Lake Superior Ski & Spa Retreat: All-Women Adventure

Things to know

• What’s included?

  What you get on this adventure:

  • • 6-day guided all-women Lake Superior winter adventure
    • Experienced, local guides with extensive knowledge of the area
    • A full day of dog sledding with two women per sled
    • A day or two of skiing and/or snowshoeing, depending on your chosen itinerary
    • A half day of hiking
    • Accommodation in Duluth the first night (single room available for an extra price upon booking)
    • Four nights accommodation with a private bedroom in the condos at Bluefin
    • Bay
    • All meals from breakfast on Day 2 through lunch on Day 6
    • All sports equipment needed for skiing and snowshoeing, ski passes
    • Round-trip transportation from Duluth to Tofte, MN

  What’s not included:

  • • Transportation to/from Duluth
    • Alcoholic beverages
    • Pre- or post-trip accommodation
    • Guide gratuities — optional
    • Travel and medical insurance — optional, but strongly recommended
• How fit do I need to be?

  This Lake Superior winter adventure is designed for women with a moderate level of fitness who enjoy active adventures. It is suitable for anyone who has a regular exercise routine that includes walking, biking, swimming or other aerobic activities for 20-40 minutes 3 to 4 times a week.

  This trip offers a range of outdoor winter activities from dog sledding to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Your winter adventure on Lake Superior can be as active or relaxed as you choose! However, if you want to participate in every activity offered, some prior conditioning is definitely a good idea.

  Whether you’re new to these winter sports or already experienced, the guides will provide instruction to suit your skill level and to get you to the next step. Plus, spending some time in the sauna or outdoor hot tub at the end of your day will help relax your sore muscles and prepare you for the following active days.

• What do I need to bring?

  Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

  • • Daypack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag), preferably with a hip belt, padded shoulder straps, and lifters
    • Nalgene-type water bottle with 1L capacity (a hard plastic bottle that can take hot and cooler water; DO NOT bring hydration systems as they tend to freeze)
    • Hiking poles — optional
    • 1 pair insulated winter boots rated to -25°F and/or 400 grams insulation, such as insulated hiking boots or Pac boots
      • Leave room for chemical warmers
      • “Duck boots” and summer hiking boots ARE NOT adequate
    • Outdoor clothing:
      • 2-3 pairs of hiking socks at least as tall as your boots
      • Long underwear/base layer (one set midweight long underwear)
      • Wool sweater or mid weight fleece jacket
      • Warm vest (wool, fleece, or down/synthetic “puffy” vest)
      • Lightweight insulated (“puffy”) jacket or heavyweight fleece jacket
      • Warm insulated (“puffy”) winter jacket/parka, ideally with a hood
      • Windproof, non-insulated jacket (with a hood)
      • Non-insulated rain pants (side zippers recommended)
      • Insulated pants (snow pants, ski pants, snowmobile pants)
      • Fleece or wool pants
    • Indoor clothing:
      • Footwear (warm slippers, down or synthetic booties, heavy wool or fleece socks)
      • Swimsuit
    • Spare clothes for layering:
      • Top and bottom windproof layer
      • Warm layer (fleece pullover/vest/additional jacket)
    • Scarf/neck gaiter/balaclava/buff
    • Liner wool or synthetic gloves
    • 2 pairs of mittens, at least one insulated and windproof
    • Warm wool or fleece hat
    • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, etc.)
    • First aid kit (recommended: compeed, blister bandages, a small roll of duct tape, personal medications)
    • Headlamp
    • Ear plugs
    • Sunglasses with retention strap
    • Min. 2-3 pairs of chemical toe and hand warmer
    • Wristwatch
    • Camera — optional (but recommended)

  Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

  Temperatures on this Lake Superior winter adventure can range from 25 above zero to 25 below zero. It is recommended to dress in layers from long underwear to a windproof outer layer.

  All your clothing should be made from synthetic/synthetic blends, down/down blends, or wool/wool blends. No cotton for your activewear! Several layers of varied-weight materials provide better insulation than one thick layer of clothing. Also, adding or subtracting layers allows you to adjust to the temperature at your particular level of activity.

