Your First Step Policies, Procedures & FAQ s

Transcription

1 Sunblood Mountain - Nahanni National Park Your First Step Policies, Procedures & FAQ s Your First Step should answer many of your questions about Black Feather, our policies and procedures. Skill Levels - Can I do this trip? Each Black Feather trip is assigned a Skill Level from 1 to 4 to assist you in identifying which trips are best suited to your abilities and experience. Briefly they are: Level 1 - no experience required Level 2 - some experience and basic skills are expected Level 3 - some intermediate to advanced skills are expected - not for novices Level 4 - some intermediate to advanced skills and relevant experience are required - not for novices For more information: A detailed information package is available for each trip; with pictures and a description of the location, weather, itinerary and includes a section on who would enjoy that specific trip. A Detailed Description of the Skill Levels is on page 9 of this document Contact our office. We're happy to discuss what to expect on any trip. Contents Page 1 - Skill Levels - Overview Page 2 - Payment, Cancellation Page 3 - Insurance, Liability Page 4 - Getting to the Trip Page 5 - Northern Logistics Page 6 - Daily Routine Page 7 - Group Philosophy Page 8 - Gear & Equipment, Substance Policies Page 9 - Menu, Gratuities Page 10, 11 - Skill Levels in detail

2 Toll Free in North America Your First Step Payment Our prices for most trips are quoted in Canadian dollars. Trips in the USA, Mexico and Chile are quoted in US dollars. A deposit of 25% of the trip fees is required to hold any position on a trip within Canada, the US, and Greenland. A deposit of 50% is required upon registration for trips in Mexico and Chile. The balance of your trip fee is due 60 days before departure. Cash, Visa, MC or cheques payable to Black Feather - The Wilderness Adventure Company should accompany your signed application form. For international participants, please contact our office for further payment options. Taxes Trips in Canada are subject to the local taxes charged in the location of the trip. For example a trip in Ontario would have an additional tax of 13% (HST) while one in the Northwest Territories has a 5% tax (GST). These taxes are in addition to the trip fee. The tax should be included with each payment. Trips outside Canada are not subject to additional taxes. Other Additional Costs Expeditions in a National Park with have an additional National Park Fee and Levees. Any taxes on park fees are included in the fee. Park fees are due with your final payment. Each trip information package has a page detailing what is and is not included in the trip fee. Cancellation Policy If you register for a trip and subsequently cancel: 1. There is a $100 administration charge applied to any cancellation. 2. The balance of your payment (to date) will be refunded for any cancellation up to 61 days prior to departure. 3. For notice given: a) from days we retain 50% of the fee b) from days we retain 75% of the fee c) from 0-29 days we retain 100% of the fee. If we cancel a trip: Should we have to cancel your application, a full refund will be made. We reserve the right to cancel any trip with 29 days notice, if registration is below 50% capacity (4 participants or less). In such cases, we will attempt to accommodate you on another trip with similar dates and demands. Evacuation Should illness or safety necessitate the evacuation of one or more participants, or should a participant choose to leave a trip early for any reason, all evacuation expenses will be paid by the individual(s) involved. No refund will be paid to a participant who does not complete a trip for any reason. Please note that provincial health care plans do not cover ambulance services outside your home province. If you became ill in a remote location you may be responsible for very expensive evacuation and air ambulance charges. Insurance can protect you from this risk.

3 Your First Step Liability (Please read carefully) Black Feather/The Wilderness Adventure Company!s trips are operated by Black Feather Wilderness Adventures & Services Ltd., The Wilderness Adventure Company and occasionally in partnership with other outfitters. We carry liability insurance; however, we do NOT assume liability or any loss or damage to person or property in traveling to the location of the trip or during or after participation in it, for any reason whatsoever, including negligence on the part of Black Feather, The Wilderness Adventure Company, or any of its directors, officers, agents or employees. Black Feather / The Wilderness Adventure Company endeavours to use the best available equipment and follows standard safety procedures. Prior to participation in any trip or program, you will be required to sign our standard liability release included as part of the application. In view of the element of risk involved in any adventure activity, we recommend that you obtain whatever personal insurance you feel is appropriate for your circumstances. Changes to the Itinerary A trip information package including a planned itinerary is available for each trip. We reserve the right to change itineraries if forced to do so by circumstances beyond our control (water levels, forest fires, ice conditions, etc.), or in the interests of the group. You should expect some changes. Any additional expenses due to changed departures/itineraries /extra charters due to weather, medical or other items beyond our control shall be borne by the customer. Trip Insurance Due to the dynamic nature of the many environments in which our trips take place, hazardous conditions can develop quickly. Black Feather takes every reasonable precaution during these expeditions and reserves the right to change, shorten, or cancel a trip at any time due to any hazardous or developing situation. Thus we strongly recommend that you purchase insurance for longer trips, especially those in remote locations. For some trips, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is mandatory. More information on available policies can be obtained from our dedicated team at Flight Centre who have specific knowledge about our trips.

