The Word from Waterton Park
January 2005

A Note From The Editor...

Welcome to the twenty-second edition of "The Word From Waterton Park!" Thank you for expressing interest in our friendly internet newsletter. If you would prefer to be removed from our mailing list, you can e-mail us at info@watertonpark.com and we will take you off our list. If you have any feedback or if there is something special you would like to see in the newsletter, please let us know. Please note the address from which this newsletter is sent is for sending purposes only and messages addressed there might be missed. We look forward to seeing all of you in Waterton Park sometime soon!

In this edition...
1. Since We Last Spoke...
2. Monthly Draw Winners
3. Once Upon A Time in Waterton
4. Kilmorey Tasting Country
5. A Light Moment
6. Wok with James
7. Introducing...

1. SINCE WE LAST SPOKE...

It seems like quite a while since we last spoke. Certainly, a lot has happened since November! We made it through Christmas, enjoyed a lot of turkey and had to take all the festive decorations down. The end of 2004
was pretty chilly but the group who reserved the Kilmorey Lodge for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day had healthy fires going in the fireplaces and had a lot of fun celebrating in their own personal inn.

Since then the weather has had quite a lot of fun, dipping down to arctic temperatures then soaring up and melting the snow. For the last little while in Waterton Park it has seemed more like spring than January. Yes,
there have even been some motorcycles on the roads! Consequently, the hikers are enjoying an extended season - keeping out of the avalanche chutes, of course.

The very good news is the weather has provided consistently dry roads for those people who have escaped to the Kilmorey Lodge for a getaway this January. A few people took advantage of our Newsletter Reader's Package near the beginning of the month and there are several theme weekends coming soon that are a lot of fun. Check your schedules and tell a friend!

There is still time to take advantage of our Valentine's Romance Package including two nights accommodation in one of our cozy rooms, fresh roses, champagne, a three course dinner, a Valentine's Gift Basket, Breakfast in Bed, Lunch for Two, all taxes and gratuities for only $465 per couple. We will be presenting this package February 11 -14. In addition to our award winning dinner menu, we will be offering several romantic Valentine's Features. Last year's features included several popular choices such as the
"Island Romance" or "Mermaid's Kiss."

We have several Waterton Winter Spirits Getaways planned this year. These weekends are always gaining in popularity due to the variety, fun and  educational opportunities the package provides. When you sign up for the Winter Spirits Weekend you are signing up for great food and fantastic atmosphere as well as a range of Wine Tasting, Scotch Tasting, Beer Tasting,Cooking and Food Presentation and Mixology sessions. Since each weekend is unique, some of our guests have returned for two or three packages and have fantastic comments every time!

In addition to our regularly scheduled dates of February 4 & 5, March 18 & 19 and November 18 & 19, we have scheduled a special Winter Spirits Weekend. On April 1 & 2 we will be presenting our first annual (hopefully!) SINGLES
Winter Spirit Weekend! All our tasting and cooking sessions that weekend will be open to single travellers only! Come on your own, tell a friend and/or bring a (platonic) friend. Single and twin rooms available - and for a change, being single is penalty free!

Of course, our famous Murder Mystery Weekend is coming soon on February 25 & 26. There are still a few spaces available for any aspiring detectives out there. Everyone deserves a weekend of Mystery and Intrigue every once in a while! For more information on any of our packages, check out the website
at www.KilmoreyLodge.com  or give us a call toll free at 1-888-859-8669.

So there will also be plenty happening before we speak again. In addition to Valentine's, the Murder Mystery and the Winter Spirits Weekend, our Monday night Community Campfires will resume on February 7. Everyone  is welcome! The Guest Chili Chef on February 7 will be the infamous Josephine Meech... prepare your palate! The popular s'mores and hot drinks will also be available. Bundle up; we will see you there!

Later on in February we will have a booth at the Calgary Spring Home and Garden Show at the Stampede grounds. We enjoy the opportunity to meet many of our readers face to face at the Home Show. Stop by the booth and check out our show special or just come and keep us company.

When we move into March, there will be plenty of Irish Whisky and green beer available on St. Patrick's Day. (Lots of Irish Whisky for the Winter Spirits Weekend that follows, as well!) With a name such as the Kilmorey Lodge, of course we celebrate St. Patty's! Although, if you ask anyone at happy hour they will tell you any day is a good day to raise a glass in Waterton Park. Hopefully you will have a chance to come and see that for
yourself sometime soon!





