Terms of Service

Please Read Carefully

Updated September 7, 2023 (vaccination requirement for japan trips removed)

risk, waiver, declaration of health

All guiding and instructional activities carry risk that can result in injury or death.

All participants will need to sign a RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT. THEY AGREE TO WAIVE OR GIVE UP CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SUE FOR NEGLIGENCE, BREACH OF CONTRACT OR BREACH OF THE OCCUPIERS LIABILITY ACT OR CLAIM COMPENSATION FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT.

All participants MAY need to sign a DECLARATION OF HEALTH to lower the risk of transmitting COVID-19 to the group, depending on the status of COVID-19 when your trip occurs.

Please review the following before payment:

Payments

  • A deposit is required to reserve any dates.

  • We will inform you of any additional payment schedules at the time of booking.

  • We accept no responsibility for any extra costs that may arise from the actions of persons and/or companies supplying goods and/or services to our trips; or from the complication or prolongation of any program for any reason.

Cancellations and refunds

  • If you cancel a trip all payments are non-refundable unless:

    • For private bookings we will issue a refund if we find other work on the same dates that you have booked, or if we find someone to take your place in the group and the trip fills to capacity.

    • For scheduled trips (EG AST courses, backcountry lodge ski trips, Japow trips) we will issue a refund if we find someone to take your place and the trip fills to capacity.

    • Payments made more than a year in advance are refundable up to January 1 in the year before the trip occurs. EG for a trip booked for 2024, a refund will be issued if cancellation occurs before January 1, 2023.

    • If you cancel but we issue a refund, the refund is subject to a handling fee of C$200 per person. EG if a booking is made for 2 people, the handling fee will be C$400. For single day trips the handling fee is C$100 per person.

  • If we cancel a trip for anything other than weather, conditions, a natural event, or actions of other persons and/or companies supplying goods and/or services we will refund your payments in full.

  • If  weather, conditions, a natural event, or actions of other persons and/or companies supplying goods and/or services cause us to be unable to do anything in the mountains the first choice is to re-schedule. If that isn’t possible we will work out a plan that applies to the specific situation, which may include a refund. Cancellation due to weather or conditions is a very rare event.

  • In case of adverse weather or conditions we reserve the right to change objectives to ensure the safest trip for you. Changing objectives does not trigger a refund.

  • Trip cancellation insurance is recommended. Credit cards may offer this insurance with a trip payment. See your card information for details.

Cancellations and refunds related to COVID-19

  • Refunds are not available if you need to cancel for any reason pertaining to Covid-19 or its variants.

  • No refunds will be given if the vaccination requirement status of your trip changes.

  • Insurance is available if you need to cancel for this reason.

mountain rescue insurance

  • Mountain rescue is free for trips run on Alberta provincial lands.

  • Mountain rescue is free in National Parks in Canada (Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, Jasper, Glacier/Rogers Pass) if you have purchased a park admission fee when you arrive.

  • Mountain rescue insurance is recommended for trips in British Columbia (outside National Parks) and for international destinations. You may be required to pay for mountain rescue in these areas.

health insurance

  • Health insurance for Canadian citizens. Your provincial health care plan may not cover all your medical expenses outside your home province. This is especially true for Quebec residents. Please research what your provincial health plan covers. You may need additional travel health insurance.

  • Health insurance for non-Canadians. You will need to have health insurance that covers you for travel as you will be directly billed for any medical expenses you incur in Canada or overseas. Health care is not free in Canada.

  • Medical insurance information is here

Vaccination requirement for trips in canada

At this time we are NOT requiring participants on trips in Canada to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

HOWEVER, depending on the status of COVID-19 when your trip occurs, all trip participants MAY BE required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. This includes booster shots should public health authorities require them for a person to be considered vaccinated, and if they are available.

There is a higher likelihood that large groups on backcountry ski lodge and hut trips will need to be vaccinated. No refunds will be given if the vaccination requirement status of your trip changes.

When possible, accommodations will be made for participants who are unvaccinated due to religious or medical reasons. Other restrictions, such as masking and distancing, may be required from unvaccinated participants.

Please view the waiver here:

Trip cancellation insurance is available here:

Information on mountain rescue insurance is here:

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