsome husband

Chateau Lake Louise 

A SIMPLE BEGINNING

The chateau had a simple beginning and started out as a small log cabin on the shore line of the lake. While only 50 guests registered at the chalet in 1890, by 1912, 50,000 guests had already slept here. The small log cabin is gone as result of a fire and the buildings you can visit today have roots back to 1911, but majority of the buildings are newer.

The chateau was originally only open during summer and it is relatively recent (around 1970’s) that the hotel started opening up during peak winter season. Today it is open year round. During Lake Louise World Cup in November the Chateau is hosting all the racers.

Chandelier in the reception of Chateau Lake Louise

One if the restaurants at Chateau Lake Louise with a view over the lake

2012 Lake Louise Alpine World Cup Public Bib Draw 

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