self isolating in the wilderness

Jackpine Blog

Covid-19 Safety & Updates

Updated May 23, 2021

We’ve really appreciated the flexibility, patience and understanding shown by our out-of-territory guests who have booked on our trips across the spectacular Northwest Territories. From the bottom of our hearts, thank-you!

A few weeks ago the territorial government outlined a process for out-of-territory, Canadian guests to safely enter the NWT this summer with a licensed outfitter in a remote operation (aka, Jackpine Paddle). Under our approved Remote Operations Plan, the wilderness trip itself would be the required 14-day isolation. A cohort of trip guests and guides would isolate together and have no contact with other NWT residents and communities while in-transit to the trip.

We are excited to be able to welcome out-of-territory guests to the North THIS SUMMER on the following guided canoe trips:

·        Elk River – July 17 – 30

·        Clarke/Thelon – July 30 – Aug 12

·        Upper Thelon – Aug 12-25

·        Upper Horton – August 14-27

·        Open slot for private/custom trip – August 25-Sept 7

If you are interested in booking a spot on one of these trips, please contact our office. Space is limited, so best to reach out as soon as you can.

The NWT is our home, and your safety is our priority. With that in mind we have carefully drafted a plan with stringent COVID-19 protocols related to our medical preparedness, screening processes, and operations.

For those able to join us this summer, here is how we’ll work together to keep each other and the North safe (as approved by Protect NWT)

Pre-Trip, out-of-territory guests will:

  • Complete a pre-trip Screening Questionnaire and submit 7 days prior to trip departure. This questionnaire will be re-confirmed upon arrival in the Northwest Territories prior to trip departure.
  • Not come to a trip if exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms or if exposed within 14 days of their trip.
  • Be required to provide a negative Covid-19 test with 72 hours of trip departure.
  • For Yellowknife-based trips (Elk, Clarke/Thelon, Upper Thelon), also provide a negative Covid-19 PCR test upon arrival in Yellowknife.
  • Be asked to follow Social Distancing Protocols in their home province during the 14 days leading up trip departure.

During Trip, out-of-territory guests & guides will:

Post Trip:

  • Guides will clean and sanitize all group and rental equipment thoroughly before the next use.
  • Guests will contact Jackpine Paddle if any COVID symptoms develop in the 3 days following any trip.
  • Jackpine Paddle will follow up on any post trip reports of COVID symptoms with Protect NWT
  • Guests will be free to travel on additional wilderness trips or visit major centres in the NWT, as they will have completed a 14-day wilderness isolation. Likewise, NWT residents who are on a trip with out-of-territory visitors will not be required to isolate following the 14-day trip.

With the above measures in place, we are excited to welcome guests to the NWT this summer one of our true wilderness journeys.

We hope you on join us on a remote northern river this season!

arctic wilderness canoe

What are the trip logistics?

Detailed info will be sent to all trip participants. In a nutshell, for our central barrenlands trips (Upper Thelon – Elk – Clarke/Thelon) as Yellowknife departures, guests will arrive on the day prior to trip departure and check-in at a designated hotel (practicing strict isolation protocols). Following a Covid-19 PCR test from 62 Degrees North Mobile Testing Unit, guests with a negative result will depart the next morning on a scheduled air charter.

On our Upper Horton trip guests will fly from Edmonton to Horton Lake (start of trip) on Day 1 – as we will coordinate our scheduled and air charter flights to get to the river as directly as possible.

All guests are encouraged to get fully-vaccinated if possible, must have received their first shot at least 4 weeks prior to departure, and will require a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of departure (in addition to the test after arrival in the NWT).

After the trip, guests will have completed a 14-day wilderness isolation and will be free to stay in the NWT for additional wilderness trips or other sightseeing.

 

What about the travel uncertainty right now?

Please carefully review our Cancellation Policy Terms & Conditions. These are new and apply uniquely to trips this summer under our Remote Operations Plan. While our Cancellation Policy is still the most flexible in the industry, it reflects that to run our spectacular trips this summer means commitments to guides, charter companies and other suppliers need to be made in advance.

To buffer against unpredictable travel bans and other uncertainties, we recommend trip cancellation insurance to all guests to protect their trip investment (in addition to the remote evacuation insurance we are requiring this summer)

Covid-19 is a known pandemic and many situations may not be covered by trip cancellation policies. However, a Cancel-For-Any-Reason add-on may allow for you to cancel your trip up to 7 days prior for any reason, and receive up to 75% of the covered amount back. If you cancel from 6 days to 48 hours prior, you would receive up to $1500 per person. If you cancel for a “covered” reason, you would be able to qualify for the standard cancellation policy and apply for a refund.

For Allianz: contact Linda Roach
Travel Manager at Corporate Traveller
(647) 775-8191, linda.roach@corporatetraveller.ca

For Manulife: contact Wanetta Stroo
Travel Insurance Specialist
(250) 837-2544, revelstoke@uniglobespecialty.com

Please note you may be required to purchase your insurance before portions of your trip fee becomes non-refundable – which for these trips is 45 days prior to trip departure.

*Manulife may require their premium Cancel-For-Any-Reason add-on to be purchased within 72 hours of trip booking, and therefore may be better suited to new bookings. 

We are not licenced to offer you any insurance quotes or products, the information above was obtained from Allianz Canada & Manulife Canada. 

How can I book?

A 5% deposit is due to book your spot & guests with existing bookings may transfer current deposits.

As space is limited, please let us know at your earliest convenience.

For Northerners: KEEPING OUR DISTANCE

We are fortunate that there is no shortage of pristine wilderness for social distancing in the Northwest Territories.

As we enter the summer, we’ve carefully examined all of our local operations to identify and mitigate our Covid-19 risk.

The health and safety of our guests & staff remains our top priority.

Our courses, youth camps and local staycations operate under an Exposure Control Plan, which has been approved by Protect NWT. During a busy summer in 2020 we followed our plan and safety operated over 2 dozen guided trips, courses and camps across the North – with 12 staff and over 300 participants.

Some of the actions we will continue to take:

  • Requiring all passengers including staff to wear face masks when inside our vehicles.
  • Accepting electronic submission of signed waivers & guest information forms.
  • Going cashless.
  • Ensuring employees do not report to work if they feel unwell or show symptoms.
  • Thoroughly cleaning high touch surfaces at our office & building, as well as surfaces on shared paddling gear if used that day (paddle shafts, clips on life jackets, helmets, and throw bags).
  • Encouraging course and camp participants to bring their own life jackets, paddles and helmets.
  • Using disinfectants that have a DIN number approved by Health Canada/ ensuring bleach solutions follow NWT dilution guidelines.
  • Redesigning our paddling courses to use different rescue techniques in order to maintain 2m social distancing.
  • Keep improving our risk assessment and Exposure Control Plan.

We will continue to follow and monitor changes to the NWT Emerging Wisely Plan by our Chief Public Health Officer. If the recent NJ Macpherson school cluster remains contained & northern vaccination rates increase, we are anticipating a relaxing of internal restrictions particularly for outdoor activities.

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