2. MONTHLY DRAW WINNERS

Two lucky guests were rewarded for filling out their comment cards in the Lamp Post Dining Room. Roy Widney visited Waterton Park in November from Okotoks, Alberta. R.B. McBride visited us in December from Millarville, Alberta. Both have received a gift certificate for Lunch For Two in our award winning Lamp Post Dining Room.

We would like to thank Mr. Widney and R.B. McBride again for filling in their comment cards. The feedback regarding your service, your meal and your overall dining experience is extremely valuable to us in maintaining
and improving the quality of our product and service. 

We look forward to welcoming our two winners back again soon!

We also gave away one nights accommodation and breakfast for two to Kevin Ulry from Brooks, Alberta. Mr. Ulry participated in our website contest, passed with flying colors and was the lucky winner chosen. Please visit  www.KilmoreyLodge.com  for more contests and chances to win. 

Since we were feeling so generous we also awarded a 5-course Mountain Gourmet Dinner for Two to Bob and Jackie Gerr from Cardston, Alberta. Their name was drawn in our Frequent Fish Lovers contest. As you may know, the Kilmorey Lodge is well known for their mouth watering Friday Old Fashioned Fish & Chips and Mr. and Mrs. Gerr religiously visited us every Friday to fill up their stamp card, which was then entered in the draw. Congratulations to all of our winners!! 




3. ONCE UPON A TIME IN WATERTON

Strange Animal Encounters and Other Fun Stuff! by Kristin Roblick

It has definitely been an interesting winter so far in regards to weather. We were lucky enough have a semi-white Christmas and shortly after the holiday is when the chill set in. Temperatures dropped, snow fell, and it was a winter wonderland. This cool weather lasted for several weeks with temperatures in the minus 30 degrees Celsius mark when finally our good old friend Mr./Mrs. Chinook decided to pay us a well deserved visit. Warm winds came, along with rain, and it now feels like spring. Birds are chirping, pesky flies are swarming around, and many of the hiking trails that you usually cannot enjoy till June are easily accessible. Several Kilmorey Lodge staff members have taken advantage of this warm spell and have explored local hiking trails such as Bertha Falls and Sofa Mountain. Temperatures this week have been around 10 degrees Celsius. This is not to say that winter has left us for good... it is not time to pack up your cross-country skis yet. 

What is the reason for these spring-like conditions and is there a science behind it? Read on and discover one of the beauties of Waterton Lakes National Park.

"Chinook winds blow more often in Waterton than most places in Alberta, and these warming winds help make the park one of the warmest areas in Alberta in winter. When a chinook blows in, temperatures can rise dramatically and snow seems to disappear in front of your eyes. In Blackfoot, chinook means "snow-eater." The park's climate is influenced by two opposing systems - the Arctic Continental (cold, dry) and the prevailing Pacific Maritime (warm, moist). The more influential Pacific system gives Waterton Lakes high precipitation and frequent chinook winds."

"Wind is the most important climate factor in the park. After the Crowsnest Pass, Waterton Lakes is the second windiest, warmest places in Alberta. Average daily winds of 32 km/hr (20 mph) to a maximum of 120 km/hr (75 mph) are not uncommon. Highest winds traditionally blow in January and November, with gusts of  over 150 km/hr (90 mph) recorded in the main valley.Prevailing winds are from the southwest."

"Waterton has one of the highest chinook frequencies in Alberta (about 28 winter days with temperatures of +2.5 degrees C and above); which cause it to be one of the warmest areas in Alberta in winter. Temperatures can rise dramatically in short periods of time." 

Chinook Facts

What is a chinook?
"It's a strong wind that becomes warm and very dry while rapidly descending the lee side of mountain slopes. The wind turbulence is similar to the action river water makes when it hits a rock. As the air flows down, waves are created. The high crest of the wave creates a distinctive cloud band parallel to the mountains called a chinook arch."

Where are they found?
"They're found where prevailing winds cross mountain ranges situated parallel to them. They're particularly strong in southern Alberta and northern Montana. Chinooks also occur in other parts of the world including Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand and Argentina."

How frequent are they?
"Chinooks can happen year-round, although the warming condition is more apparent in colder weather. A chinook can last less than an hour or for several days. Not all east slope winds are Chinooks."

