Policies

Policies Detailed on this Page

Privacy | Gratuities | Insurance | Transactions | Dates | Gear | Youth | Covid | Safety | Groups | Turnarounds | Virtual

Date Change Policy

We are often willing to change the date of an adventure or educational offering, particularly if 1) we are able to, and 2) it will help our guests meet their objectives. For example, if we have someone who wants to hike a Presidential traverse but wind conditions are dangerous — based on the opinion of the guide — making the trek impossible, we are willing to somehow work it out, to change the date. Or if for instance someone wants to do a backpack but it is supposed to be pouring rain the entire time making it a truly miserable experience, we are willing to somehow work it out, to change the date. We want to be accommodating. That said, if our guests request a change of date within fourteen (14) days for a random, unclear, or non-consensual reason, or in the “last minute” (meaning less than seven (7) days), or even for a reason related to the examples, above, we reserve the right to charge, per date change, a Date Change Fee in the amount of $75/day/person.

Youth Protection Policy

We strongly encourage people of all ages to get outside and be active, and starting early is best. Redline Guiding owner Mike Cherim hiked Mt Washington via the Tuckerman Ravine Trail on his own two legs at four years old so he gets this. We also have to think about protecting our youth guests/students (defined as under the age of 18), and we don’t mean this in just a hazard mitigation or physical/ability sense, but in all concerns, including social. Inasmuch we have adopted a set of guidelines based upon those created by other youth organizations.

Two-Deep Leadership

Essentially no Redline Guiding staff is to ever be alone with a youth guest or student barring rare exceptions to members of Group Four (see below). Exceptions, however, will be pending written approval by Redline Guiding management and the parent/guardian. Two deep leadership requirements may be met with a parent/guardian and a guide/instructor, two guides/instructors, or it even be one guide/instructor with multiple youths in some cases as it relates Groups Three and Four (see below).

Age and Group Size Restrictions

GROUP ONE:

Age 5 and under guests/students under may be denied access to some or all of our Activities, events, and programs. This is subjective and will be based on factors such as Activity type, difficulty, objective, hazards, weather, etc. If they are allowed access, please note that Group Two’s restrictions will apply.

GROUP TWO:

Age 6-11 guests/students may be denied access to some or all of our programs. Members of this age group must be accompanied by a parent or guardian which may require the payment of additional fees, depending on the Activity. If, for example, we are leading a top-roped ice or rock introduction, the parent or guardian will be allowed to observe at no charge — though a climbing helmet will be required (we have rentals, if needed). If a hike or mountaineering quest is in our sights, however, we would require full paid participation.

GROUP THREE:

Age 12-15 guests/students may be denied access to some of our programs unless accompanied by a parent or guardian which may require the payment of additional fees (see above). This age group will not allow for a one-on-one interaction with our guides/instructors, but youth-only groups in this age range will usually be supported. This is somewhat subjective.

GROUP FOUR:

Age 16-17 guests/students may be denied access to some of our programs unless accompanied by a parent or guardian which may require the payment of additional fees (see above). This age group may allow for some one-on-one interaction with our guides/instructors where excepted (see Two-Deep Leadership above), and youth-only groups in this age range are typically supported. This is less subjective than it is with Group Three.

Parent/Guardian Unavailability

If a parent or guardian is required in any of these cases, but not available or unable to partake in the activity (i.e. a long hike, multipitch climbing, or skill-based discipline, et. al.) a second guide/instructor will be needed and this will require additional fees. Please reach out for specifics.

Guide/Instructor Training

Our guides/instructors are required to take Youth Protection Training before leading a youth-only trip or class. The training in use currently is the program offered by the Boy Scouts of America.

