WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND PURCHASING TRIP INSURANCE TO PROTECT YOUR PURCHASE FROM UNFORSEEABLE CIRCUMSTANCES.

We are a small business, and our policy exists to support our customers, staff and guide team.

If you are unable to attend your program for any reason, we are unable to refund you, reschedule you or provide credit for future trips beyond what is described in our policies below. If you cannot afford to lose the trip fees due to an unforeseen accident, injury, road conditions, sickness, natural disaster, lightning strike, or ANY other reason, please buy trip insurance. We cannot assume the financial burden for participants who are unable to attend for any reason.

Rescheduling a trip is considered a cancellation and is subject to the same policies as cancellation.

• We strongly recommend purchasing trip insurance for ALL domestic trips.
• If you wish to cancel your trip for any reason, a request must be made in writing via email.
• Cancellation Time Prior to Trip Dates:
• Over 60 Days: Full refund of trip fees and Trip Deposit minus 10% administrative fee.
• 31-59 Days: 50% refund of the trip fees.
• Within 30 Days: NO REFUND can be made.
• Trip Insurance can be purchased to cover the trip fee and other costs.
• Some custom domestic trips for large groups may be subject to the "International Trips" Cancellation Policy. If this policy applies, it will be stated in the booking confirmation.
• “Rescheduling” a trip is considered a cancellation and is subject to the same policies as cancellation.
• Participants who have signed up for an under-booked program will be given the option of making it a private program for an additional cost, given credit to apply to another program, or be refunded in full.

• Blackbird will notify participants in under-booked programs that are at risk of not running at least one week prior. Participants will be given the option to reschedule or keep the original date open in lieu of additional sign ups. Keep in mind that it is very common for programs to fill up at the last minute!

• We strongly recommend purchasing trip insurance for Frog Lake Huts Trips.
• If you cancel your trip more than 60 days before your trip begins, we will refund the full amount less a 10% administrative fee. If you cancel 60 days or less from when your trip begins, we will not be able to issue a refund of any amount.
• Porters for Frog Lake Huts.  We respect our guides and porters time and schedules.  Once a porter is booked, we commit to pay them for the dates booked.  If you wish to cancel the service with less than 21 days notice, we are unable to provide a refund.

• No refunds can be given due to weather, environmental conditions or other unforeseen circumstances beyond our control that causes a trip to be canceled.  These events include: severe weather, political unrest, health pandemics, airline/transportation strikes, etc. 

• In the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, we reserve the right to reschedule, alter the trip's itinerary, or cancel the trip. Trip cancellation is the last resort and every effort will be made to run the trip in some facility.  Please research and purchase travel insurance to cover the trip fee and other costs of your trip if you cannot afford to lose these costs in the event of a cancellation.

• WE OPERATE TRIPS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER! Do not expect a trip to be canceled due to weather. Unless we specifically cancel the trip, please assume the trip will run regardless of weather. It is your responsibility to plan accordingly and arrive at the program venue on time. The mountains regularly see severe weather that can make travel extremely difficult. It is up to you to make sure that you can make it to our trips ON TIME. No refund can be issued for participants who are unable to attend or who cause a major disruption to the program itinerary due to tardiness.

Trip Insurance IS MANDATORY FOR ALL FOREIGN TRIPS and must have the following minimum limits for foreign travel:

• Evacuation and Repatriation Coverage: $250,000
• Medical Coverage: $50,000

If you wish to cancel your trip for any reason, a request must be made in writing via email.

• Cancellation Time Prior to Trip Dates:

120 Days: Full refund of trip fees and Trip Deposit minus 10% administrative fee.

91-119 Days: 50% refund of the trip fees.

Within 90 Days: NO REFUND can be made.

• “Rescheduling” a trip is considered a cancellation and is subject to the same policies as cancellation.

US Programs

Travel insurance is not mandatory, but is highly recommended for US-based programs.

International Programs

• Travel Insurance IS MANDATORY FOR ALL FOREIGN TRIPS and must have the following minimum limits for foreign travel:
• Evacuation and Repatriation Coverage: $250,000
• Medical Coverage: $50,000

We recommend Travelex Select because it meets these limits and tends to provide the best coverage and price point.​​

Travel insurance covers a wide variety of circumstances that could make it impossible for you to participate in a trip.  If you cannot afford to lose the Trip Fee, Trip Deposit, or other associated costs, please research and purchase trip insurance that will cover you adequately. 

In many states, "Cancel for any Reason" insurance provides partial coverage for trip fees, airfare and other non-refundable trip costs and might be a good way to cover yourself against changing plans or other unforeseen circumstances. 

Research with care and make sure that you're covered for what you need to be. You can compare rates and benefits at travelinsurance.com or choose Travelex Select Insurance to cover our required limits for foreign travel.

Trip Insurance is MANDATORY FOR INTERNATIONAL TRIPS and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR DOMESTIC TRIPS.

Trip Insurance covers a wide variety of unforeseeable circumstances that might make it impossible for you to participate in a trip. If you cannot afford to lose the Trip Fee, Trip Deposit, or other associated costs, please research and purchase trip insurance that will cover you adequately.

International Trips must have the following minimum limits:

• Evacuation and Repatriation Coverage: $250,000
• Medical Coverage: $50,000
• Travelex Select and World Nomads Explorer are reliable plan that meets our Evacuation and Medical Coverage Requirements. Be sure to choose " Travelex SELECT"  OR "World Nomads EXPLORER" options.
• If you choose another plan, please make sure that it MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE. We cannot accept limits below the minimums listed above.