  It’s important to pack extensively to ensure you’re equipped for the unpredictable conditions of Minnesota winters. The more gear you have at your disposal, the better prepared you’ll be to contend with the ever-changing Minnesota conditions. Keep in mind that Minnesota winters differ significantly from winters in other parts of the United States, so being well-prepared is essential for a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

• What is the accommodation like?

  You will begin your Lake Superior winter adventure in Duluth at the Inn on the banks of Lake Superior. The Inn boasts a fitness center, indoor pool, sauna, hot tub, and rooftop pool and nightly s’mores by the fire.

  At the Inn, you’ll be sharing a room with a fellow participant if you’re coming by yourself. You don’t have to pay a single supplement unless you want to guarantee you have your own room the first night. In this case, you can book a single room for an added fee upon checkout.

  The next four nights of your Lake Superior winter adventure will be spent at the award-winning Bluefin Bay resort. Bluefin Bay presents a selection of well-designed, cozy resort condos, situated right on the lake. Each unit offers a fireplace, jacuzzi, and stunning views. Enjoy the luxury of year-round outdoor pool and hot tub, along with two saunas, an indoor pool, whirlpool/spa, and an exercise room.

  You’ll be staying in a two or three bedroom condo and you’ll have a private bedroom with either a king or queen-sized bed. Some bedrooms have their own bathroom and others will share a bathroom (maximum 2 people)—your rooms will be assigned randomly. All lodgings on this winter adventure on Lake Superior provide soap, shampoo, and conditioner.

• What will the meals be like?

  Meals on this Lake Superior winter adventure offer a blend of homemade delights and restaurant dining. Guides will cook breakfasts and some dinners at the lodging, while other dinners will be enjoyed at restaurants where you can order off the menu. At breakfast the guides will provide “fixings” for lunch and you will pack your own lunch and snacks.

  If notified in advance, your guides can accommodate vegetarian, lactose-free, and gluten-sensitive diets. However, a completely gluten-free diet cannot be guaranteed and your guides cannot provide a kitchen guaranteed to be free of cross-contamination. If you are vegan or gluten-sensitive, it is suggested to bring additional protein bars for vegans and/or gluten-free snacks. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know upon checkout

• Can I rent equipment?

  For your Lake Superior winter adventure, all sports equipment needed for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, as well as ski passes will be provided by the guides. This excludes packing list items under the section “What do I need to bring?”

  If you don’t have boots that are as warm as is recommended, don’t worry! As long as you’re equipped with suitable boots for snowshoeing, your guides will rent you boots for the dogsledding portion free of charge. Additionally, you can rent a parka and wind pants specifically for dog sledding, and purchase extra hand and toe warmers on-site.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing

  • • For this group Lake Superior winter adventure, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 5:1.
    • It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate.
    • The maximum number of participants is set at 10.

  Lake Superior winter adventure can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

  If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Getting there and meeting location

  To get to Duluth, the starting point of your Lake Superior winter adventure, most people fly into Duluth International Airport (DLH), 15 minutes from the city center. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service.

  You should arrive in Duluth by 3 pm on arrival day. Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at a predetermined location or the Inn on Lake Superior where you’ll spend the first night.

• Safety measures in Minnesota

  We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance.

  With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.

  We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  Deposits

  You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.

  Secure your early bird spot with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you will be the first one to know about any new upcoming dates. Pick your preferred dates without the risk of your bucket list adventure selling out!

  • • Only 10% of the total amount should be paid as a deposit upon booking. This deposit is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another 57hours adventure anytime in case the dates don’t suit you.
    • Once the dates are set, you can confirm your booking by paying another 20% of the total amount.
    • The final balance is due 3 months (90 days) prior to departure.

  Cancellations

  Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:

  Basic

  • • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
    • For cancellations 90 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a 70% refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-89 days before the trip, there is no refund.

  Flexible

  • • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
    • For cancellations 90 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 60-89 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-59 days before the trip, there is no refund.

  Super Flexible

  • • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
    • For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-59 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.