Fairmont Hot Springs

We left Banff National Park, driving south through Kootenay National Park and into the valley once more. Our destination that day was Fairmont Hot Springs, where we camped at a private park situated on the Columbia River, the same Columbia River that flows past Portland and Astoria, Oregon.

We anticipated that Nancy would have a busy Monday dealing with clients who had lost power and services due to the ravaging effects of Hurricane Irene. This was not the case. Power was out back at the house/office, as well as at more than half of the state of Connecticut. Downed trees, power lines and cell towers prevented much work from being done as folks were trapped at home, dealing with flooded basements and debris, or cut off from communication. After establishing that our property was otherwise in tact, we stepped outside into the beautiful, warm sunny afternoon, and kayaked the first few miles of the mighty Columbia.

At these, the river's headwaters, it's relatively narrow, swift and winding. The water is cold and tinted with the same glacial rock flour that we saw in its extreme at Lake Louise. Just across from camp a feeder stream tumbled in to join the flow. This mineral rich water had, over countless years, deposited a shelf of stone, much like stalagmite, at its confluence:


Our paddle was great fun, shooting mild sub-class I riffles, and paddling through smooth pools. The river took us through countles S-turns along golf courses and past lovely waterside homes. The Rocky Mountains and endless sky provided our backdrop.




That night, after dinner, we had a nice soak and swim in the hot springs pools. In the cool of the evening the water felt great. The hot pool was 102 degrees; the large pool was 89 degrees. A relaxing finish to the day.


As of this writing our home and business has been without power for five days, the longest we've endured. We are thankful that our people back home check on the place and run our generator so that the pump can empty the basement of water. Even with the generator running, the office is crippled by lack of internet or phone lines, so what little work can be done must be done remotely. Yet another trick mother nature has thrown down for us to manage from thousands of miles away!