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Aspire Mountain Journeys was developed so that we could bring you into some of our favorite mountain destinations.  Let us share with you how to Climb, ski and explore some of the most magical places on the planet.  

 

Cecelia Mortenson -  Canada's 9th female Mountain Guide - brings her mountain expertise and passion for travel to every one of these trips.  While most trips are guided by Cece, all guides at AMJ are certified by the ACMG / AMGA or other IFMGA country.

Cecelia in her element: where jagged rocks rise from glaciers.
Booking Information - Updated April 15, 2022

 

Aspire Mountain Journeys specializes in custom mountain adventures and instructional courses that focus on low-ratio and personalized trips.  We will work with you to develop that perfect trip and be sure you are prepared. Advanced booking and person communication is required.

All mountain guiding and instructional guiding activities contain hazards and

risks that may result in permanent injury or death. 

 

You will be asked to sign a RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT. THEY AGREE TO WAIVE OR GIVE UP CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SUE FOR NEGLIGENCE, BREACH OF CONTRACT OR BREACH OF THE OCCUPIERS LIABILITY ACT OR CLAIM COMPENSATION FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT.

 

All participants will need to sign a Declaration of Health to lower the risk of transmitting COVID-19 to the group.  A daily health screen will be required each morning.  

Vaccination Policy:

All trip participants are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.  If mandated by public health authorities  this includes booster shots.

 

When possible, accommodations will be made for participants who are unvaccinated due to religious or medical reasons. Other restrictions, such as masking and distancing, may be required from unvaccinated participants.

 
Step guide to booking:

1. Begin by contacting us at cecelia.mortenson@gmail.com to inquire about availability and courses. 

 

2. Please click ACMG Waiver to download and review our waiver and assumption

of risk form.  Email a signed and copied form to cecelia.mortenson@gmail.com

All participants will be required to sign a paper copy prior to all activities.

 

3.  Please click Covid-19 Management Plan to review in detail how we will  

be managing the risk of Covid-19 on our trip. Cece is highly committed to

providing fun, efficient trips that are in compliance with best-practice

industry standards and current Health regulations.  If you are not willing to

comply with these guidelines,  please consider booking with another guide.

3. Click icon, download and agree to completing.the Declaration of Health.  

 

4. Confirm your booking by paying your trip deposit.  A deposit of 50% of total trip cost is required to reserve any booking.   Full Payment is due 90 days prior to the trip start for international trips and 30 days prior to Domestic trips.  It can also be paid at the time of booking.

5.  Complete your Registration Form and email to cecelia.mortenson@gmail.com

Note: We accept no responsibility for any extra costs that may arise from the actions of persons and/or companies supplying goods and/or services to our trips; or from the complication or prolongation of any program for any reason.

Cancellation & Refunds:

  • Refer to Covid specific cancellation policy listed below for any cancellations                                          due to COVID-19 illness or government restrictions.

  • For any non-COVID-19 related cancellations, if you cancel a trip:​

    • More than 90 days before international trips or 30 days before domestic trips,                 the deposit is non-refundable.

    • Within 90 days of international trips or 30 days before domestic trips, all payments are non-refundable unless:

      • For private bookings we will issue a refund if we can find someone to fill your seat in the group and the trip fills to capacity or we are able to find alternate work for those dates.  

      • For scheduled trips (E.g. AST courses, instructional courses, backcountry lodge ski trips, scheduled international trips) we will issue a refund if we find someone to take your place and the trip fills to capacity.

      • If you cancel but we issue a refund, the refund is subject to a handling fee of C$200 per person. EG if a booking is made for 2 people, the handling fee will be C$400. For single day trips the handling fee is C$100 per person.

  • If we cancel a trip for anything other than weather, conditions, a natural event, or actions of other persons and/or companies supplying goods and/or services we will refund your payments in full.

  • If  weather, conditions, a natural event, or actions of other persons and/or companies supplying goods and/or services cause us to be unable to do anything in the mountains the first choice is to re-schedule. If that isn’t possible we will work out a plan that applies to the specific situation, which may include a refund. Cancellation due to weather or conditions is a very rare event.

  • In case of adverse weather or conditions we reserve the right to change objectives to ensure the safest trip for you. Changing objectives does not trigger a refund.

  • Trip cancellation insurance is recommended. Many credit cards will offer this insurance with a trip payment. See your card information for details.

Cancellations related to Covid-19 
  • Cancellations related to COVID-19 are subject to the refund policy outlined below.

  • Clients are allowed to cancel and receive a full or partial refund for the following reasons, minus a $100 administration fee and any non-refundable deposits (e.g. PayPal / hotels / lodge fees):

    • You have tested positive to COVID-19, immediately prior to the trip.

    • You are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, immediately prior to the trip.

    • You are unable to attend the trip due to a government health order restricting travel or the activity.

Refunds related to Covid-19 cancellations
  • Please inquire before the trip as to what portion of the cost may be non-refundable.

  • In the unlikely event thatAspire Mountain Journeys must cancel a program due to Covid-19 restrictions, full or partial refunds will be provided.  If possible, and desired by you, we will try to work with you to reschedule for a future trip date. 

  • We aim to provide a full refund in the unfortunate event of a cancellation related to Covid-19.  However, if a third party has been contracted by Aspire Mountain Journeys - the refunds will be based on the cancellation policies of each third party.  Costs not retrievable from a third party will not be refundable.  In these circumstances, a partial refund will be provided.  Some examples include: 

    • Hut Reservations,

    • Helicopter services,

    • Transportation (e.g. flights or rental cars)

    • Food 

    • 3% charge for payments made by credit card.  

  • A fee may be reserved to pay for organizational work already performed.

 
Mountain Rescue Insurance
  • Mountain rescue is free for trips run on Alberta provincial lands.

  • Mountain rescue is free in National Parks in Canada (Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, Jasper, Glacier/Rogers Pass) if you have purchased a park admission fee when you arrive.

  • Mountain rescue insurance is recommended for trips in British Columbia and for international destinations. You may be required to pay for mountain rescue in these areas.

  • There are a few options to consider:

    • American Alpine Club (ACC) Global Rescue Insurance.  Your annual

               membership dues of 80$ USD provides $7,500 rescue insurance,

               which may not cover the full cost of a rescue.  Rescues will be

               organized  with local providers.   Great for international and domestic trips.  

  • Global Rescue.  This is an excellent insurance ($500,000) for larger

               trips that occur over 100 miles from home.  Rescues will be organized

               with local providers, which is great in international and domestic

               contexts that are over 100 miles from your home.

  • TUGO.  This insurance is often less expensive than Global Rescue. 

              However, it is not as suitable for international trips as in Canada

               where the guides are familiar with call-out procedures & language.

               Be sure to enrol for the optional adventure sports coverage.  

  • Garmin's Emergency Response Coordination Insurance (GEOS). 

              If you own a SPOT or InReach device you can investigate options from

              GEOS. Note: The rescue needs to be initiated from your device for the

              insurance to be in effect.  

 
Health Insurance
  • Health insurance for Canadian citizens. Your provincial health care plan may not cover all your medical expenses outside your home province. This is especially true for Quebec residents. Please research what your provincial health plan covers. You may need additional travel health insurance.

  • Health insurance for non-Canadians. You will need to have health insurance that covers you for travel as you will be directly billed for any medical expenses you incur in Canada or overseas. Health care is not free in Canada.

 
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