Why do they happen?
"Winds carrying warm, moist air from the Pacific glide up and over the western slopes of mountains - expanding, cooling and losing moisture. Once over the Coast and Rocky Mountains, the now-dry air plummets to the foothills, warming by compression. For every 100-metre drop in elevation, temperature raises 1*C. Chinook winds blow from the south or southwest and can reach speeds over 150 km/h."

Source: Environment Canada, 1995. 
"Waterton Park's unique climate - with its high precipitation, frequent strong winds, chinooks and mild temperatures - influences the variety and distribution of the park's plants and animals. Its slightly maritime climate favours the growth of plants like beargrass, false huckleberry and ninebark. In contrast, wind-dried east slopes favour grasses and limber pine. This climate is a significant factor behind the diversity found within this small park."

This is just a reminder of the daily joys of life and vacation in one of the most diversified places in the world.... Waterton Park. 

References: This information was taken from www.WatertonPark.com/reference





4. KILMOREY TASTING COUNTRY

Canada has a huge selection of quality wine these days; you definitely want to give them a try! The question is "East or West?" It is hard to decide on just one wine from just one region so I thought I would share a brilliant white from the east and a gorgeous red from the west. Enjoy......... 

Vineland Estates winery is the location for the white wine selection I have chosen to tell you about. This Ontario winery produces a semi-dry Riesling that would satisfy the tastes of all white wine fans. With peach and nectarine on the nose, this crisp and refreshing Riesling tickles the palate with the sensation of effervescence, followed by a long green apple finish that fades into a subtle sweet spice similar to ginger. The 2002 Vineland Estates semi-dry Riesling can be savored on its own or accompanied by fresh fruit and mild cheeses. 

Located on the Naramata Bench on Okanagan Lake BC, Red Rooster winery produces a merlot I would recommend to avid red wine drinkers everywhere. With moist earth and strong wood on the nose, this red is robust with a big attack and a finish that is short and light. On the palate; rich tannins, pepper and spice are present as well as oak and black plum undertones. The 2003 Red Rooster Merlot is a definite food wine that would compliment steaks with rich biarnaise sauce, curries, rich pasta dishes or strong game meats with berry sauces or relishes. Decanting this merlot would be recommended to open up the wine for most favorable enjoyment.

"A bunch of grapes, static and innocent, it is merely but a fruit. But when it is crushed it becomes an animal, for the crushed grapes become wine and wine has an animal life." - William Younger - Gods, Men & Wine

Cheers!

Natasha Chapman
Dining Room Manager
Certified in Wine Service



5. A LIGHT MOMENT

The Less Famous Proverbs

1. He who laughs last thinks slowest.
2. Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.
3. A day without sunshine is like ... night.
4. On the other hand, you have different fingers.
5. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
6. I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.
7. When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.
8. Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it.
9. Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
10. I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe.
11. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted then used against you. 
12. I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be without sponges.
13. Honk if you love peace and quiet.
14. Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how it remains so popular?
15. Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
16. It is hard to understand how a cemetery raised its burial cost and blamed it on the cost of living. 
17. The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong. 
18. It is said that if you line up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be stupid enough to try and pass them.
19. You can't have everything, where would you put it?
20. Latest survey shows that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the world's population.
21. The things that come to those who wait are usually the things left by those who got there first.
22. A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
23. It was recently discovered that research causes cancer in rats.
24. I wished the buck stopped here, as I could use a few.
25. I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.
26. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.



6. WOK WITH JAMES

Well, hello there again all you die hard newsletter readers. I hope you have enjoyed my columns so far. If anyone out there has any suggestions or items or topics they would like me to talk about, please let me know.

Linguine with Hazelnut Pesto
This rich yet savoury Hazelnut Paste is similar to pesto, but with a strong taste of powdered nuts rather than the herbal flavour of Basil. While the hazelnut's destination is usually sweets and baked goods, here they star in a delicious pasta.

1 cup Hazelnuts
4-5 cloves of Garlic, chopped
< cup of Olive Oil
12 oz. of Linguine Noodles
1 tbsp. Fresh Thyme Leaves
Fresh Ground Black Pepper to taste
1 oz. freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
1 oz. fresh chopped Parsley

1. Toast the Hazelnuts in an ungreased heavy skillet over medium heat. Toss them frequently to prevent them from burning. When they are ready, their skins will split and begin to fall off. Place Hazelnuts in a clean towel and rub them against each other to remove their skins. 

2. Chop the Garlic in a food processor then add the Hazelnuts and process to a coarse, mealy texture. Add enough Olive Oil to make a paste and set aside.

3. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain and toss with the Hazelnut Paste and Thyme, adding a little more Olive Oil if the paste is too thick.

4. Serve immediately sprinkled with the fresh grated Parmesan and chopped fresh Parsley.

Bon Appetit!
James Rowley, Chef - Kilmorey Lodge
 

  7. Introducing...

"What you see is what you get!" is her claim. We know from past experience, there is always more to a story. So, regardless of the fact that she prefers to remain in the background and avoids being put on the spot, we have decided to put her on the spot!

She comes from a family of wanderers. In fact, she was born on the road, during a family vacation in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In her life she moved from Fernie to Grand Prairie to Vancouver to Saskatoon to Weyburn to Invermere back to Saskatoon back to Weyburn to Pincher Creek and finally to Cowley. Since her arrival in Pincher Creek two years ago, we have known her as Christina Marie Bakaluk, head housekeeper of the Kilmorey Lodge.

Back in the days when she was known as Christina Phipps she attended elementary school in Grand Prairie and high school in Vancouver. Although she admits to being disinterested in the rules when she was growing up, she rarely got into trouble. This means she was either very careful or a fast runner! Of course, there was that one time when she "accidentally" lit her desk on fire. Her poor old teacher had to run back and forth from the bathroom with a potato chip bag full of water to put the fire out.

Fortunately, that seemed to be the extent of her firebug tendencies! She did have plenty of other hobbies when she was young. Throughout her childhood, her parents encouraged both Christina and her sister to take classes in whatever interested them. Consequently Christina had the opportunity to take art classes, do competitive swimming, figure skating, ballet, theatre, soccer and many other team sports as well as music lessons for mandolin, trumpet, recorder and violin. Some of the training stuck and she still enjoys charcoal drawing and after several years in a Dixieland and City Marching Band she can still do a fair job on the trumpet. 

During high school, Christina began working at a dog kennel. This developed into a long term interest in dog grooming and breeding. In Saskatoon, she continued to work in the same field before going back to school and becoming licensed as a dog groomer. At that point she leased the business from the lady she had been working for and became a small business owner. 

Then came Avery, her oldest son. The dog grooming business moved to the back burner. Her husband had family in Weyburn, Saskatchewan so they re-located there. Christina went back to school again and took a course in Computers and Office Procedures through the regional college. This led the way to a job at a Veterinary Clinic in Invermere, where she did everything from general help to grooming.

She loved Invermere but soon Gabriel, her second son, was on the way. It was time for another move back to Weyburn, family, the family doctor and a familiar hospital. Once again, the time in Weyburn was fairly short. It was on a trip with Gabriel and Avery to visit her parents in Lundbreck that she heard about the job at the Kilmorey Lodge. She liked the mountains, the sense of history and the people so she packed up the kids, left behind some excess baggage and moved to Pincher Creek.

Lately, the majority of her free time is taken up with being a mother to two small, very active boys, ages six and three. Mornings alone are a full day's work getting everyone ready, driving to different schools (in opposite directions, of course) before moving on to the paying job in Waterton! She also seems to be putting down roots and would like to buy a house in Lundbreck, a small town where her kids can attend the same school from kindergarten to grade twelve. Eventually she would like to get back into dog breeding, although the exact breed is yet to be decided! Then perhaps, when she retires, she will start an animal shelter where she can take dogs in, train them and re-socialize them. 

Christina says she has always been told she is stubborn (we prefer determined) so there is every reason to believe she will achieve her goals. Reports are, once she decides to do something, you can rarely change her mind. She also has plenty of time until retirement to work on her long term plans. After all, she still gets kicked out of the pool hall if she forgets her identification!

In the meantime, you can find this pretty, five foot five inch brunette in the housekeeping department at the Kilmorey Lodge. Her favourite season is fall, her favourite food is chocolate and her favourite colours are burgundy and periwinkle blue. Her co-workers and friends describe her as quiet, hard working, slightly jumpy, a good friend and a great Mom with a very funny (only slightly warped) sense of humour. In fact, the stubbornness hardly ever comes up at all! Like she said, "What you see is what you get!"



Thank you for reading our friendly Internet Newsletter! If you have any feedback or if you would like to contribute to our newsletter, please e-mail us at info@watertonpark.com, attn: Nicki. For more information on Waterton Lakes National Park and links to many other area attractions,
check out our website at www.watertonpark.com