Our new normal
Please recognize that traveling to a remote area in Alaska can be traveling to an area where employees have been sequestered and may not have your same immunity profile. People in rural Alaska can be more vulnerable to illness from travelers.
Before arrival or before leaving home, please self-assess your physical condition and self-screen your risk profile. If you are experiencing any symptoms, however mild, or are in a household where someone has symptoms, we advise you to stay at home.
Our staff are all frequently tested and/or immunized against COVID-19. They are socially distanced and limit outside exposure beyond the lodges. There are strict protocols in place if a staff member begins to feel ill.
Transportation to and from Winterlake Lodge:
Guests typically travel to Winterlake Lodge by private small aircraft. We require guests to wear facemask while onboard aircraft. Our aircraft partners provide deep cleaning between each guest transfer, pilots are regularly tested, and they wear face masks while onboard. You will not be required to share an aircraft with other passengers outside of those vetted and destined to or from our lodge.
Transportation to and from Tutka Bay Lodge:
Guests typically travel to Tutka Bay Lodge by private small aircraft. We require guests to wear facemasks while onboard aircraft. Our aircraft partners provide deep cleaning between each guest transfer, pilots are regularly tested, and they wear face masks while onboard. You will not be required to share an aircraft with other passengers outside of those vetted and destined to or from our lodge.
Some guests may travel to the village of Homer, Alaska via commercial jet RAVN Air Service. The air service protocols are listed on their website listed below.
Guests may travel via our private boat or by commercial water taxi. Guests on our boat are required to wear masks while onboard. Our water taxi partner Mako’s Water Taxi lists their current protocols on their website listed below. All boats are deep cleaned between any guest transfer.
Arrival at the Lodge
We will ask you daily screening questions to check on your well-being while you are staying with us. If you become ill while staying with us, we will assist you in seeking medical care and advice. Our staff are medically trained and we have protocols in place to seek hospital care as needed.
We ask that guests sanitize hands when entering the main lodge property, before starting an adventure activity, and as often as needed throughout your stay.
We make an effort to have briefings, orientation, and other gatherings outdoors as much as possible.
We require our employees to wear masks and/or shields when in proximity to guests. We have special cleaning protocols for handling guest luggage.
Our Guest Cabins and Main Lodge
We offer increased levels of sanitization and disinfection in our guest rooms. We use electrostatic room sanitizers, UV sanitizers and other best-practice cleaning methods. Our staff cleans frequently all high touch points, we remove any unnecessary items, and have enhanced cleaning and sanitation procedures implemented using state-of-the-art disinfectants. Any print materials are single-use and removed between guests. All of our staff are equipped with appropriate PPE while providing housekeeping services. If guests prefer no housekeeping services during their stay, we offer cabin refresh kits daily.
Communal Areas
Our staff wash their hands every two hours. The front house manager team cleans high touch points every two hours. Each manager makes a plan for distancing measures within our communal areas, spacing out chairs or other seating to maintain social distancing. Windows and doors are left open whenever possible. We have removed any self-serve drink stations.
Meal Service
We offer alternative arrangements to provide spacing such as ample guest seating and spaced tables, private or outdoor eating locations, and staggered scheduled mealtimes. We make an effort to prevent surface contact as needed. We have eliminated many high-use areas and touchpoints such as workstations, tables, menus, doors, utensils, and condiments. We clean high-use areas and touchpoints every two hours with a rigorous enhanced sanitation regimen utilizing hydrogen peroxide. Food and beverages are served by staff members who are trained and observant of precautions. We only plate and serve individually served meals rather than offer buffet or self-service.
Activity Equipment
Our guests are not required to share equipment with other guests (such as backpacks, water bottles, binoculars, and walking poles) Individual gear that is worn next to skin (such as helmets, sunglasses or neoprene) are thoroughly washed with a sanitizing solution after each use as prevention against COVID-19 transmission via surface contact. We request guest sizes prior to arrival at the lodges to minimize handling of gear. All of our watercraft such as kayaks, canoes or paddleboards, and paddles are sanitized between each guest use. When we use vehicles, they are cleaned thoroughly between guest transfers.
Rust’s Flying Service COVID-19 policies
Ravn Air Service COVID-19 policies