This is a story "aboot" a Canadian "teahoose".
You know how everything tastes better after a good, long hike? With Lake Louise behind us, my husband and I continued our chilly trek in the Canadian Rockies. After 5 miles and a 1,204 foot elevation gain, our faces were numb with cold and our bodies felt weak with hunger. At that perfect moment, we caught the first sign of our saving grace - the smell of baking bread wafting out of a picturesque log cabin. It was magical.
The "teahoose", as the Canadians say, was built in 1927 by two Swiss guides as a resting place for climbers. To them, I am forever indebted. It was here that I had one of the most satisfying and delicious meals of my life - steaming hot biscuits with creamy butter, sweet honey, and a cup of Banff "Ice Wine" hot tea. Simple, humble, comforting.
Imagine looking in awe at the Rocky Mountains surrounding you, a cup of hot tea in one hand and a rustic biscuit in the other. Warm honey and butter runs down your chin with every hungry bite. Words truly cannot express this experience!
With no electricity, everything is made with care daily on wood stoves. The staff hikes in to live at the cabin on a weekly rotation. This is how fresh ingredients and provisions are brought to the teahouse as well. The result of this process is a camaraderie among hikers, bakers, and servers alike. You all worked hard to get up to that gorgeous spot on the mountain. So, you sit back together to enjoy the spectacular views...and to savor one more comforting biscuit.
