Last Updated: May 26th, 2022
Since 2016, Kootenay Backcountry Guides has provided unforgettable backcountry adventures to guests from Canada, the U.S.A., and other countries. We have had the privilege of sharing the mountains of B.C. with many amazing people, making life-long friends, and working with fantastic staff. Right now, more than ever, we appreciate all of you, our Kootenay Backcountry Guides crew.
We are taking all the necessary steps to be at the forefront of operating in a manner that adheres to all local, provincial and national guidelines. We work closely with our associations and partners: The A.C.M.G, the C.A.A, the C.S.G.A, the Backcountry Lodge Association (BLBCA), Avalanche Canada, and Whitewater Ski Resort, and other local businesses. For more information about travel to and from Canada, please visit www.travel.gc.ca.
Kootenay Backcountry Guides will be following all public health orders and guidelines as laid out by our provincial health officer. For up to date information, please go to https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/response
As COVID-19 vaccinations have become widely available to British Columbians, for those who have been vaccinated the overall risk of COVID-19 transmission and serious consequences have diminished. Despite this, the virus will still circulate as communicable diseases typically do.
This guide provides information for guests and employees to follow ongoing measures to reduce the risk of infectious diseases and additional steps for an elevated risk of communicable disease. A communicable disease is an illness caused by an infectious agent or its toxic product that can be transmitted in a workplace from one person to another. Examples of communicable diseases that may circulate in a workplace include COVID-19, norovirus, and seasonal influenza.
Vaccinations remain the essential criterion to comply with standing WorkSafe BC Updates and the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) Orders. Still, while the controls are listed in order of effectiveness, all controls should be considered, as they often work best in combination.
We are continually reviewing and updating our policies to make sure we are ready for you. Any new information we receive will be passed along to guests and employees as soon as we get it and are posted on our website. Guests and employees will receive a thorough email with all your pre-trip or pre-course info a few weeks before your guided tour or course as well. Please ensure you review our Booking & Cancelation Policy.
This document delineates our approach for preventing the communal transmission of infectious diseases while visiting Nelson or participating in one of our scheduled programs during the current crisis. Note that we feel we need to point out that, no matter how many precautions and measures are taken, we cannot guarantee with certainty that communicable diseases will not find their way into our community. Therefore, we all need to do our part by getting fully vaccinated, showing up in good health, minimizing our social contacts before the guided tour/course, and strictly following the measures we have laid out in this document.
Please refer to BC Centre for Disease Control website for up-to-date information on COVID-19 and other communicable diseases (http://covid-19.bccdc.ca/). Public health policies are updated at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/response
ENTRY INFORMATION:
To qualify for the fully vaccinated traveler exemption, you must:
Kootenay Backcountry Guides do not require proof of vaccination to join any of our courses or trips. However, we are subject to government and health authority rules regarding vaccination requirements. Lodges and transport Canada may require proof of vaccination to board helicopters or enter their lodges. We are not responsible for refunds to any participants who join a trip or course that are subject to vaccine mandates. Presently the B.C. government does not have any vaccine mandate for any services. This is subject to change.
For more information regarding a possible vaccination mandate in B.C., please visit here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/vaccinecard.html
Kootenay Backcountry Guides will follow all public health orders as laid out by the provinces in which our trips and courses take place. These policies are subject to change.
Rapid testing is evolving at the moment. As of now, we do not require that students or guests will have to take a rapid test to go on a lodge trip. The reason for this is the tests are not accurate enough to catch asymptomatic COVID. The tests currently available are great at catching COVID if the person is showing symptoms.
11 COVID-19 Cancellations
The following refund policy will apply if Kootenay Backcountry Guides cancels your booking because of reasons related to COVID-19, or if you are prevented from completing your booking because of a reason related to COVID-19 that are outside of your control such as closed borders. Note that contracting COVID-19 is not considered something out of your control. Trip cancellation covers you in the event that you or someone close to you contacts COVID-19.
In such case that borders are closed due to COVID-19:
1-833 -KBGUIDE (524-8433) |