Policies

Trillium Alpine Guides reserves the right to cancel or modify a trip due to circumstances beyond our control, including COVID-19, world events, and/or acts of God. Payments are always non-refundable, even under these circumstances.

  • A 20% deposit is required to reserve your trip dates. This deposit is non-refundable under all circumstances.

  • Full payment is due 60 days before your program’s start date. This payment is non-refundable under all circumstances. No cancellations, group-size changes, or date changes are allowed after this date. International programs, third-party organizations, and large group programs (programs that require 2 or more guides to maintain the maximum participant-to-guide ratio) are due in full 120 days before the program start date.

  • If you request to book a trip with a start date within 60 days, the full payment is due immediately and is non-refundable under all circumstances.

  • Date-change requests are subject to availability and cost $50 per booking. Date changes are not allowed within 60 days of your program’s start date, and your new dates must be within the same calendar year. 

We adhere to these policies under all circumstances, and therefore we recommend that you purchase trip and/or travel insurance or wait to register until closer to your desired date.

Private groups:

If you plan to schedule a private group climb, a singular group leader will be responsible for all communication, deposits, and payments for the entire group. Each individual must still complete our Registration Form. Younger climbers (under 16 years) must book private trips.

Inclement weather:

Unpredictable and challenging weather conditions are a part of being in the mountains. Trillium Alpine Guides will run programs in any weather conditions, although there is no guarantee that the objective will be accomplished. 

  • There are no “day of” refunds or date changes available due to bad weather.

  • Regardless of the forecasted weather, we are unable to offer refunds, exchanges or rainchecks in the weeks or days before a scheduled trip.

  • We will uphold our cancellation policies in all cases.

Turning around:

The guide will decide to turn back if their professional judgment dictates that the group’s safety is jeopardized. We cannot evaluate your fitness level before a program. Our guides can only make decisions based on the speed and skill of participants relative to current conditions, forecasted weather, and any other hazards present. If you have any chronic health conditions, please consult your doctor before signing up for any trip and inform us of any medication that will be brought into the field or taken before a program.

Participant-to-guide ratios:

Every program has a maximum participant-to-guide ratio. This information can be found in the respective program description. These ratios are determined by industry standards dictated by the American Mountain Guide Association and the professional judgment of Trillium Alpine Guides based on the objective hazard exposure and the systems used to manage them. We will not exceed this ratio in technical terrain, thus participants may be turned around to maintain the maximum participant-to-guide ratio for the group. Private guides are available for anyone concerned about climbing with unknown partners.

Acknowledgment of Risk form:

Every participant is required to sign our Acknowledgement of Risk form before the start of a program. We recommend that you take the time to read this form before arriving at the trailhead, and we invite you to call us in advance if you have any questions about it.

Climbing, mountaineering, and backcountry skiing involve inherent risks  – we can manage many of them to a degree but some are beyond our control. By signing, you acknowledge that there are hazards beyond our control and assume responsibility for all the risks associated with the activity. We do not assume liability for injuries or death. All participants are completely responsible for all medical and hospital costs associated with any injury, rescue, and evacuation. You go into the mountains at your own risk.

Working through other guide services:

All our Mt. Hood mountaineering and backcountry skiing programs are permitted and run through Timberline Mountain Guides and Oregon Ski Guides. When you participate in a Trillium Alpine Guides program on Mt. Hood you are subject to the policies of TMG and OSG.