COVID-19 Operating and Guiding Policies

Summer 2020

San Juan Outdoor Adventures/Telluride Adventures (SJOA/TA) recognizes there are hazards and risks to mitigate in this new era of COVID-19. Safety is our number one rule on all of our trips. We are implementing many COVID-19 safety related precautions for the Summer 2020 guiding season to do our best to limit the spread of this virus. Our company and guides will reassess day-to-day as more information becomes available about these ever-changing circumstances. We are all in this together and ask our clients to adapt with us as we navigate our way.

We are requiring all of our guides and clients to follow the most up to date PPE guidelines from the State of Colorado and San Miguel County. Our activities take place outdoors where it is easier to do a better job of social distancing. As much as we would like to give you that high five, pat on the back or handshake, these are things we will not be able to share together at this time.

We are no longer able to supply or share snacks, lunch or drinks with our guests. We ask for you to bring your own food and drink for all of your guided activities. We are also requesting if you have your own equipment for your guided trip to please bring it with you. If you do not have your own equipment we are still happy to supply it for you at no extra charge. We want to let you know we have systems in place to sanitize and/or quarantine the equipment in between each use. If you would like to purchase any new equipment before or after your trip, we have an agreement set up with a local gear shop for you to purchase equipment at a discounted price. Please feel free to contact us with any questions about your gear needs.

The following are some PPE items that we request that you bring along on your outing with us for our guides, public and your personal safety. Some sort of face covering such as a face mask, buff or bandanna to be used if there is a need to be in close proximity to one another or others that we may encounter during the day. We ask all clients to bring along their own hand sanitizer to be used before, during and after there adventure with us. We ask clients to make sure to wash there hands before and after there trip. We are going to do our best but are not promising to have a hand washing station available for guest(s) to use before and after each guided activity. We are also asking for all of our clients to bring along a pair of gloves that can be climbing belay gloves or a pair of work gloves for all climbing, via ferrata and mountaineering trips. A breakdown by activity is listed below.

We are going to do our best to help prevent the spread of this virus, but we know in the nature of some of our guided activities the risk cannot be fully eliminated. We are and want our clients to understand this and take this into consideration when signing up for a trip with us. As a team we can work together to do our best, but need to recognize there still could be a risk.

We ask if you or any member of your group is feeling ill or showing any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 that you let us know and we will be more than happy to cancel your trip. We also want to ensure you that if your assigned guide(s) are showing any signs or symptoms of the virus, the trip may be canceled, if we are not able to re-staff your trip.

Thank you in advance for your willingness to adapt. Please feel free to give us a call with any questions or concerns.

Best regards,

Joshua Butson and all of the SJOA/TA Guide Staff


Activity Protocols

The following is a breakdown of measures that we have lined up for each guided activity we offer. We have also included SJOA/TA policy’s that cover Food and drinks, Transportation, Cancellation and refund policy for all of these guided activities.

Guided Hiking and Mountaineering

  • Private group(s) only.
  • No hands on contact with client(s) if at all possible. If contact is needed to help client(s) with climbing harness, etc hands will be gloved and disinfected after contact.
  • No Hi-5’s, hand shakes, camera or phone sharing during and after the guided trip.
  • As much social distancing as possible between client, guide(s), other guided groups and the general public.
  • Guide(s) will have hand sanitizer on all trips and will use it throughout the day.
  • Guide service and guide(s) will encourage client(s) to have their own hand sanitizer and encourage them to use it throughout the day.
  • Guide staff will be required to stay home if sick and guide staff will be sent home if they start experiencing symptoms such as cough or fever.
  • Guide Staff and client(s) will be encouraged to wash hands with soap and water before and after each trip.
  • Use of face masks for guide(s) and/or client(s) will be implemented if it is required by the state of Colorado, San Miguel County, etc.

Equipment

  • It will be encouraged that client(s) bring all their own gear for the hiking or mountaineering guided trip.
  • If client(s) need SJOA/TA to provide gear (trekking poles, backpack, helmet, harness, mountaineering axe, crampons, etc) to use during the trip it will be wiped down and sprayed with disinfectant before and after it being used.
  • A designated cleaning and disinfecting area will be located outside the SJOA/TA gear storage garage. Each company vehicle will also have cleaning and disinfectant in them to have if needed.

