Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of frequently asked questions and their corresponding answers. If you do not find the question you are wanting to ask or would like to know more, please contact us by either phone, email, or our online form.... We’re happy to answer your questions!
What gear do I need to participate?
The gear that you require depends largely on what type of trip you are taking and what your interests are.
Day Hiking
You are required to bring rain gear, broken-in hiking boots, and 1 litre of water. We recommend that you bring a camera, sunscreen, headlamp and a personal blister kit as well.
Multi-day Trips
You are required to bring rain gear, broken in hiking boots, sandals, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, 60 - 80 L backpack, and personal equipment.
Once you have booked your trip, you will be provided with a comprehensive la package detailing everything from meal plans, route descriptions and itineraries, personal gear list, and a fitness plan to prepare you for your trip. I
Do I need to be in peak physical shape to take part in your trips?
No, we believe in setting goals and creating trips that are realistic for you and your body, that is why we customize all of our trips. However, we do recommend that you prepare for your adventure before you arrive. If you live a sedentary life, you may want to start walking several weeks before your trip, or taking part in another physical activity or sport. We can give you recommended achievable goals for you to work towards before you arrive. Taking initiative to walk trails or uneven ground will greatly assist you comfort while hiking with us. If you are preparing for a backpacking trip, we suggest loading your pack with gear or water bottles until you are able to carry 35 lbs comfortably for several km. Keep in mind that little of our terrain is flat so experience walking up and down hills will be asset. When you are preparing for a trip, do not concern yourself with speed. Speed is less important than endurance.
What gear does Canadian Mountain Adventure supply?
The gear that we supply depends largely on what type of trip you are taking. Common to all trips are the following:
Comprehensive First Aid Kit, Emergency FM two-way radio, SPOT GPS Tracker, Navigation tools: map/compass/altimeter/GPS, Emergency shelter, Emergency food, Bear deterrent, Meals and snacks. Day-packs and hiking poles are available when requested.
Overnight gear
In addition to the above gear we supply the following:
Group tarps, food storage system, group cookware, eating utensils, stove, fuel, water purification system, field repair kit.
We can provide rental headlamps, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, tents, and backpacks for an additional fee. We strongly recommend that you utilize your own backpack to ensure a more comfortable fit if at all possible. If you plan to purchase any of this gear for the trip, we encourage you to contact us for professional advice on quality gear.
What kind of insurance does CMA have?
We carry 5 million dollars liability insurance through the group insurance plan offered by the ACMG. As a result, all participants on any of our trips are required to sign a waiver of liability before we depart. It is very important that you read the waiver and understand it before you sign it. You may view the waiver here. If you have any difficulty opening this file please contact us and we will send a copy to you via Canada Post.
What kind of safety precautions do you take on your adventures?
Besides using good judgement and practicing preventative measures before an emergency arrives, our guides carry safety equipment and have the knowledge in order to use it effectively. We have a comprehensive emergency plan for each trip that requires the guide to ‘check in’ at predetermined times. To further ensure your safety, we ask that you advise us of any pertinent (past and present) medical conditions and all medications that you are taking during the trip. If you have any significant allergies, LET US KNOW, and bring the appropriate medication to counteract a potential reaction.
We carry: Fully Stocked Wilderness First Aid Kit
VHF FM two-way radio
SPOT GPS Tracking and Emergency Response Device
Wildlife attack deterrent
SPOT is a GPS devise that is mainly utilized for emergency situations. If someone is having a medical emergency, they would press the ‘911’ button which will alert the appropriate authorities and send help to their exact coordinates no matter where you are on.
We also utilize SPOT for another reason: SPOT tracks and sends your coordinates to up to 8 email addresses of your choice who can view your route on Google maps - REAL TIME! We offer this option to our guests so that they can check in with those at home and let them see exactly where they have gone and what they’ve accomplished. It’s also a great way to keep record of your trip for later reference at home. This option is available at no extra charge. Please note that in the event of an emergency requiring the use of SPOT, you will be required to pay for your own rescue.
Can we fish on any of your adventures?
Yes, but we are not fishing guides. There are many places in our mountains that offer exceptional angling opportunities for rainbow trout. If you are an avid fisherman, you may want to spend some of your own time on the Fraser river and fish for Salmon or our famous monstrous White Sturgeon; we can provide you with info on local guides. Those people interested in fishing while here must obtain a BC Fishing License, you may only obtain a license online.
What time of year are trips offered?
We operate day trips from May to October and multi-day trips mid June to mid September . These dates are largely dependant on the amount of snow in the high country and how quickly it is melting. Throughout our operating period, there are events you may be interested in, such as the Alpine Wildflower bloom in July; we’ll let you know what to expect during the duration of your trip.
Do you provide highway transportation?
We can arrange for transportation at a very reasonable rate through a local passenger carrier from Vancouver or Kamloops. You are responsible for the fee for transportation but we will arrange the pick up and drop off for you at no additional charge. Otherwise, you may rent a vehicle at either city airport and make your own way here with easy to follow directions provided by us.
Are there any age restrictions?
Children under 10 may find a lengthily backpacking trip difficult to complete. We ask you to carefully consider whether a your child is able to participate on the trip you want. You know your child best. Ask these questions: Are they excited to do this trip, how active are they, am I willing/able to carry any - most of their gear, are they prone to whining? Of course we will fit you with trips that are suitable for the child's physical abilities, but in most cases we will not allow a young child on a backpacking trip longer than 3 days. Horses, Huts, Porter, & Helicopter services can greatly assist with a child’s gear on a basecamp trip. Generally, children are able to take part in all of our day trips.
