Eleven Winterlake Lodge Pre-Arrival Guide

ELEVEN WINTERLAKE LODGE

SUMMER PRE-ARRIVAL PLANNING GUIDE

WELCOME

We are thrilled that you have chosen Eleven® for your upcoming trip! Your Eleven Team will be here every step of the way to design and customize your oncein-a-lifetime adventure. We are excited to share our slice of Alaska’s remarkable wilderness with you. It’s our job to ensure that you are smiling at the end of every day, taking on new challenges, and savoring time with friends and family.

We believe that when you stay with us, Eleven becomes your home away from home. We look forward to meeting you and curating your grand adventure.

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- The Experience Team

ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE

LODGING OVERVIEW

Located on the fourth checkpoint of the famous Iditarod Trail, Winterlake Lodge is composed of six quaint cabins and embraced by two imposing mountain ranges. The largest cabin is an original log cabin that includes three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The others, configured with one or two cozy bedrooms, reflect the quintessential ambiance of mountain cabin life, welcoming guests home after their adventures to take in staggering lake and mountain views at their leisure. A spacious main lodge hosts guests for authentic Alaska-inspired dinners amidst the warmth of two wood-burning fireplaces, while its expansive deck draws guests outside to spot wildlife around Finger Lake. A cedar hot tub and wood-fired sauna complete the lodge experience, delivering a well-deserved dose of rustic relaxation after a day in the great outdoors.

PROPERTY DETAILS

• Six lakefront cabins

• One cabin with three bedrooms and three bathrooms

• Two cabins with two bedrooms and two bath rooms

• Three cabins with one bedroom and one bath room

• Main lodge with shared dining room, lounge area with two fireplaces, recreation space, and lakeside patio

• Shared cedar hot tub and wood-fired sauna

• Hatchet toss area, onsite helipads, and bordering lake with canoes, paddle boards, and boats

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A DAY IN THE LIFE “BEST DAY EVER”

Wake up in your wood-clad cabin to views of the Alaska Range that will take your breath away. A morning yoga flow exhilarates your mind and body before you fuel up with a chef-prepared breakfast in the main lodge, which is highlighted by seasonal, local ingredients. Next, load up in a helicopter right at the lodge to embark on the glacier trekking adventure of a lifetime. Soar over the Tordrillo Mountains, keeping your eyes peeled for wildlife, and land on a seldom-visited glacier. Your guides will prep you with techniques, gear, and safety measures so you feel confident every step of the way. Experience magnificent ice falls, crevasses, moulins, melt channels, and crystal blue pools as you traverse the glacier with your group.

After a delicious in-field lunch, fly back to the lodge and head out with your angling guides to target all five species of Pacific Salmon on beautiful nearby rivers. Wind down with a soak in the cedar hot tub back at the lodge before indulging in an exquisite fireside dinner consisting of wild salmon and greens gathered from the lodge garden accompanied by a wine tasting.

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SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Alaska is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, and we have endless summer adventures just outside our doorstep. Read on to learn more about our favorites.

HELI-ASSISTED GLACIER TREKKING

Explore the magnificence of seldom-visited glaciers on a custom guided adventure to experience Alaska’s famed ice falls, crevasses, moulins, melt channels, and crystal blue pools

Activity Duration: Half-day or Full-day. This activity is included in your stay.

HELI-ASSISTED TUNDRA AND ALPINE HIKING

Experience everything from treeless tundra and wildflower meadows to ridgelines, waterfalls, and caribou country on a variety of heli-assisted hikes in the Alaska Range and Tordrillo Mountains.

Activity Duration: Half-day or Full-day. This activity is included in your stay.

WHITEWATER RAFTING

Navigate the exhilarating Class III rapids of this heli-accessed river alongside expert guides. Dramatic scenery marked by intriguing flora and fauna and a riverside lunch highlight this adventure.

Activity Duration: 4-hours. This activity is included in your stay.

GUIDED FLY FISHING

Target all five species of Pacific salmon, rainbow trout, Arctic Grayling, and Dolly Varden while wading heli-accessed streams or floating various rivers with expert guides.

Activity Duration: Half-day or Full-day. This activity is included in your stay.

COOKING CLASSES

Concoct your own Alaska-fueled dish using local ingredients and authentic practices alongside our passionate chefs during this 1-hour cooking course in the main lodge.

