UPDATED: 6/27/22

The health and well-being of our clients, our guides, and the communities we visit is always our top priority. Since our founding, we have aimed to exceed health and safety expectations on every trip we run. This tenant continues today as we adjust our programming and policies in response to COVID-19. Please note that each type of outdoor trip we offer requires slightly different COVID-19 adjustments. We will be in communication with you before your trip should any additional information need to be shared.

Our program-wide COVID-19 trip precautions are listed below:

• Hand Sanitizer: Participants should bring their own small, travel sized bottle. 
• Face Coverings and Physical Distancing: While our trips are 100% outdoors, we are a group from multiple households with various vaccination levels and prolonged exposure over several days. As such, a *readily accessible* face covering (mask/buff) is required on all trips as it can limit the spread of droplets. Prolonged conversations that take place with less than 6 feet distance, meal service, use of indoor restroom facilities, and vehicles used by multiple participants are situations your guides may require that masks be utilized. Thank you so much for your assistance in helping keep everyone safe! 
• Tent Sharing: Only those who are members of the same household or fully vaccinated participants should share tents. This distinction is important: a household is those that live together, not necessarily members of the same family.
• Water Management: For backpacking trips, standard water purification strategies will be employed. 
• Waivers: In addition to the standard risk liability waiver, an additional COVID-19 waiver will be required for all participants, accepting the inherent risks of backcountry activities (lack of immediate medical services and sanitation) and the potential that rescue operations could be delayed or impossible given the current regional situation. This will be provided upon arrival.
• Transportation: Due to risk of exposure, we do not offer carpooling options. For trips that require a short shuttle, we require face coverings to be utilized and the windows of the vehicle will be rolled down. 
• Group Gear: Group gear will be closely monitored, only utilized by guides, and cleaned as thoroughly as possible between uses. 
• Meal Services: For backpacking trips, breakfast and dinner will proceed as planned. Guide prepared meals will follow food handling guidelines and be served by the guides, rather than self-serve or family style. Sharing of any meals or snacks outside your family group is prohibited. For cycling trips, pre-packaged lunch options will be available. 
• First Aid: Whenever possible, clients should self care for minor injuries like scrapes, abrasions, and blisters. Multiple guide first aid kits will be available as a resource. Individual guides will have sole access to their first aid kits and either use gloves or hand sanitizer before handling any supplies provided to clients.
• In the event that first aid must be administered by a guide, both the client and the guide will wear protective face coverings and the guide will wear sterilized gloves. 
• In the event of life threatening injuries, guides will immediately prioritize injuries and evacuation procedures, while taking as many COVID precautions as possible. 
• COVID Action Plan: If a client (or guide) demonstrates fever or flu-like illness concerning for COVID-19, they will be immediately (but safely) isolated from the other participants. A separate tent, evacuation plan, etc. If it is a client and they require evacuation, a guide will need to be assigned to them to evacuate from the trip. This guide will not interact with other members of the group. Upon visiting a healthcare center, appropriate COVID testing is recommended for the person in question and, if positive, the guide will need appropriate testing in addition to entering quarantine before returning to work. 
• Regional Healthcare. Clients should be aware of the regional healthcare infrastructure and accessibility, or lack thereof, in the vicinity of Yosemite National Park (YNP). Sports Basement will defer to YNP’s operating and evacuation procedures for individuals that develop COVID symptoms after arrival in YNP. All trips are equipped with Satellite radio text communication.