Culinary Slut
5/5
Blachford Lake Lodge is only accessible by air in spring-summer, and by winter ice road between freeze-up and break-up (dates cary depending on weather) The main lodge houses the kitchen and dining area, five bedrooms, as well as washrooms and showers on the main floor for all guests. There are panoramic views of the lake from both the main and second floors, with a particularly lovely balcony off the second floor common seating area.
There are five cozy cabins dotted about the property. Each unit has its own composting toilet, wood stove, comfy beds, outside deck and fire pit.
There is a sauna near the lake shore amidst the cabins, with a small dock nearby for a refreshing - some might say bracing - swim between saunas. There is a hot tub outside the main lodge where you can relax and enjoy magnificent views of the lake, the surrounding forest, or the crystal clear night sky (the star gazing here is off the charts beautiful).
There is no data coverage here, and limited WiFi. (guests get 250 Mb access per day; anything beyond that limit is extra) But to be candid, if you’re jones’ing for internet connectivity while you’re here you’re doing it wrong!
Staff here are well trained (including EMT certified team members), knowledgeable, accommodating and very kind. There is an openness to the people here that one encounters only rarely in the more frenetic world south of 60°. Everything that needs to get done is done with quiet efficiency and on time.
The food - which is served buffet style - is very good and varied. Breakfasts are hearty and fuel any activities until lunch, and dinners are very generous as well. There always lots of veggies and salads, with meat and fish options to satisfy every palate. Highlights included: a rich beef bourgignon; a delicious braised lamb stew; perfectly executed char grilled chicken; and, a fabulous Tuscan fish bake. (including locally sourced Lake Trout, Whitefish and Arctic Char, as well as prawns) There’s also a small but well-stocked bar if you wish to order wine or cocktails, all very reasonably priced.
Best of all, someone in the kitchen bakes world-class breads (fabulous with their homemade jams), perfect raisin scones, decadent brownies, addictive pear & walnut and banana breads, and tasty blueberry muffins. Try as we might we couldn’t stop going back for more of these fabulous baked treats, including the banana bread and muffins that were left out all day if you needed a snack with the the all-day coffee and tea.
There’s no shortage of things to do during your stay: fishing; boating; canoeing; kayaking; paddle boarding; hiking; pine salve workshops; star gazing; and, of course, Aurora Borealis viewing and photography. The kayaks and canoes are top-of-the-line models - a real treat. There are some fabulous trails of various lengths for you to explore, with various lookouts that allow you to rest and soak up the spectacular solitude of the space.
If you want to go fishing (Pike; Pickeral; Lake Trout) you can choose either a guided trip, or take out a small boat on your own. If you choose to go on your own one of the experienced guides will sit down with you and orient you with a topographical map of the lake with precise directions to the best fishing spots for each species. And people catch fish here - often very big ones - abundance. Of note, this is a catch-and-release lake, in keeping with the sustainable approach at BLL.
No matter what activity you choose the staff here take your safety very seriously. There is a sign-out/sign-in accountability sheet in the main building, as well as air horns and bear spray that you can take along in case of emergencies.
Total for three nights (including float plane, all meals and activities, taxes and gratuities) was $2,277/person - and worth every penny. Highly recommended!
