Alaska’s Sheldon Chalet – Adventure Meets Leisure
Situated in the heart of Alaska’s Denali National Park, at a mighty 5,800 feet and a 55-mile air-ride away from civilisation, sits the luxury Sheldon Chalet. This pristine guest-house, with 50-years and three generations of family history behind it, is only accessible by air and is Alaska’s only year-round luxury property. Sheldon Chalet provides a breath-taking insight into a raw, rugged and natural world that few people have the honour of exploring.
The chalet is more than simply a place to stay. It is an exclusive base for experiencing the astounding beauty of the Alaskan wild, whilst being able to relax and unwind in luxurious comfort, being looked after by the chalet’s attentive staff. And of course, it boasts the enviable pull of providing great access to viewing the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) at the right time of year.
With everything taken care of by the in-house team, all you need to do is to decide when you want to visit. Trips are available in the depths of winter through to the height of summer and every season has something unique and extraordinary to offer. There is no “bad time” to visit this wondrous place, but we’ve broken down the seasons as follows to help you choose.
The Winter months (November to February) are most likely to deliver that magical, once-in-a-lifetime Northern Lights experience. With long nights and cold temperatures, the Aurora Borealis are out in force at this time of year, so if a glimpse of those stunning illuminations is your priority, then winter is the time for you to visit Sheldon.
The Winter days are bookended by late-morning golden sunrises and bronze sunsets in the afternoon. Guests can enjoy full-moon glacier treks, star and meteor shower gazing, snow-storm viewing and cosy fireside evenings. Winter packages also include a couple of nights in either Anchorage or Talkeetna, where guests can enjoy dog sledding, museums, brewery tours and winter ‘Fat Tire’ biking.
For longer days and a perfect balance between aurora viewing potential and sunny glacier adventuring, Spring (March and April) is the ideal time to visit Sheldon Chalet. For those who are into untouched ski tracks, the fresh powder at this time of year lends itself to backcountry skiing and the more favourable weather allows for mountain climbing, glacier trekking, crevasse exploration and gourmet glacier picnics.
Summer (May to August) in the Denali National Park presents midnight sun and indulgent and lengthy days of epic glacier adventure, meaning the Northern Lights take a backseat. The vibrant sun emanates warmth and leads to spectacular avalanches which can be viewed safely from vantage points miles away from the slides. Crevasse exploration, gourmet glacier picnics, glacier trekking, ice climbing and rock climbing are all still available during Summer, but in slightly more fair-weather conditions.
Finally, during the Autumn months (September to October), Alaska sees the return of the Northern Lights and Winter snowfall begins again. Suffice to say, it’s a magical time to visit, as you witness the changing of the seasons first-hand. At night, world-class star-gazing, enhanced by a cosy fireplace and crafted beverages, can be enjoyed on the chalet’s observation deck, while in the day all of the aforementioned mountain and glacier activities are on offer.
Whenever you visit, you are sure to be delighted by what this natural wonderland has to offer. The chalet itself is the perfect place to unwind after a day of adventure – an all-inclusive, private accommodation that sleeps up to 10 people and provides gourmet meals, beverages, luxury accommodation and sauna facilities.
All mountain gear is provided on arrival, as are personal guides, and the experience begins and ends with a breath-taking helicopter flightseeing tour to-and-from the chalet and either Anchorage or Talkeetna. If this once-in-a-lifetime experience sounds up your street, please get in touch with us here and we’ll be delighted to put together a bespoke package just for you.