Guided Trips

Covid-19 Protocols

Our Covid protocols are designed to keep our clients and guides safe, and they will be based on scientific facts and official guidelines.

This pandemic has been dynamic since the beginning, and for the foreseeable future I expect it to remain so. As the circumstances change throughout the season, our protocols may also change.

Last updated: December 9, 2022

Objective

These protocols are designed to avoid a guide or client contracting any case of Covid while in the backcountry, tens of miles and thousands of vertical feet from the closest bailout point (or medical help) — or, in the case of Alaska, hundreds of miles and at least one flight away from medical help.

A severe case of Covid would have obvious implications for a group. But even a mild case of Covid cannot be tolerated. Our experience has been that symptomatic individuals will:

  • Be a physical and emotional drag on the group, by necessitating bail-out or low-key routes, requiring a disruptive evacuation, and being unable to fully participate; and,
  • Infect others, even in an outdoor setting, because groups do not consistently remain physically distanced and because air flow is not constant in all locations and times of the day.

Pre-trip behavior

The only way to prevent contracting a case of Covid is by limiting your exposure. Starting 10 days before your trip, please adopt peak pandemic-era behaviors, including but not limited to:

  • Reducing the size of your “pandemic pod”;
  • Explain to members of your pod that your upcoming trip is important to you, and ask them to limit their exposure before your trip, too;
  • Social distancing when around others not in your pod;
  • Avoid indoor spaces where distancing cannot or will not be maintained, like restaurants and social get-togethers;
  • Wear a high quality N95 mask when distancing cannot be maintained, especially while traveling.

Vaccinations

The best solution is to not bring Covid into the field at all.

The second best solution is for guides and participants to be vaccinated, which greatly reduces the risks of a severe case. Prior infection is also helpful, with or without vaccination.

Guides and clients are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated, but it’s not mandatory.

Disclosing your vaccination status is mandatory, as part of a broader health history form.

In 2022, 89 percent of clients reported being fully vaccinated with a booster, and another 6 percent were partially vaccinated.

If you develop Covid symptoms before your trip

If you develop Covid symptoms (confirmed with a positive test, or not) within a month of your trip, contact me/Andrew as soon as you’re able. The next steps will be conditional, with our goals being to:

  • Prevent infecting other members of the group, following current CDC guidelines; and,
  • Ensuring that you’re still physically capable of the trip.

Rapid testing

Guides and clients will be required to take a rapid test on the first day of their trip if:

  • They are symptomatic,
  • Have been exposed within the past five days.

Guides and clients who test positive will not be allowed on their trip.

Transfers and refunds

If you are unable to join a trip due to Covid, it will be treated as a cancellation and you will be refunded according to our cancellation policy, detailed here.

If you are uncomfortable with the risk of this happening, I recommend travel insurance.

Positive cases in the field

If a guide or client develops Covid-like symptoms in the field, they should use a test from the group first aid kit. Also in the first aid kit are non-prescription cold-and-flu medications.

Covid positive guides or clients should immediately isolate. An evacuation is preferred, but may be impractical.