Domestic Trips

• We highly recommended trip insurance for all domestic programs.
• Purchase the plan the best meets your needs.
• Consider "Cancel for Any Reason" Plans that can cover wider range of circumstances.
• World Nomads Explorer Plan has worked well for customers for many circumstances, including trips cancelled by Blackbird Mountain Guides due to extreme weather, but please make sure that you understand the policy you're buying and are covered for any circumstances that might affect your trip, including cancellations by Blackbird Mountain Guides. 

Where to Buy Trip Insurance

Regardless of which plan you purchase, make sure you are covered you for any reason that would make it impossible for you to attend your program.

• Travelex Select Insurance
• World Nomads
• travelinsurance.com

Cancel for Any Reason Insurance

In many states, "Cancel for any Reason" insurance provides partial coverage for trip fees, airfare and other non-refundable trip costs and might be a good way to cover yourself against changing plans or other unforeseen circumstances.

Research with care and make sure that you're covered for what you need to be. You can compare rates and benefits at travelinsurance.com or choose Travelex Select Insurance to cover our required limits for foreign travel.

• Blackbird Mountain Guides reserves the right to cancel or reschedule trips for any reason. These reasons include inadequate sign-ups (under-booked trip), guide injuries, or other unforeseen circumstances. Participants who have signed up for an under-booked trip will be given the option of making it a private trip for an additional cost, given credit to apply to another trip, or be refunded in full.

• No refunds can be given due to weather, environmental conditions or other unforeseen circumstances beyond our control that causes a trip to be cancelled. These events include: severe weather, political unrest, health pandemics, airline/transportation strikes, etc.

• In the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, we reserve the right to reschedule, alter the trip's itinerary, or cancel the trip. Trip cancellation is the last resort and every effort will be made to run the trip in some facility. Please research and purchase Trip Insurance to cover the trip fee and other costs of your trip if you cannot afford to lose these costs in the event of a cancellation.

• WE OPERATE TRIPS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER! Do not expect a trip to be cancelled due to weather. Unless we specifically cancel the trip, please assume the trip will run regardless of weather. It is your responsibility to plan accordingly and arrive at the program venue on time. California and Washington State have severe weather that can make travel extremely difficult. It is up to you to make sure that you can make it to our trips ON TIME. No refund can be issued for participants who are unable to attend or who cause a major disruption to the program itinerary due to tardiness.

Day Programs

For day trips: we do not require proof of vaccination, but do require clients to show up healthy and pass a health screening. If you are not feeling well, please stay home out of respect for the other members of your program and your guide. 

Overnight Lodge Programs

• For overnight trips with shared indoor space (Lodges & Huts): We are requiring that all clients and guides be fully vaccinated this season and stay up to date on their protection against the virus by getting booster shots when eligible. This means you have received the latest booster within six months of your trip. Review our guidelines here and make sure that you agree and comply with the terms before signing up for a program: Covid-19 Guidelines for Participants and Guides

• We'll ask you to submit a QR-Code to verify your Covid-19 Vaccination status. Please consult the following resources to obtain your QR-Code if you don't already have one:

California:

https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/

Nevada:

https://izrecord.nv.gov/public/Application/PublicPortal

Other States:

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/iis/contacts-locate-records.html#state

Overnight Camping Programs

For overnight camping trips: we do not require vaccination. Participants who do not wish to share a tent with another participant should contact us regarding options for their program.

• We want to make sure you feel comfortable booking an AIARE avalanche course in the early season with Blackbird. Early season courses can offer many benefits over programs later in the season and we want you to understand that we're committed to providing the learning outcomes you need, regardless of the snowpack.
• If we determine we cannot meet the learning objectives of our avalanche courses based on lack of snow coverage, we'll help you reschedule a later date that works for you!
• All skiing and skiing-based courses are subject to snow conditions and the Early Season Guarantee is not a guarantee of "good skiing conditions." We will make sure that there is enough snow coverage to adequately cover the learning outcomes of the field-based portions of the program

OVERNIGHT TRIPS WITH SHARED INDOOR SPACE (LODGES & HUTS)

• All clients and guides must be fully vaccinated and be up to date on getting booster shots (when eligible). Up to date means you have received the latest booster within six months of your trip. Review our guidelines here and make sure that you agree and comply with the terms before signing up for a program:

Covid-19 Guidelines for Participants and Guides

• We'll ask you to submit a QR-Code to verify your Covid-19 Vaccination status. Please consult the following resources to obtain your QR-Code if you don't already have one:

California:https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/Nevada:https://izrecord.nv.gov/public/Application/PublicPortalOther States:https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/iis/contacts-locate-records.html#state

DAY TRIPS

• We are not requiring vaccination.

OVERNIGHT CAMPING TRIPS (NO COMMUNAL INDOOR SPACE)

• We are not requiring vaccination.
• Participants who do not wish to share a tent with another participant should contact us regarding options for their program.

In some cases, poor air quality from wildfire smoke might warrant the need to issue a refund or offer a credit for your trip. We will do so under the following conditions when the Air Quality Index (AQI) gets within a certain level:

AQI 151-200

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, we will reschedule or issue a credit.

AQI 201-300

If you don’t want to climb in the smoke, we will reschedule or issue a credit

AQI >301

As this AQI is considered unsafe, we will cancel the activity for the day and issue a credit. Refunds can be requested as necessary.