Guided Rock Climbing and Via Ferrata

  • Private group(s) only.
  • No hands on contact with client(s) if at all possible. If contact is needed to help client(s) with climbing harness, etc hands will be gloved and disinfected after contact.
  • No Hi-5’s, hand shakes, camera or phone sharing during and after the guided trip.
  • As much social distancing as possible between client, guide(s), other guided groups and the general public.
  • Guide(s) will have hand sanitizer on all trips and will use it throughout the day.
  • Guide service and guide(s) will encourage client(s) to have their own hand sanitizer and encourage them to use it throughout the day.
  • Guide staff will be required to stay home if sick and guide staff will be sent home if they start experiencing symptoms such as cough or fever.
  • Guide Staff and client(s) will be encouraged to wash hands with soap and water before and after each trip.
  • Use of face masks for guide(s) and/or client(s) will be implemented if it is required by the state of Colorado, San Miguel County, etc.

Equipment

  • It will be encouraged that client(s) bring all their own gear for the rock climbing and/or via ferrata guided trip.
  • If client(s) need SJOA/TA to provide gear (backpack, helmet, harness, via ferrata lanyard, carabiner(s), etc) to use during the trip it will be wiped down and sprayed with disinfectant before and after it being used.
  • A designated cleaning and disinfecting area will be located outside the SJOA/TA gear storage garage. Each company vehicle will also have cleaning and disinfectant in them to have if needed.

Guided Mountain Biking

  • Private group(s) only.
  • No hands on contact with client(s) if at all possible. If contact is needed to help client(s) with climbing harness, etc hands will be gloved and disinfected after contact.
  • No Hi-5’s, hand shakes, camera or phone sharing during and after the guided trip.
  • As much social distancing as possible between client, guide(s), other guided groups and the general public.
  • Guide(s) will have hand sanitizer on all trips and will use it throughout the day.
  • Guide service and guide(s) will encourage client(s) to have their own hand sanitizer and encourage them to use it throughout the day.
  • Guide staff will be required to stay home if sick and guide staff will be sent home if they start experiencing symptoms such as cough or fever.
  • Guide Staff and client(s) will be encouraged to wash hands with soap and water before and after each trip.
  • Use of face masks for guide(s) and/or client(s) will be implemented if it is required by the state of Colorado, San Miguel County, etc.

Equipment

  • It will be encouraged that client(s) bring all their own gear for the guided mountain biking trip. This includes their own mountain bike, helmet, pads, backpack, etc. If client(s) need to rent a mountain bike, helmet or pads we will have them make arrangements with one of the bike rental places in town.
  • If client(s) need SJOA/TA to provide a backpack, etc. to use during the trip it will be wiped down and sprayed with disinfectant before and after it being used.
  • A designated cleaning and disinfecting area will be located outside the SJOA/TA gear storage garage. Each company vehicle will also have cleaning and disinfectant in them to have if needed.

Food and Drinks

SJOA/TA will forego providing any snacks, lunch or drinks for client(s) or guide staff.

Client(s) and guide staff will be required to provide their own food and drink for each guided trip.

Transportation

  • Client(s) will drive themselves when possible and if they can not SJOA/TA will transport private client(s) in a company vehicle.
  • When possible client(s) will be seated in rear most part of the vehicle to separate client(s) from the driver.
  • Hand sanitizer, cleaning whips and disinfectant spray will be in each company vehicle. Vehicles will be wiped down pre and post trip.
  • Disposable gloves will be located in all company vehicle to be used by staff if direct contact is needed to help a client with entering or exiting a vehicle.

Cancellation and Refund policy

SJOA/TA will cancel any trip if client(s) or guide staff are feeling ill or showing any COVID-19 like symptoms.

SJOA/TA will issue a full refund if a trip is cancelled due to any COVID-19 issues or concerns.