“Is this where the Tea House is?”

Kananaskis Country

• The weather forecast for the week was not looking good - 40-100% chance of rain every day with flood warnings with up to 175mm of rain expected; fortunately, rain was sporadic and didn’t last long each day 

• We delayed our plans a bit because of the weather; we drove to Lake Louise, stopping near the park entrance to watch a mama grizzly and her cub eating dandelions (they’ve been seen in that area for the last three weeks)… we skipped the shuttle because parking was available  - most of the group hiked to the Lake Agnes teahouse; we split into two groups (#1: Diane, Rick, Cathy, Trish / #2: Renee, Bill, Molly, Emily, Alec) 

• The lower half of the path was clear, but beyond Mirror Lake was still snow covered and a bit slick 

• When we summited to the top, the smell of freshly baked bread wafted through the cold air 

• We ate in the teahouse, which was staffed by people that hike up supplies and hike down with trash; they stay and work for three days at a time and make everything from scratch without electricity or running water 

• The homemade tea biscuits with jam were to die for, reminded me of the scones in England (I miss the clotted cream) 

• We all warmed up with chai, apple cider and other teas 

• Oslo was not allowed inside, but he didn’t mind; he enjoyed the snow banks and digging around for his ball 

• We all hiked down together, skipped Moraine Lake and the Banff Upper Hot Springs 

• We picked up our flowers at Willow Flower Co and got Liz’s nail fixed at The Loft 

• We had dinner at Forte and most of the group soaked sore joints in the hot tub

• “Campground”: Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge