By submitting a deposit or payment, you agree — on behalf of yourself and everyone you are booking for — to be bound by the terms below. You confirm you are acting as an agent for those individuals, and that these terms apply to them as well.

This policy covers all programs offered by White Grizzly Adventures Ltd., operating as Kootenay Backcountry Guides ("Kootenay Backcountry Guides," "we," "us"): Backcountry 101 courses, Lodge-Based Ski Touring (including Lodge-Based AST), Avalanche Education Courses, Private Guiding, Remote Base Camp Touring, Guided Traverses, Day Hiking, Multi-Day Backpacking, and Bike Tours.

Guided Trips, Lodge Programs & Day Tours — Payment Terms

(Ski touring, splitboarding, telemark, lodge trips, traverses, base camps, day hikes, multi-day hikes, bike tours)

Deposit: 50% of the booking price + tax, due at time of booking. 

Balance: Final payment is due 60 days before your trip (or an earlier date specified for your trip). Full payment is required at booking if you book within 60 days of departure, or after your trip's set payment deadline. 

Pricing:

• All prices are in CAD. GST (5%) is added to every booking. Accepted payment methods: Mastercard, Visa, Discover, bank/e-transfer, and cash. Credit card fee applies.
• If a third-party provider (e.g. a lodge or helicopter operator) raises their price after you've paid, you can either pay the increase or request a refund minus a 10% admin fee.

Your responsibility:

• Delays getting to/from a lodge (extra nights, food, fuel, missed flights) are at your own cost.
• We are not responsible for any vehicle break-ins at a lodge or trailhead. Leaving your vehicle and/or valuables at these locations is taken at your own risk.

Avalanche Education Courses — Payment Terms

(AST courses, Backcountry 101, Mountain Rescue, and other avalanche education)

• Full payment is due at the time of booking. No refunds are provided for AST courses unless the cancellation is due to guide injury or a Kootenay Backcountry Guides forced cancellation.
• GST (5%) apply
• Accepted payment methods: Mastercard, Visa, Discover, bank/e-transfer, and cash. Credit card fee applies.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Guest-Initiated Cancellations

To cancel, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in writing. Your cancellation only takes effect once we confirm it in writing.

Lodge trips, traverses, base camps, multi-day hikes, Lodge-Based AST, bike tours

• If a cancellation is made 60 days or more in advance of the program, you will receive a full refund less a $100 administration fee. 
• For cancellations made between 60 and 30 days before the program start, 50% of the total program fees will be refunded. 
• Cancellations made 30 days or less before programs start are not eligible for a refund. 
• We strongly recommend getting cancellation insurance to cover all eventualities.

AST & Backcountry 101 Courses

• AST course registrations may be transferred to another course within the same season, if space is available, 60 days or more before the course.
• The first transfer is free of administration charges, but other transfers will be charged with a $50 administration fee, provided you request the transfer 60 days or more before the course.
• For cancellations made between 60 and 30 days before the program start, 50% of the total program fees will be refunded. 
• Cancellations made 30 days or less before programs start are not eligible for a refund. 
• Within the 30 days period, switching to a different course date counts as a cancellation : you forfeit your original payment and must pay again for the new date, unless you provide a suitable replacement for your original spot.

Private Groups (private courses, private guided trips/hikes)

• Private group bookings are charged a single flat fee for the group, regardless of the number of participants. The group leader submits one payment and is responsible for collecting from individual members.
• If a member of the group cancels or drops out, this does not change the total amount owed and does not trigger any refund — the group's booking cost is fixed. It's up to the group leader and remaining members to decide how to handle the departing member's share internally; Kootenay Backcountry Guides does not mediate this.

If the entire group cancels the booking, the standard tiered refund schedule applies:

• 60+ days out: full refund minus a $50 admin fee.
• 30–60 days out: 50% refund of the total program fee, provided you have paid in full. If you have only paid your deposit (i.e. have not paid in full) by the time you cancel, no refund is issued.
• 30 days or less: no refund.

Operator-Initiated Cancellations

We may cancel a trip, course, or day at any time — in part or in full — for reasons out of our control including weather, wildfire/smoke, avalanche conditions, operational emergencies, injured/sick guide/instructor, pandemic, or insufficient bookings.

If we cancel your trip or course before it starts:

• You'll be offered a reschedule to a later date in the same season, or
• If no mutual date works, a full credit toward a future trip, or
• If you'd rather not take credit, a refund minus a $50 admin fee.