Activity Duration: 1-hour. This activity is included in your stay.

LAKE SPORTS

Winterlake Lodge is situated on a lovely lake (hence our name). It’s the summertime home to nesting loons, Trumpeter swans, and lovely views of neighboring mountains. Paddle around on a kayak, canoe, stand up paddle board, or paddle boat and listen to the silence.

Activity Duration: 1-3 hours. This activity is included in your stay.

HATCHET TOSS

Perfect your aim throwing a hatchet at our on-property target, taking guidance from our staff’s expert skills and enjoying a classic pastime in a stunning setting.

Activity Duration: 1-hour. This activity is included in your stay.

DOG SLEDDING

Helicopter over to the nearby ice field that houses our dog camp, where you’ll embark on a classic Alaska dog sledding adventure with enthusiastic guides and a team of lovable huskies.

Activity Duration: 1 - 1.5 hours. This activity is included in your stay.

FORAGING

Meander through the woods around the lodge to learn all there is to know about Alaska’s wild edible treasures. Along with onsite greenhouses, the native greens, berries, and herbs are plentiful.

Activity Duration: 1-2 hours. This activity is included in your stay.

SURVIVAL SKILLS COURSE

Learn a variety of basic survival techniques that will equip you on your adventures with expanded backcountry knowledge and informed decision-making skills when safety challenges arise.

Activity Duration: 1-2 hours. . This activity is included in your stay.

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FOOD AND DRINK

FOOD

Alaska’s diverse landscapes don’t just fill your days with amazing adventures—the mountains, valleys, rivers, and sea also fill your plate with some of the best ingredients in the world. Here at Winterlake Lodge, we approach our culinary program with a longstanding passion for sharing the treasures that come straight from our backyard. Blending greens and berries from onsite greenhouses and gardens with sustainably sourced fish like halibut, wild salmon, and oysters, our team of enthusiastic chefs curate seasonal dishes that truly bring the flavor of Alaska to life. Fully prepared to your tastes, the plates are as creative as they are nutritious, delivering a delightful culinary experience filled with highlights like shrimp bites, crab cakes, and reindeer sausage that flawlessly complement your adventures.

DRINK

An extensive variety of beer and wine completes the experience, inviting you to taste the finest of domestic and imported ales and wines. Wine tastings are a guest favorite, served fireside in the main lodge or outdoors on the lodge patio. Alaska boasts a host of fantastic local breweries, which you can sample at your leisure with guidance on flavor profiles and personalized recommendations from our culinary team. While liquor restrictions limit our ability to serve spirits, our beer and wine offerings deliver a diverse beverage experience that’s reflective of our easygoing, outdoor-centered lifestyle.

WEATHER AND HOW TO PACK

GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

Because of Mother Nature’s particularly unpredictable disposition here in Alaska, equipping yourself with plenty of layers is key to packing. June and July typically offer warm, sunny days in the upper 60’s, while August brings more rain, and September tends to cool off. Focus on bringing protective, waterproof clothing suitable for fluctuating temperatures ranging from the 30’s–80’s and varying conditions like rain, wind, sunshine, mosquitoes, and harsh high-elevation exposure, particularly for glacier adventures.

SUGGESTED PACKING LIST

The following is a travel checklist to use as a guideline while preparing for your trip. Please speak with your Eleven Team about additional packing questions.

CLOTHING & GEAR LIST

Sturdy, broken-in hiking boots (waterproof recommended)

Sneakers and/or comfortable shoes for the lodge

Synthetic, polypropylene base layers

Midweight layers like fleeces and quarter-zips Insulating pile and/or down/synthetic layers (puffies recommended)

Lightweight waterproof rain gear (pants and hooded jacket)

Mosquito repellent and head net Sunglasses, sunscreen, and sun hat or baseball cap

Warm socks (preferably wool)

Swimsuit

Lightweight gloves and hats

Casual dinner and hang out attire

Binoculars, notebook, pen

Small personal flashlight or headlamp (midAugust and September)

TRAVEL LIST

Prescriptions and medication

Cell phone

Camera and charger

Batteries for devices

Personal toiletries

GEAR

PROVIDED BY ELEVEN

All necessary gear for included activities.

