mountaineering course policies and guidelines
1) For the course, and needs to be having optimum physical fitness and health required. The course-application form will have a medical questionnaire to be filled by the client at the time of booking, which will capture the relevant and necessary information to gauge the eligibility of the client for the said course. If we feel that any underlying existing medical condition could possibly obstruct the progress of the client during the course, we might ask the client to get a medical fitness certificate from the local competent government authority, where the client resides, to establish eligibility for the course.
2) We will provide tents for all purposes, sleeping bags, all mountaineering gear minus mountaineering boots, harness, utensils, garbage bags and first aid kit. Clients are welcome to bring their own equipment as well. Clients will be playing an active role in the set-up and tear-down of the camp.
3) Clients need to carry their own backpack. What they need to bring will be clearly listed in an email after booking-confirmation.
4) Breakfast+Lunch+Dinner will be provided by us as per the scheduled timing. Morning and evening tea + snacks will be provided at set time.
5) Intermittent snacks/drinks will be client's responsibility.
6)Even though the wilderness and pure natural setting of the mountains will put the most restive of minds at ease, there could arise a situation where opinions might be at conflict. Under any circumstance, AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR, BOTH VERBAL AND/OR PHYSICAL, TOWARDS ANY MEMBER OF THE GROUP AND/OR GUIDES/STAFF WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. The violator will be expelled from the course, and if it warrants, reported to the local police station. There are simply no two ways about it.
7) Our motto is to ensure that our clients have fun and relish the pure Himalayan nature, but not at the cost of any evident damage to the natural surroundings. Clients are expected to be respectful towards eco-sensitive camping practices <link to the article>, following the Leave No Trace principle. Your course-guide will educate you about the right practices and behaviors for the course. This also applies to respecting the local culture and traditions, something which you won't find enshrined in our Constitution or BNS, but you will surely find it etched deep in the conscience of the locals. Thus, your course-guide will sensitize on that front as well. Feel free to ask your course-guide about the right practices and behaviors expected during the course as much as you can.
8) Each client will be mandatorily signing the Waiver of Release of Liability form. The same will be emailed on booking the course. Please give it a thorough read, as without it being signed, we won't be moving ahead with the course at all. Your course-guide will hand you physical-copy of the form at the start-point, and the same need to be signed in front of the guide.
9) Full amount needs to be paid in advance to confirm your booking. The payment details can be found on the last page of the course-application form.
10) Return Policy : - If booking is cancelled before 30 days from the start-date of the course, 2% amount will be deducted and the balance will be refunded. If the booking is cancelled when less than 30 days and more than 7 days are left for the start-date of the course, 50% of the amount will be deducted and the balance will be refunded. If the booking is cancelled when less than 7 days time is left for the start-date of the course, no refund is possible.
11) Practice-expedition is subject to conducive weather conditions. Course-guide's call will be final and binding, as they have the necessary training, knowledge and experience to be able to analyze the weather forecast and existing conditions and decide on the possible progress in the mountains. Part of training as a mountaineer is to be able to ascertain when to proceed and when not to, subject to various conditions, weather being a critical one. The course will have a buffer day for that, provided the group members wish to wait for a day for the weather to clear. It would need the group's consent to exercise the buffer day, as some members might be running on a tight schedule to be able to wait for that. If the weather is bad enough even after the buffer day, then it would call for the practice-expedition to be cancelled, and the guide will try to accommodate an objective that is achievable in that weather. Worst case scenario would call for any sort of outdoor objective being cancelled, and the group may practice whatever is possible at the camp, for the day.
12) Kindly fill in the grievance form in writing, if you are not satisfied with the conduct of any of our staff member/guide during the course. Strict action will be taken against the guides/staff member, if they are found in violation of our code of conduct.
13) If you feel dissatisfied with our grievance redressal, and you choose to sue us, all legal matters will be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Reckong-Peo - Headquarter, District of Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India - 172107.