4 On Your Way to the Trip Your First Step Getting to the Trip Rendezvous Point Black Feather is always striving to improve our service and wilderness travel experiences, which has led us to partner with Flight Centre, the world s 3 rd largest Travel Management company. We are happy to provide you with direct access to their expertise in the fields of travel, accommodation, and insurance. The team at Flight Centre is not only knowledgeable about travel in general they are also familiar with Black Feather s wide range of expeditions. This means they are able to give you the most cost-effective, efficient, and sensible travel solutions, which are also customized to fit with both your schedule and the necessary arrival and departure times and locations of your Black Feather expedition. They have preferred access to many airlines, including Air North, Canadian North, First Air, as well as Air Canada, so you get the advantage of special and group rates when these are available. Whether you have already taken your first step and booked your Black Feather adventure, or you are hoping to do so in the near future, please contact our dedicated Flight Centre Representative and her team for more information: Specialist Janice Luu Office Hours Monday Friday, 9am-5pm EST janice.luu@flightcentre.ca Telephone Accommodation on Route Your itinerary may necessitate booking a hotel room either before or after the trip. Upon registration, you will be sent a document with a list of local hotels and B&B s near the trip rendezvous point. The trip cost does not include any hotel accommodation unless specified in the itinerary and trip information package for your particular trip (usually on page 3). Rendezvous Time Your trip-specific itinerary will designate the arrival time. Your guides will be busy finalizing logistics until that time. If you arrive early, feel free to let the guides know, but please leave them free to complete their tasks. Most of their work is of a nature that is best handled by them alone and will ensure that you have a great trip.

5 Your First Step On Your Way to the Trip Charter Travel to the Expedition Location Many trips involve further travel from the trip rendezvous to the start of the expedition and/or back after the trip. This is included in the trip fee. We work with many small boat operators, drivers, transport companies, small airlines and bush pilots flying such planes as Beavers, Cessnas and Otters in and out of your chosen wilderness destination. We contract with the most reliable companies available, well in advance. However, it is the nature of the business that when variables such as weather, pilot judgement, medical or fire emergency, mechanical breakdown or a host of other conditions dictate that our chosen charter time is altered, we sit tight and wait. This is part of the trip experience and Black Feather takes no responsibility for this lost time. All our trip itineraries allow a percentage of time to make up such delays at the cost of leisure time. Any costs for hotel accommodations or restaurant meals brought on by such delays are the participants responsibility to pay. Northern Time We take great care and have special expertise in planning the logistics of your wilderness expedition. However, your northern trip is to and beyond the fringes of civilization. Arrangements are much more fluid in the far north; things rarely work out exactly as planned. This is a normal part of the adventure. Events that cause a deviation from our schedule are likely to arise. When this occurs, we will inform you as soon as we can and outline the options. Safe wilderness travel by plane, motorboat, vehicle, canoe, kayak or komatik is very dependent on the prevailing local conditions and the local people. If conditions are such that we cannot proceed safely, we will have to sit tight and wait or determine an alternative. We make every attempt to use trip food during these delays, however if circumstances or participant preference determine hotel or restaurant options, the costs are to be paid by the participants. Fortunately major changes are rare. If they do occur we would appreciate your patience and cooperation.

6 On Your Trip Your First Step Expectations We want to help make your Black Feather adventure a most rewarding and memorable experience. We endeavour to help each individual achieve some of their personal expectations along with contributing to the overall group goals. Each destination has unique beauty and challenges. It has been chosen carefully to represent a particular geographic location, natural features, activity or skill level. Of course, each trip places different demands on the participants. You can go over your specific information package to determine the experience and skill level required. If you have any questions or concerns about the suitability of the trip for you, please don t hesitate to contact the Black Feather office. Daily Routine The trip pace is determined by the distance, goals for each day, weather and interesting sights to be seen. Each morning we will review the anticipated route and upcoming highlights. Often the route is flexible so that we can take advantage of special, unanticipated happenings such as unique wildlife sightings. We offer a co-operative type of camping experience. We welcome you to participate in any in- camp chores and routines. Most people enjoy occasionally helping out with cooking or clean up... that is often a time when events of the day are laughed about, stories told and exploits recounted! We do ask that you help out by setting up your tent and a few other small camp tasks. If at any time you are puzzled about the routine, please ask one of your guides - they are very approachable and would rather clarify your question than have you wondering. The morning starts out with guides and early risers getting the coffee on, then when everyone is up breakfast is eaten, camp is struck and we get ready for departure. This process usually takes between 2 and 3 hours. Each day s travel varies between 4 and 7 hours, depending on the location of the next camp and the energy of the group. We will always have breaks with snacks as well as a lunch stop. Arriving at our campsite, we set up camp and then have time for some exploring, relaxing or photographing. We ask that any short hikes are done with the permission of the guides, and for safety's sake are usually done with the company of at least one other person.

