COVID-19  2021-2022

As outdoor professionals, we are continually evaluating the risks and hazards of backcountry travel to make the best decisions that we can and still enjoy our short time on this wild planet. We believe that teaching our students good practices and decision making strategies for backcountry travel is an important service, especially during a time when outdoor recreation is so popular. We will operate again this winter as long as we feel we can effectively manage the risk of COVID19 to keep our clients, instructors, and communities safe.

In winter 2020-2021 we were able to reduce our COVID-19 risk by offering our classes as a combination of online classes and outdoor classes. We used ZOOM for our evening meetings and AIARE classroom sessions, and then met outdoors at the trailhead for our field days. We hiked outside in groups of 6 clients or less, spread out 6+ feet or more on the trail, and wore masks when we were in closer proximity than 6 feet. This was a successful risk management strategy last winter, and we will implement the same protocol this winter.

We will continue to monitor local, state, national, and international guidelines to inform our best practices. Our current plan is to operate the same way we did last year, using the online classroom and all-outdoor field days.  If COVID conditions change, we will reconsider our strategies to be more flexible to adapt to the circumstances.

If you develop any symptoms of COVID-19, flu or cold, please do not attend our in person sessions.

These symptoms include:

Fever or chills, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Fatigue, Muscle or body aches, Headache, New loss of taste or smell, Sore throat, Congestion or runny nose, Nausea or vomiting, Diarrhea.

Please see our cancellation policy, and consider purchasing travel Insurance

Thank you for your compliance.