What's Never Refunded

• Third-party costs (flights, car rentals, accommodations) are not covered by Kootenay Backcountry Guides under any circumstance.
• No refund is issued if you arrive late, forget or have issues with your gear, face vehicle/road problems, get injured, choose to end your day early, or are pulled from an activity because we determine you're not fit enough or have the ability to continue for any reason whatsoever.
• No refund if your ability level doesn't match your group's — either in mixed groups or on private trips where your group members can't complete the day.
• No refund for illness on your activity date, or for failing/declining to complete a required waiver.

General Terms & Conditions

• Participation in all programs is at the sole discretion of Kootenay Backcountry Guides and its trip leaders.
• Kootenay Backcountry Guides reserves the right to cancel any reservation at any time. Booking credits may be offered at Kootenay Backcountry Guides discretion.
• Whether you are cancelling for family issues, health issues, travel issues, transportation issues, world crises, unprecedented situations, pandemics or otherwise, we treat all cancellations equally. Trip cancellation insurance is advised in the event that you have to cancel your trip for personal and unforeseen reasons.
• Participants must disclose any medical conditions that could affect safety.
• Medical clearance may be required.
• Kootenay Backcountry Guides does not provide refunds for:
• Unfavourable, changing, or unsuitable weather, snow, avalanche, terrain, or backcountry conditions;
• Personal or family emergencies;
• Illness, injury, medical conditions, or changes in a participant's ability or willingness to participate;
• Border crossing delays, denials, restrictions, documentation issues, or other travel-related problems;
• Transportation delays, road closures, vehicle problems, or other travel disruptions;
• Personal scheduling conflicts, late arrival, missed departure, or failure to attend;
• Changes in travel plans or circumstances of any participant;
• Government restrictions, closures, advisories, regulations, or orders;
• Acts of God, natural disasters, wildfires, earthquakes, floods, extreme weather events, or other natural events;
• Pandemics, epidemics, outbreaks, quarantines, or public-health emergencies;
• War, terrorism, civil unrest, strikes, labour disruptions, or other events beyond our reasonable control.

Kootenay Backcountry Guides assumes no responsibility for the actions or omissions of third-party providers.

Waiver & Participation Requirements

All participants — including anyone added or substituted after the original booking — must review and complete the applicable waiver(s) before participating. If a waiver isn't completed, that person cannot participate, and no refund is issued.

• Guided trips, day tours, hikes, and bike tours: the Summer Activity Waiver, 
• Avalanche Education Courses: both the Avalanche Skills Training Program Waiver and the Winter Wilderness Activities Waiver. The Winter Wilderness waiver is completed electronically in advance; your guide provides the AST waiver on paper at the start of the course.
• Participants under 19: a parent/legal guardian must sign the Winter Wilderness Activities Waiver and the Avalanche Canada Informed Consent & Acknowledgement of Risk on the minor's behalf. The minor also signs a waiver dated for the day they turn 19.

Please read your waiver carefully — by signing, you give up certain legal rights, including the right to sue for negligence, breach of contract, or breach of the Occupiers Liability Act, or to claim compensation following an accident.

If you're booking on behalf of others, it's your responsibility to bring the waiver requirement to their attention before you book. By booking, you confirm you've done so.

Guest Responsibilities

You're responsible for making sure that you (and everyone in your group):

• Complete the registration form accurately and hold a valid passport/visa if needed to enter Canada.
• Arrive on time and prepared, regardless of weather or road conditions.
• Are healthy and symptom-free on the day — arriving sick means you can't participate, with no refund.
• Meet the baseline skill and fitness level for your program.
• Bring gear that's in working order.
• Are not impaired by drugs, alcohol, or medication.

Minors

Guests 18 and under are welcome under the following conditions:

• Minors must be accompanied by a legal guardian, with at least one guardian per minor in the group.
• Minimum age is 12, and minors must meet the same fitness/skill requirements as adult participants.
• A guardian must sign the required waiver on the minor's behalf and stay with the minor at all times during the activity.

Trip Cancellation & Medical Insurance

We strongly recommend trip cancellation insurance to protect against unforeseen circumstances — we don't sell insurance ourselves, but recommend Acera.

BC's provincial health coverage may not include medical or rescue costs, especially for out-of-province or international guests. We recommend separate medical travel and rescue insurance (also available through Acera). Kootenay Backcountry Guides is not responsible for personal costs arising from an accident on any trip or course.

Image Release

By booking, you permit Kootenay Backcountry Guides to use photos or video of you for promotional purposes. Your personal information, including images, is collected under Section 26 of BC's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Questions about this policy? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..