On the other end of the scale, seniors are always welcome on our trips, we have guided seniors as seasoned as 75 years old! Once again, porters, horses, huts and helicopters can be an asset for those who do not wish to carry a pack full of gear.
What about bugs?
We do have mosquitoes, black flies, and other irritating but generally harmless bugs. Usually, they are most active during the morning and evening. We suggest that you bring your preferred brand of repellent. We personally do not find the bugs here ‘that bad’, especially compared to other areas. If you are especially reactive to bug bites, we suggest bringing a net for your head or a bug jacket, plus an anti-histamine (to reduce the itching). In rare extreme instances we can employ a smudge (if we are in an are suitable for a fire) or light mosquito repellent coils.
Are there any Bears?!?
Yes there are - black and grizzly bears!! Knowing bears are in the area can instill of excitement to our participants, and they deserve a large amount of respect. We do not feel that people should fear bears as a lot of what you hear regarding bears has been exaggerated by the media. We practice bear safe camping by keeping or camp clean and storing strong smelling food/gear in an appropriate manner. Our guides carry both pepper spray and ‘bear bangers’ to ward off an unlikely attack, but know that we personally have never had to use such measures, or been bothered by a bear. Seeing a bear should be regarded as a privilege, if you get the chance to see one. Traveling in a group will keep you safe from the unlikely event of an agitated bear encounter.
Are there any washrooms?
Except for cabin outhouses, rarely will you encounter a toilet on our trips. At the beginning of the trip, your guide will address the where’s for what’s, and how to dispose of it according to current accepted practice. We recommend that you bring at least one roll of toilet paper per person, and a couple of sealable plastic bags to keep it in.
When washing we ask that you bring biodegradable soaps/shampoos and wash well away from any water source. We recommend the use of personal hand sanitizer.
What do you mean by ‘we customize all trips’?
Although we have an array of destinations in mind for you, what you do on an adventure is up to you. That is why we ask you to let us know exactly what you would like to experience on your trip. For example: if you like to fish, we will ensure that we take you to an area where there is that opportunity. We customize everything from your desired length of stay, what we cover in interpretation, games, food, activities, the options you add and so on. This is your adventure, we aim to meet your needs and exceed your expectations!
What kind of food do you provide?
Don’t expect wieners and beans (unless that’s what you want). Food largely depends on what type of trip you are taking and what is currently in season around the area. We take a lot of care in what we provide for your sustenance and limit our offerings of manufacture products. We carefully balance the nutritional content of our food, with an emphasis on utilizing local foods and seasonal produce. Although, just about anything tastes good after a day of hiking, we prefer to take our food to the next level.
Day Trips: We sometimes provide a lunch that includes a hearty sandwich, (2) snacks, fruit. Please enquire.
Multi-day trips: We supply 2 meals on the first (lunch/supper) and last (breakfast/lunch) day and three meals for each full day out, plus snacks.
Backpacking: During the first couple of days we utilize as much fresh produce and meats as possible, as days continue we start utilizing more
durable cheeses and produce and relying on mostly dried foods. We do not offer freeze dried, pre-packaged meals, we prefer to
prepare the meals ourselves so that it’s nutritional value is as high as possible.
Basecamp: This type of trip allows us to carry even more fresh foods, especially if you are utilizing a helicopter, porter, or horses.
We take pride in amazing you with our backcountry culinary skills! We are able to accommodate most special dietary needs, please let us know if this applies to you. We will provide you a sample menu that you may adjust as you please. We will accommodate all reasonable requests providing that it is possible to do so without jeopardizing food safety.
Should we tip the guide?
Tipping is an accepted custom in Canada. We are much more liberal about how and what we tip than other destinations. Tips can consist of money (10% or more depending on much you enjoyed the service or can afford to give) or as a gift (a single malt scotch is always appreciated;). If you employ the use of porters or a wrangler (horse assistance) your guide will be obliged to share the tip with them, unless you choose to tip separately. Our staff will never demand gratuity nor in anyway suggest that they are expecting it, we believe that is considered bad etiquette.
What are your payment arrangements?
Deposit: A minimum deposit of $100 or 10% is due at the time of booking and is not refundable.
Payment: The remaining balance is due the day before you begin your trip.
How to Pay: Currently we are able accept payment as: Cash, Travelers’ Cheque, Money Order, Bank Transfer, Interac Email Money Transfer. All prices are in Canadian dollars. We accept payment in either Canadian or US dollars. We accept US dollars on par with Canadian dollars.
We will be pleased to provide you with the appropriate bank information at the time of your booking.
Do you accommodate individual travelers?
Yes, we offer several scheduled pre-packaged trips that you may join. In most cases though we respect the desire for group privacy and do not invite individual travelers on to their adventure. In certain cases a small group will request the trip to be open, in order to meeting new people. These trips will be posted along with our other scheduled trips that an individual traveler may join.
What are your family/group discounts?
Are you a member of an established hiking club? We offer amazing rates of up to 40% off for clubs booking with 6 for more participants.
Do you have a group of four or more you would like to book with? We offer specials for those who book together.
Book a family of four or more and save 25% off each participant price. (Children must be under 18 years of age) Family of three specials also available.
Discounts apply only on our basic overnight rates and are not applicable to added services such as Helicopter Assistance, Huts, Horse Assistance, or Porter Service. Please contact us for special rate inquiries.
Day Trips - Backpacking - Helicopter Trips - Horse Assisted Trips - Basecamps
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