Wellness is a Winter Wonderland at Alaska's Winterlake Lodge

Continuing their experimentation with how to provide world-class wellness programming within the framework of new safety guidelines, the team at Alaska Adventure Company Within the Wild has dreamed up a host of once-in-a-lifetime winter wellness experiences for guests at Winterlake Lodge, located deep in the Alaska backcountry at the entrance to the Alaska Range.

The remote lodge’s winter programming place a strong focus on the healing powers of nature. Uniquely Alaska elements accent the wellness program including the aurora borealis, herbal summer-gathered oils from the surrounding landscape, and even the Iditarod Trail.

Within the Wild’s winter wellness offerings include:

• Northern spirit cleansing | ancient Alaska ritual of steaming in a cedar banya before a cold plunge in the lake
• Connection and letting go fire ceremony | bonfire meditation and star collecting incorporating breathing techniques and light yoga
• Sky bathing under the aurora borealis | lay on a bed of thick lake ice warmed by special northern blankets with a fire nearby with hot drinks and northern treats
• Aroma therapy sauna | Alaska herbal summer-gathered oils mixed with ice in the banya followed by a plunge into the lake
• Guided meditation ski-and-yoga down the Iditarod Trail | take time to stop and notice the winter with light yoga stretches and meditation stops along the trail
• Snowshoe labyrinth meditation | spruce boughs form an ice-candle-lit labyrinth on a frozen lake for a meditation path on snowshoes
• Cooking with Purpose | learn to make sizzling sake yuzu dumplings with a mindfulness approach

Within the Wild is a luxury Alaskan adventure travel company with two remote lodges deep in the backcountry of Southcentral Alaska and a firm focus on sustainability. Within The Wild operates Winterlake Lodge at the entrance to the Alaska Range, and Tutka Bay Lodge at the edge of Kachemak Bay State Park, treating travelers to unparalleled offerings in relaxation, wellness, creative culinary experiences, and adventure all in the comfort of rustic luxury. No roads lead to either lodge and with only 6 cabins at each lodge and a new full lodge buyout option, guests can worry less about staying distant and focus instead on connecting with the wilderness. The team has adapted lodge amenities to maximize safety while maintaining their commitment to sustainably providing guests with once in a lifetime outdoor adventure experiences and customized itineraries. The guest experience at both lodges includes award-winning fine dining by chefs Kirsten and Mandy Dixon, wine & beer, backcountry guiding, out-camp excursions, a variety of socially distant wellness offerings, cooking classes, heli-adventures, and outdoor activities. Two-night, three-night, and six-night itineraries available.

Winterlake Lodge (open February – March for the winter season and June 1-September 30 for the summer season) offers activities ranging from sled dog tours (the lodge is actually a checkpoint on the Iditarod trail) to heli-skiing in the Tordillo Mountains alongside guided activities like hiking, kayaking, canoeing, guided naturalist walks, and more.