Karl's cabin is unique in the Valemount community. First, the location is on a property with beautiful views of the mountains, is secluded from any other people or traffic and is very quiet and woodsy. The spacious grounds include a separate wood-fired spa and sauna. Although we didn't try the spa, we found the sauna easy to use and it provided relaxing sessions for our minds and muscles after our long hikes.
The house itself has very comfortable furniture in which to read a book or enjoy a quiet drink. The dinner table is spacious and has stunning views as you dine. The bedrooms, both upstairs and downstairs, have soft beds that allow for easy sleeping, although the master bedroom has a skylight that encourages early rousing in the morning. However, the master bathroom has recently been updated and the shower, sinks and size of the bathroom are luxurious. The kitchen has all the necessary appliances and amenities for cooking, but it would be helpful to have a few supplements such as measuring cups and spoons, and more pots with lids. But, we did rather enjoy the heated floors during the cool mornings while we were having our first cup of coffee.
Another convenience was the location of the home to the nearest grocery store that was only five minutes away, and we took full advantage of the nearby Swiss bakery for its bread, muffins and rolls. Additionally, the home is situated close to scenic hiking trails, such as Kinney Lake trail that our family thought was lovely. It's only an hour away from Jasper National Park and we thought the various trails we hiked were absolutely breathtaking, particularly Opal Hills when it snowed on us!
One of the best assets to staying at Karl's cabin was that he has a truly delightful young woman as a caretaker, Rebecca, who visited us on multiple occasions to introduce the functions of the house and to aid in a little troubleshooting when we were confused. Thank you, Rebecca, for always solving our problems.
Karl's home was a delightful sanctuary during the week we visited and we were reluctant to leave as we had such a good experience there. Then, when the four bucks wandered by the steps of the home as they grazed on the plants in the front yard on our last morning there, it just seemed to enhance what a remarkable place it is and the memories it helped to create from our trip.