IN THE DARK
Resort offers `lights out' package
After dinner, we took a walk in the moonlight before making our way back to our cabin and lighting a fire in the wood-burning stove. It was nice not to have the distraction of TV or the internet. We spent the evening snuggling in front of the fire in our romantic candlelit cabin. Debbie Olson.
I have always wondered what it would be like to step back in time and live the life of an early pioneer in a log cabin on the Canadian frontier: No cellphone, no Wi-fi, no TV and no updates about pandemics or U.S. politics — two things I've had quite enough of lately, thank you very much. Retreating to a cabin in a remote corner of the woods seems like a good idea in the midst of a pandemic, but giving up modern conveniences such as electricity and indoor plumbing would be challenging — for me, anyway.
In early December, my husband and I had the chance to live out the fantasy of stepping back in time to a bygone era with the “lights out package” at Baker Creek Mountain Resort. Situated on the Bow Valley Parkway about 10 minutes outside the hamlet of Lake Louise, this mountain retreat is fairly isolated compared to many of the other properties in the park.
With the package, staff at the resort cut the electricity for the lights in your cabin and provide candles and storm lanterns for use after dark. It's a digital detox where you put your cellphone away and get a feeling for what it was like when mountain men, pioneers and First Nations were the only humans who inhabited the forests of Banff National Park. It's a unique opportunity to experience life in 1892 with a few very important exceptions — indoor plumbing, central heat and an on-site fine dining restaurant that offers touchless room service.
We arrived at the resort at 5 p.m., about an hour before our evening dinner reservation. Our cabin was lit with candles and lanterns, but I couldn't resist testing a light switch to see what would happen. To be honest, I didn't realize they actually turned off the power to most of the cabin. I thought they were just going to trust us not to use the lights during our stay. So much for trust. We were fully committed to this concept.
In early December, lodge guests had the choice of takeout, room service or dining in — following provincial health guidelines. We opted to dine in. Our meal was wonderful — and we shared a delicious white chocolate cheesecake for dessert. After dinner, we took a walk in the moonlight before making our way back to our cabin and lighting a fire in the wood-burning stove. It was nice not to have the distraction of TV or the internet. We spent the evening snuggling in front of the fire in our romantic candlelit cabin.
The next morning, we made our own breakfast in the cabin.
The electricity was turned off for the lights, but the fridge, stove and microwave were still fully functional. We borrowed some snowshoes from the front desk and headed out on a trail beside Baker Creek, which runs right behind the resort. The sun glistened off the fresh snow in the morning light and there wasn't another soul in sight.
We spent the day exploring other areas of Banff National Park — hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Exploring the park's winter trails is wonderful, especially when the weather is nice. We saw a few people when we hiked near Lake Louise, but we were virtually alone everywhere else.
We were famished by the time we got back to our cabin in the woods and I felt no guilt whatsoever eating white chocolate cheesecake for dessert two nights in a row. This time I didn't share.
Back in our cabin, I donned a headlamp and quietly read a book while we relaxed in front of the fire. I'm not sure if that constituted cheating on the lights out concept or not.
After checking out the next morning, we spent the day exploring the Icefields Parkway before making our way home. A digital detox — even a short one — was just what I needed. Escaping to a cabin in the woods is always a good idea and sometimes it's a great idea.