Wood Fired Hot Tub Q&A With Tincup Wilderness Lodge

There is remote, and then there is Yukon remote. Tincup Wilderness Lodge is no stranger to the demands of off-grid living. Fly-in access only, and the only property on the shores of its namesake lake.

We had the pleasure of working with Meinrad, the owner and operator, to outfit the lodge with an AlumiTub. We asked him about the history behind the lodge, and why he chose one to complete his remote wellness oasis.

Tell us a little about yourself and your property, Tincup Wilderness Lodge.

Over the years, I've done lots of canoeing in both the Yukon and Northwest Territories and fell in love with the area. I purchased the lodge in 2010 so I could continue to be in the wilderness.

Where is the lodge located?

We are northwest of Burwash Landing close to Kluane National Park. We're a fly-in only lodge. From Burwash, it's about a 30-minute flight to Whitehorse.

Tincup has such an interesting history. How did you first come across the lodge, and what inspired you to take it over?

I was on a canoe trip in the Yukon in 2009 and it was there that I first heard about Tincup. At the time, the owner was looking for a suitable successor.

Why an AlumiTubs wood fired hot tub for Tincup?

The cedar look of the tub matches perfectly with our already existing sauna and the sundeck. The hot tub and sauna sit away from the main lodge, and we've built two bridges to get there, so it feels like a wellness oasis.

Did you make any modifications to suit the property or the guest experience?

We ended up placing the hot tub a bit lower than the sun deck so that guests have easy access to the tub.

The hot tub is perched right on the lake's edge. How often do guests brave a dip in the cold water?

We're the only ones on this lake, which means our guests have lots of privacy. Most guests will often jump in the lake after a solid session in the tub or sauna.

Every season must bring a different feel. What's your favorite time of year at Tincup?

No favourite time, it's paradise year-round.

Besides soaking, hiking and fishing, what other rituals do you or your guests take part in?

Canoeing, SUPs and kayaking, as well as photography and wildlife watching.

Lastly, what's next for Tincup? Any adventures on the horizon?

That's a secret. You'll just have to find out for yourself.

Why wood fired suits a fly-in lodge

Fly-in only is the hardest access there is, and it settles the heating question before it is asked. There is no power run to a lake with one property on it, and every component has to arrive by air.

A wood fired tub needs a flat surface, water and wood. It arrives pre-assembled, weighs 200 to 300 lbs empty depending on size, and rolls on its side at 38 inches, which is what makes a site like this possible without a crane or groundworks. On a prepared site, setup takes about an hour. It also consumes nothing between guests, which matters at a lodge that runs in seasons rather than continuously.

The lake beside it does the rest of the work. Filling from a natural source is straightforward with a marine-grade aluminum structure, and untreated water can be returned to where it came from. How to handle water access covers the pumps and the practicalities.

Meinrad's pairing of tub and sauna, set away from the main lodge across two bridges, is the same hot-cold-hot rhythm covered in contrast therapy, and the lake plunge afterward in the science of cold plunging.

For a property that does have power, the Hybrid is often the better fit at a guest lodge, since the electric side holds the water at temperature between arrivals and keeps filtration running, while the fire stays available for guests who want it. A host's guide to wood fired hot tubs works through that decision.

More owner stories: Spirit of the West Adventures, running two water-access basecamps on the BC coast, and Mary's boat-access cabin outside Yellowknife.

Common questions

Can you get a hot tub to a fly-in or boat-access property?

Yes. An AlumiTub arrives pre-assembled and weighs 200 to 300 lbs empty depending on size, so it rolls on its side through a 38 inch gap with two people and needs no crane or groundworks. Owners have moved theirs by ATV, boat, barge and kayak.

What kind of hot tub works with no electricity?

A wood fired tub, which needs only a flat surface, water and dry wood. There is no plumbing to winterize, no electrical connection and no standing energy cost, so it consumes nothing between visits or between guests at a seasonal lodge.

Can a hot tub be filled from a lake?

Yes, with a marine-grade aluminum structure. A battery-powered or generator pump draws from the lake to fill, and untreated water can be returned to the same source when the tub is drained. An inline hose filter reduces sediment on the way in.

Is a wood fired or hybrid hot tub better for a guest lodge?

Wood fired suits properties with no power, and the ritual is part of what guests remember. Where power is available, a Hybrid usually suits a lodge better, because the electric side holds the water at temperature between arrivals and keeps filtration running while the fire stays available for guests who want it.

More properties like this one at where AlumiTubs live, or read about going off-grid with a wood fired hot tub.