7 Your First Step Daily Routine (continued) Dinner is always a highlight - homemade lasagna, pasta and stir-fries are all part of the menu. Evenings are usually unstructured... campfires, hikes and local interpretation may take place. Occasionally we will have a lay-over day. These days will allow us to spend more time in one location to go exploring. Usually the guides will arrange a day hike to a unique spot or great view. Of course, you can choose to just relax around camp and read a book, too! Group Philosophy A Black Feather trip is a cooperative undertaking. Our goal is to enjoy exploring a unique wilderness and in doing so, to learn outdoor skills, more about the environment, each other and ourselves. Your guides will provide instruction, coaching and leadership, and yet will allow opportunities for each person to pursue individual goals and interests. Your responsibilities to the group will include participating in a variety of aspects of camp life during the trip, supporting each other, and contributing energy and enthusiasm to the group s common goals. Perhaps in contrast to other outfitters, Black Feather encourages you to participate as fully as you wish in all aspects of the trip - the activities and the decision making. We want this to be your expedition. On Your Trip Your Guides Your Black Feather guide is an integral part of the trip. Each is highly qualified in all aspects of the wilderness... they are expert whitewater canoeists, kayakers and hikers. They bring a wealth of information and knowledge to share. Conscientious and safe, they are also fun, friendly and approachable. They are patient instructors and great cooks! The team of Black Feather guides is exceptional. Over 40 qualified guides work each season and some have been guiding for Black Feather for over 30 years! We are now reaching our second generation of guides - the sons and daughters of original Black Feather founders and guides have now matured into guides themselves. As the trip s safety and success depends on their judgement, we ask that your respect and support their decisions.

8 Substance Policies Your First Step Personal Clothing and Equipment We provide all the group gear - canoes or kayaks, PFDs, paddles, tents, kitchen and eating utensils etc. You will receive a personal clothing and equipment list in your registration package. A small number of specialized items on your list, such as a paddling suit, wetsuit or barrel pack, can be rented from Black Feather. These items are in limited supply so please reserve one well in advance of your trip. Travel Clothes Travel clothes and any extra belongings can be stored at the rendezvous on most trips. We encourage you to leave larger items such as laptops and tablets at home when possible. Tenting Arrangements Black Feather uses high quality expedition tents. We plan on two people per tent. If you wish to tent alone (or if you are a known snorer and feel that you should have a tent to yourself), please contact us prior to the trip. When possible, we will arrange to have a single tent available for a $35/week surcharge. If you wish to bring your own tent, please indicate this. On any trip in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon or Greenland, your tent must be an expedition quality dome tent, with adequate guy lines to secure it in high winds. Mosquitos & other Bugs Insect populations vary according to location, weather and time of year. We make every attempt to camp in bug-free locations, however, in many cases they are unavoidable. We recommend being prepared with bug repellent, a bug hat and your best protection - a bug jacket. Substance Use on Trip The use of tobacco by participants is discouraged, as a health-conscious, wilderness lifestyle is promoted. The use of cannabis is also discouraged. However, moderate and discrete personal use on personal time and only while at camp, as long as it does not disrupt the health and safety of the person or the group as a whole. Cannabis consumption is not allowed for a period of 8 hours prior to any trip activity, including but not limited to canoeing, sea kayaking, hiking, skiing and traveling in a snow machine. Participants who smoke or vape tobacco or cannabis will be advised of forest fire hazards, sensitivity to other trip members, and proper disposal of butts. There will be no smoking or vaping in tents or around the kitchen area. Alcohol consumption by participants should be in moderation. There should be no consumption before or while on the water or during a hiking day. In some locations, such as the Floe Edge, there will be no alcohol or cannabis consumption at all. No participants who are under the age of majority will partake in cannabis, alcohol, or tobacco consumption. If a participant cannot abide by this and is hindering the safety and ability for the group to complete the trip, then the participant will be removed from the trip at their own expense. This is at the guides discretion and will not be taken lightly. The participant(s) will be approached and addressed prior to this action, and only if there then has been no improvement, will this be enacted.

