Forms and FAQs
The Forms You Will Need
Equipment List and Travel Insurance
FAQs
Groups are limited to twelve. We keep groups small so that you can connect with the locals and not feel herded about. Most of our groups form by word of mouth, beginning with someone who has previously been on a Mountain Spirits trip. We have a very high percentage of repeat tripsters and hopefully you will be one, too!
Trips are generally “Easy” “Moderate” or “Strenuous.” On most Mountain Spirits trips porters, pack animals or support vehicles carry all the gear. You carry a light day pack.
“Easy” is usually a low altitude trip (under 10, 000 feet) with many optional activities and short hikes of 2 – 3 hours.
“Moderate” refers to a more active trip that may involve travel up to 14,000 feet, longer hiking or biking days and/or wilderness camping.
“Strenuous” trips generally include hiking at higher elevations (above 14,000 ft.) in steep and/or remote terrain for multiple days.
Ratings are subjective and vary due to weather and trail conditions. Please feel free to contact us personally to discuss the difficulty of any given adventure.
Registering for a trip is accomplished by sending in your deposit with the Trip Reservation Form Mountain Spirits
Upon registration, you will receive a registration packet that includes:
- Registration Form Mountain Spirits
- Liability Release Form Mountain Spirits
- detailed itinerary
- equipment list
- invoice and balance due info
- information regarding your area of travel (from recommended immunizations to visa requirements)
Prior to departure you will be sent contact phone numbers and any last minute information you may need.
Regardless of the difficulty of a trip, the more fit you are, the more you will enjoy your trip. Your information packet will outline what to expect on your trip. We are happy to discuss in detail what your days will be like. Start your training several months before the trip. In general, if you are going on a hiking trip, you should be hiking regularly. If you are going on a biking trip, you should be biking regularly. And so on! Take your training seriously – it is the key to a fun journey! Contact us for training suggestions.
Visas may be required for your destination and are not included in the Land Cost of your trip. We will send you the necessary forms (if your trip requires a visa) to help you obtain visas in your Registration packet. You must apply 45 to 90 days before departure because the process takes time.
- Expert leadership
- Accommodations (hotels, inns, lodges and/or camping)
- Meals where noted on itinerary
- Ground transportation
- Domestic flights in the destination country unless otherwise noted
- Local and/or cultural guides
- Camp and cook staff, tents, kitchen, dining and shower tents and other necessary camp equipment
- Porters
- Pack animals
- Entrance/Park Fees
- Sight-seeing when noted on itinerary
- Permits
- Additional guides when necessary
Traveler’s insurance is required for all Mountain Spirits trips. As it is a personal preference, we do not include this in our trip Land Cost. Your traveler’s insurance policy must include medical and evacuation coverage. We have had great luck with Travel Guard International: www.travelguard.com. Our agent, Erin Rountree, (etravel@cox.net or 208 788-2870) will be happy to guide you through the process.
We are more than happy to help you with your international flights. We work with several different agents who get fabulous deals to different parts of the world. Domestic flights (in your destination country) are normally arranged by us.
Upon registering for a trip, you will receive a detailed itinerary, equipment list and information regarding your area of travel. All you need to bring, besides your spirit of adventure, is your personal gear. We provide the rest including top-quality, state-of-the-art tents, camping and commissary equipment, and vehicles.
- Deposit for Trip Non-Refundable (Transferable less administration fee)
- If cancellation occurs more than 90 days prior to trip start date, trip cost is refundable less deposit.
- If cancellation occurs less than 90 days prior to trip start date, trip cost non-refundable.
- Custom Trips (such as Sailing Trips and Heli Ski Trips) are Non-Refundable.
Adventure travel works best with a small group of people. In order to operate these small groups, we have either a minimum # of people required for the trip OR a minimum total cost of the trip. We invoice you at the highest tier price (the smallest group size we can operate) until final payment is due. If the price drops due to an increase in group size before your trip departs, you will be refunded the difference.
The cost of delays is not included if any trip is delayed due to bad weather, trail conditions, road conditions, transportation delays, government intervention, sickness or other contingency for which Mountain Spirits or its agents cannot make provision. Furthermore, Land Costs is subject to change without prior notice, even after you have signed up on the trip. We publish our prices more than a year in advance. Between then and the time of the trip’s departure date we are occasionally faced with significant cost increases that we cannot absorb, such as international currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, increase of food prices or cost of services. We regret this situation and we do everything we can to avoid raising prices, but sometimes it is unavoidable.
We reserve the right to cancel any trip due to inadequate sign-up or other cause that makes the trip unfeasible for us to operate. We will attempt to inform you at least 45 days prior to departure. In such a case, a full refund of Land Cost is given (less administration fee). Mountain Spirits is not responsible for additional expenses incurred by members preparing for the trip (e.g. nonrefundable “Advance Purchase” air tickets, visa fees if applicable, clothing, equipment, medical expenses). Do not purchase your air tickets before speaking with us.
One of the fun things about traveling in foreign lands is discovering delicious regional cuisine. When we stay in hotels or inns we dine in intimate restaurants and sample a variety of local dishes. Out on the trail our camp cooks are experienced professionals who manage to prepare amazing culinary treats in the most remote places. In some regions the supply of produce may be more limited and consequently the food will be less varied. But you can rest assured that it will always be hearty, healthy, and tasty. We will try to accommodate any special diet requests you may have (i.e. vegetarian, vegan, gluten free etc).
Accommodations (hotels and tents) are based on double occupancy. If you prefer single accommodations, you must pay a Single Supplement Fee (which varies from trip to trip and is listed on our trip Registration Form). If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate of the same gender. If there is no one with whom you can share, you are required to pay a “forced” single supplement fee, which is usually half of the regular single supplement (shared accommodations are guaranteed on some trips). On a few trips, single accommodations are not available.
Trip members have certain responsibilities to Mountain Spirits and to the other trip members. Trip members are responsible for selecting a trip that is appropriate to their interests and abilities, and for preparing for the trip by studying the trip itinerary and supplemental trip information sent by Mountain Spirits. At the trip leader’s discretion, a member may be asked to leave the trip (at their cost) if the leader feels that the person’s further participation may be detrimental to the individual or to other trip members.
Our guides are trained to take the utmost care in all areas of your trip, from trail safety to camp hygiene. Our experience and training gives us the ability to solve logistical and medical problems in the field. On trips involving altitude we carry a pressure chamber, oxygen and satellite phone. Our guides maintain current Wilderness First Aid and CPR certifications. We also take great care to be sure that our entire staff is properly equipped with good clothing, shoes and sleeping accommodations. And finally, we keep our “ear to the ground’ regarding current affairs in our destination areas. Visit the US State Department Travel website for more information: http://travel.state.gov/