AMENITIES

Chapstick, Bath Amenities, Sunscreen, Lip

Balm, Bug Spray & Bug Nets

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TRAVEL TIPS

RECOMMENDED TRAVEL INSIGHTS

We are located about 100 air miles northwest of Anchorage in Southcentral Alaska. Although not included in the package price, we will help arrange air transfers between Anchorage and the lodge, or Talkeetna and the lodge. We offer both shared flights with other lodge guests or private charter flights. Planes range from 3-passenger to 10-passenger aircrafts. Flights are via floatplane, meaning they are not on wheels and take off and land on water.

By Air (Commercial and Private):

• Fly into Anchorage. There are a number of direct flights to Anchorage from Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, San Francisco, and LAX. These are often redeyes.

• Due to weather being unpredictable, we will not book your floatplane flight on the same day as your Anchorage arrival/ departure

• Stay at Captain Cook Hotel (downtown Anchorage) or Lakefront Hotel (near the airport and Lake Hood)

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NEED TO KNOW

CURRENCY EXCHANGE

The state of Alaska uses the US Dollar. Exchanging Euros and other currencies is recommended for travel to the United States.

CASH AND CREDIT CARDS

We suggest you carry some cash for taxis, tips and other items if you will be spending any time in the country. It is also recommended that you notify your credit card companies that you will be traveling internationally. Visa and Mastercard are commonly accepted, even for small transactions.

LOCAL LANGUAGE

Alaska has around 20 distinct official native languages with English being the most widely spoken.

LOCAL TIMEZONE

Winterlake Lodge adheres to the Alaska Time (UTC) zone.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

For visitors, entry requirements differ slightly depending on place of birth, length of stay and what items accompany the traveler. All persons entering the United States must travel with a passport that is six months or more from expiration, a return or onward journey ticket, and proof of funds to support the traveler during their visit.

MOBILE DEVICE SERVICES

Due to our remote location, there is no cell phone service at Winterlake Lodge. For time off-property such as during airport transfers, we recommend checking with your cell phone provider to see if you will have service in Alaska, and the United States if you are traveling from another country.

ELECTRICAL CURRENT

Electricity at Winterlake Lodge is 120 volts with Type A or B outlets. The lodge runs off a generator which is on from 7am - 11pm and is switched off at night.

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CHECK-IN AND CHECKOUT

While there are no set check in or check out times, guests typically arrive around 9am by float plane, which will then likely be the same plane that takes departing guests. Timing is weather dependent, but we will work closely with arriving and departing guests to coordinate all relevant details.

AIRPORT ARRIVALS

Guests are able to fly either privately or commercially into Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage. From there, we can help you coordinate the subsequent floatplane transfer, which delivers you straight to the lodge.

GRATUITIES AND TIPPING

Please be assured that gratuities are not expected by our team, however, if you would like to thank the Eleven staff and guides, here is some helpful information and standard courtesy guidelines for your reference.

At the end of the stay, you’ll have the opportunity to select the amount you’d like to leave in the form of cash or card. If you choose to leave one amount for the entire team, it will get distributed fairly amongst all guides and staff who contributed to your stay. For the entire hospitality and guide team, we suggest $200 USD per guest, per day. Tipping is at your discretion and this is merely a recommendation.

PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION POLICY

Please refer to our website for updated information regarding our deposit and cancellation policy: https:// elevenexperience.com/cancellation-policies

TRIP INSURANCE

WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND the purchase of trip cancellation insurance. The Eleven team can help you arrange trip cancellation insurance with Global Rescue. Please ask your sales representative for more information.

ELEVEN CONTACT INFORMATION

ELEVEN HEADQUARTERS

+1 800.903.7761 (Toll-Free)

+1 970.237.5985 (International) reservations@elevenexperience.com

EXPERIENCE TEAM

WLLexperienceteam@elevenexperience.com

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NEXT STEPS

Pre-Planning will continue with your Experience Team from now until your departure from Eleven Winterlake Lodge. We are excited to work with you in customizing your dream itinerary and will be available for any pre-arrival questions you may have.

We are thrilled that you have decided to stay with us at Eleven Winterlake Lodge! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We are looking forward to hosting you and making your trip to Alaska an unforgettable experience.

CALL US: +1 800.903.7761 (Toll-Free) +1 970.237.5985 (International)

EMAIL US: WLLexperienceteam@ elevenexperience.com

Or visit ElevenExperience.com

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Eleven Winterlake Lodge Pre-Arrival Guide