9 Your First Step Minimum Impact Black Feather travels carefully in our fragile wilderness. We will insist on strict environmental practices to ensure a continued quality of wilderness for future travelers and to protect our natural environment. Procedures for sanitation, garbage and clean up will all be explained by your guides on the first day of the trip. There will be Wilderness Guidelines in your confirmation package which you should review. Menu Black Feather!s menu is quite famous... it is innovative, nutritious and delicious. Our award winning cookbook - Camp Cooking in the Wild - is available for purchase at many outdoors stores as well as amazon.com. The nature of the trip will affect a menu - see the specific trip description for details. Regular (lacto-ovo) vegetarians can be accommodated at no extra cost. Food allergies and dietary restrictions (peanuts, nuts, gluten and lactose intolerance) may require that the participant bring their own appropriate substitutions to the menu, or may have an additional $25 per person per week surcharge to cover the costs incurred for extra pots, fuel and specialty food items to supplement the regular menu. If you have allergies, you must contact the Black Feather office when you register to discuss your needs and to receive a copy of the menu plan for your trip. Alcohol Our menu does not include alcoholic beverages, with the exception of wine with the first night s meal (except backpacking - it s too heavy). You are welcome to bring some of your own - most participants do. Please transfer it into unbreakable containers prior to departure. How Much Should I Tip My Guide? There is no obligation to tip your guides but most participants do. We are often asked what is an appropriate amount. In the past, those who provide a gratuity usually tip each guide $12-15 per day or give 5-10% of the trip fee to be split among the guide team. Skill Levels How We Assess a Trip: Many independent factors are assessed before we assign a Skill Level. We consider the degree of technical skill required for the trip, how physically demanding the itinerary is, elevation change, the elements of risk involved, the range of weather, the isolation, the length of the expedition and many other factors. On the following pages you ll find a detailed description of the different Skill Levels of Black Feather trips.

10 Your First Step Skill Levels - Detailed Description continued Your Self Evaluation: Your skill development, physical ability and condition, experience, attitude and ability to adapt to new situations are the main components of your personal evaluation. Please attempt to judge yourself accurately. Try to compare your selfassessment to what seems to be required in the description of the trip in the detailed information package. If you feel unsure just give our office a call. We want you to have a great time! Level 1 - These trips do not require any previous experience in the activity. Related experience (camping, swimming, etc.) will be helpful. This is an opportunity for the beginner to learn the foundation skills of canoeing, kayaking and wilderness living. Your guides and instructors are expert at helping you succeed in these new activities. The pace will be fairly relaxed. The location, challenges and program are geared to ensure the trip is enjoyable and safe for the novice. Some Level 1 programs require a commitment to a multi-day wilderness trip or to learning new skills. Some first experiences can be a bit stressful (your first whitewater canoeing run or paddling a sea kayak in waves etc.) but a Level 1 trip is appropriate for beginners. More experienced outdoors people often choose these trips because they enjoy the route or want to introduce a friend to the activity. Level 2 - We expect that you have some background in the outdoors and some basic skills. You should have basic to intermediate paddling skills for canoe and kayak trips. You can get a sense of the specific paddling and safety skills required from each trip description. For hiking trips you should be fit and able to carry a minimum of kg (48-68 lb.) depending on your size and age, 8 to 12 kilometers a day on rough terrain. These trips are designed to build on our skills and to expand your experience. Expect to learn new things and to try some new and challenging activities with help from the guides. Some Level 2 trips require a degree of physical challenge and a willingness to cope with unexpected adventures. The success of the trip will depend in part on the positive attitude and mutual support that the participants demonstrate. Level 2 includes some very extensive expeditions.

11 Skill Levels - Detailed Description continued Your First Step Level 3 - These extended trips offer the opportunity for you to participate in a major expedition with the support of very experienced leaders. The pace and the environment may be challenging. You should be fit and active. The trip may be in an area of extreme isolation. Certain skills necessary for each expedition will be expected. A positive attitude, a willingness to support other group members and willingness to adapt to the unexpected are important to your success and enjoyment. Although extensive experience and advanced skills are not required, the specific skills needed, the elements of risk involved, the isolation, the physical and emotional demands of the route and location would make this level of trip quite inappropriate for the novice. Level 3 trips are designed for people with intermediate skills and some previous experience in the activity. Level 4 - These expeditions are designed for those with previous and relevant experience, as well as prior first hand knowledge of specific skills. The pace of our Level 4 trips may be slightly faster than that of a Level 3 trip. These trips will be in remote areas. Certain skills necessary for each expedition are required. You should be fit and active, and plan to go out at least once on a smaller trip beforehand to brush up on your skills. A positive attitude, a willingness to support other group members and willingness to adapt to the unexpected are important to your success and enjoyment. Level 4 trips are designed for people with intermediate to advanced skills and previous experience in the activity done on the desired expedition. Feel free to contact our office by phone or with any questions you might have. We look forward to hearing from you soon!