Gear Rentals

We offer rental gear to our guests. Both fully outfitted “Ready Packs,” “Alpine Ready Packs,” and “Backpacking Ready Packs” — which by default include food and water, but may be supplied without it — and “Specialty Gear” which consists of technical and seasonal support items rented to participants with their own packs and gear. We also have access to third-party rentals like all-inclusive Nordic or Alpine Touring (AT) backcountry ski sets. Collectively this is all referred to as “Gear.” This latter group we also refer to as “Outsourced Gear.” Unless we pick-up that Outsourced Gear on your behalf (a surcharge of $40 plus 100% rental of fees applies), you will deal with individual vendors, ideally, so as to better confirm fit and comfort. In fact, we will not be accountable for poor fit if we rent your boots for you. Otherwise, our Gear terms apply.

We have chosen to supply our guests with top-quality Gear here at Redline Guiding. Instead of just hoping and praying our guests stay out of trouble in the mountains, we instead make sure they are actually prepared for it. We thoroughly outfit them in Gear that we ourselves as guides would be quite happy with and have personally tested.

That said, this policy excepts our trail running offerings which will allow athletes and participants, even our guides (to a certain extent) to practice and employ minimalistic, weight-saving methods to include foregoing certain gear recognizing that doing so — as well as accepting the inherent associated risks — is integral to the sport.

This Gear costs several hundreds of dollars per person and we hope to eventually reclaim our investment. We insist it is cared for, not neglected, nor abused, and if any is damaged from neglect or abuse, even accidental loss or damage (though certain damages, to gaiters from crampons, for example, is fully expected and allowed for), we will ask for compensation to repair or replace said Gear. In such cases, at our descretion, we will charge you for the wholesale replacement or repair cost for such Gear, plus 20% to cover shipping and administrative costs. We do offer Gear Insurance that forgives accidental loss or damage, but not neglect or abuse (see full policy, this page). That said, we will never put the importance of our Gear over life and limb. Our guests are the most important thing and come first.

Please note: The fitting of our Gear is approximate. People come in many sizes and shapes. We have done our best to supply Gear that is functional, but the fit may be less than perfect. We have opted for looser fits over tighter ones where we could for practicality, comfort, and safety. We will try our best to ensure your comfort and style, but our top priority is your safety and preparedness. As it pertains to Outsourced Gear, we will not be accountable for poor fit if we rent your boots for you. While we offer this service, we don’t recommend it.

Also note: Gear rented from us may be used from the start of the activity to the end of the activity only and does not extend beyond this period. On this site it is stated that Gear is rented on a per person, per day, basis, but this actually means for the duration of the activity unless said activity extends beyond 24 hours, in which case, more rental fees would apply under ordinary circumstances, i.e., we’re not offering a “Gear Included” special.

Coronavirus/COVID-19

Updated March 15th, 2023: As Covid 19 becomes endemic, and with Federal, State, and Local governments closing Public Health Emergency programs, we will in turn change our recommendations and restrictions as follows:

• Group Sizes: Most of our offerings have been private and will remain so in perpetuity. That said, group capacities and ratios will remain as published pre-Covid and be governed more or less by reasonable building capacities.
• Building Capacity: We will restrict the number of guests inside our building to twenty (20) with up to five (5) guides or other staff at any given time for a total of twenty-five (25) people. We don’t really have room for more, anyway.
• Face Masks: Masks will be required if you are ill (and it is advised you stay home if you are). Otherwise masks are optional. While never frowned upon, the choice is yours.
• Sanitizer/PPE: Our guests will not be required to carry these items, though we will recommend them for typical hygiene reasons. Moreover, this applies to our guides. Also, the bag-valve-masks (BVMs) will now be carried by our guides optionally.
• Health Checks: We will not be asking health questions. If you’re not feeling well, however, if dealing with flu or Covid-19 symptoms, we ask that you advise staff, remain outside of our facility, and mask up if in close contact with anyone.
• Vaccination Status: We will not ask guests about their vaccination status though they may ask us about ours. We encourage and hope for complete transparency, regardless.

We ask that our guests to be on the honor system in terms of their health so as to protect others and our staff. We invite any questions and concerns our guides or guests may have.

Questions?

If you have any questions about any of our policies, please feel free to contact us.
Last updated: December 3rd, 2024