In this age of social distancing, connoisseur travelers crave to be able to continue to explore exceptional settings while heeding health and safety guidelines regarding large gatherings. We were recently challenged by a client to come up with a venue secluded enough to ensure the safety of a small group of senior executives. Operating in such challenging times, remote sanctuaries have gained added appeal. That’s why we quickly thought of Winterlake Lodge as the perfect setting for this group of wary financial executives.
Nestled in Alaska’s deep wilderness, Winterlake sits at the entrance to the Alaska Range, just on the edge of an ancient valley. The famed dog sled race Iditarod Trail runs through the property. The Lodge is located just under 200 air miles Northwest of Anchorage, next to Denali National Park and in the midst of the wildest landscape imaginable. Winterlake seems to exist to provide a sublime setting for outdoor adventures and intimate encounters with Alaska’s wilderness. With spectacular views of the Tremble and Hayes glacier, the Tordrillo Mountain Range and Denali in every direction, the lodge is a luxurious sanctuary to enjoy a most rugged, remote and dramatically beautiful setting in the world while easily observing social distancing requirements.
The lodge provides ample opportunity for all kinds of exploration to suit every interest—from self-guided kayaking and paddle boarding excursions on the lake to guided helicopter rides that whisk you to mountain peaks and glaciers—with ample opportunity to observe wildlife in their natural habitat. No matter what activity you opt for—and there are many to choose from—you are assured to come back to an award-winning culinary experience at the end of your adventure-packed day. With a famed chef at the helm, meals are always creative, fresh and with a unique flair.
Our lucky executives’ itinerary included a guided heli-hiking discovering little-known trails in the heart of the Alaskan wilds, after which the group was able to try their skills in fishing for salmon and rainbow trout, guided by a helpful and knowledgeable fishing expert to teach everyone fly-fishing and fly-tying techniques.
On their Day 2, the group got to fly to one of the glaciers surrounding the lodge to take a walk along the ice to see the dazzling blue pools left by glacial melt and to watch a glacier calve on a nearby river.
Our last day was already upon us. The group boarded helicopters and soared along the southern edge of Denali, taking in sweeping views of the vast forests below and spotting abundant wildlife from above. On our return to the lodge, the group got to try its hand at mushing. The lodge has its own dog-mushing school where we met the 20 huskies housed there.
Everyone in the group agreed that their short stay at Winterlake was nothing short of spectacular in every respect. The group also unanimously agreed that aside from its unique location in the Alaska wilderness, what sets Winterlake apart from many other remote lodges is its owners’ philosophical stance in co-existing in peace and harmony with the living environment—as was eloquently articulated by Carl Dixon, the co-owner. Consequently, hunting, for example, is frowned upon.
Our once-in-a-lifetime adventure was over and we had to bid farewell to a most hospitable team, board a seaplane and head to our next exciting destination, Tutka Bay Lodge, a sister property to Winterlake.
Sitting on the tip of the Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, Tutka Bay Lodge offers some similar activities as Winterlake—but from a completely different vantage point. The lodge was built on a peninsula where old-growth forest meets the waters of Kachemak Bay. As with Winterlake, no matter which direction you turn at Tutka Bay, you’ll experience the unspoiled beauty of the Alaskan wilderness.
Upon arrival and without wasting time, our lucky guests left their assigned cabins for an invigorating hike through temperate rainforest under the direction of an expert guide and naturalist who provided the group with intriguing information on the area’s waters and woodlands. To round up the day’s activities, the hike was immediately followed by a deep-sea whale-watching excursion.
In addition to its spectacular natural setting, what sets Tutka Bay Lodge apart from many other unique lodges is being home to an award-winning chef and food writer, Kirsten Dixon, who trained at the prestigious Cordon Bleu in Paris. This remote wilderness may not be where you would expect to find a master chef, but Alaska is full of such surprises. Tutka Bay and Winterlake Lodges are the brainchild of husband and wife Carl and Kirsten Dixon. The group got an exclusive look into culinary world of Kirsten Dixon during a private dinner in her “Wilderness Kitchen.” Fresh Alaskan fare is part of the signature experience at Tutka Bay Lodge, and to ensure the sustainable integrity of the lodge menu, the chefs grow, forage, and buy local ingredients whenever possible. Sustainable culinary practices are so integral to the lodge operation that our guests found themselves contributing to the preparation of their evening meals. For their first dinner, fittingly, the group was treated to a sumptuous dinner prepared by Kirsten and her talented sous chefs—a dinner one would only expect at a Michelin-rated restaurant.
After a hearty breakfast, we started Day 2 with a stimulating outdoor yoga class overlooking the bay and surrounding mountains. The group then launched several kayaks (and a few rowboats) from the boathouse and paddled into the neighboring fjord, discovering its secret coves and secluded islands. Upon return, the group soaked in the wood-fired hot tub overlooking inky waters, enjoying views of forested isles and the surrounding snow-capped mountains. An action-packed day concluded with yet another delightful and award-worthy dinner.
As the expression goes, all good things must come to an end. On Day 3 we had to head back to the mainland where social distancing is not nearly as simple or exhilarating as the group found in Alaska.
To plan your own wilderness retreat in this age of social distancing, let professionals at GMS prepare an itinerary for a once-in-a-lifetime experience of your own.