Making Outdoor Activities Covid Secure
We are taking the current situation very seriously and have adjusted our personal routines and business activities in order to minimize further spread of COVID-19.
At ISM we will lead by example, safeguarding our clients, local communities and health professionals as best we can from the transmission of Covid-19.
As national Government and association guidelines continue to evolve, we will adapt and promote these safe working practices, keeping our outdoor activities as 'Covid secure' as possible.
ISM considers much more seriously, with the spread of Covid-19 in mind:
- Hygiene
- Social distancing
- Travel
- Rescue and emergency procedures
- Community relations
- National and international guidelines
Any guidance forms a minimum foundation of safe working practise that will underpin all outdoor activities, working in conjunction with existing guidance from the Association of British Mountain Guides (BMG), International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations (IFMGA), Mountain Training Association (MTA) British Mountaineering Council (BMC), Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS), Mountain Rescue Councils and other mountain guide associations in the various countries that we work in.
As Mountain Guides we will continue to risk assess the situation, and decide how practical and effective any further measures might be and do this against a background of developing Government and national governing body advice.
Hygiene:
- Protecting yourself and others from the spread of Coronavirus – World Health Organisation
Social Distancing:
- Social distancing – UK Government
Travel:
- Transport and travel guidance – UK Government
Even though we are outdoor professionals, we'll need to share more responsibility with our clients, to protect everyone involved during any outdoor activities from the virus. This will need a level of independence from clients in the areas of decision making, hygiene and distancing in particular. We also need to consider our increased duty of care where young or vulnerable people are involved.
We are taking the current situation very seriously and have adjusted our personal routines and business activities in order to minimize further spread of COVID-19.
We will keep you updated via this website, social media and emails
over the coming weeks. In the meantime, we hope that you, your family
and friends stay safe, fit and well.
If you have any questions please contact us.
With best wishes
The ISM team
Winter/Summer 2021 – Covid Booking Conditions (please also refer to our main booking conditions information)
The continuing restrictions and lockdowns caused by the Coronavirus pandemic are making it difficult to predict how the ISM summer and winter programme will be delivered and whether the ability for clients to travel freely will be affected.
We are trying to be as flexible as possible, and want ISM clients to be able to book with confidence.
Our usual booking conditions ask for final balance payments eight weeks before the course start date. However, for winter 2020/21 and summer 2021, we will consult our clients four weeks before the course start date.
Four weeks before a course start date, we hope to have a good idea of whether we think a course will realistically able to run or not, whilst still allowing clients time to finalise travel plans.
Our decision whether to run a course or not will take into account the number of bookings we have, national and international travel restrictions and other Covid related issues at that time.
Once a course is confirmed, we will then ask for your balance payment.
If ISM cancels a course for any reason, the ISM client will get a full refund.
If a client withdraws from a course for any reason within that four-week window leading into the course start date then any payments made are non-refundable.
We suggest that clients take out appropriate travel insurance to help cover any last minute cancellations.
