Backcountry Journeys does not discriminate on the basis of disability. Backcountry Journeys has developed the following Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) which are applicable to all participants on Backcountry Journeys trips.

The purpose of EEC is to help potential Backcountry Journeys participants identify the skills and abilities necessary to participate on a Backcountry Journeys trip. If a potential participant is unable to meet the EEC for the trip activities listed below, with or without the assistance of an accommodation, that person will not be able to participate in the trip. The EEC are applied uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability. The criteria exist for your own safety and that of all trip participants.

As you read through the EEC and you think you may be able to meet the EEC only with the assistance of an accommodation, please let us know, and we will discuss with you the potential for providing a reasonable modification or accommodation for a specific trip. A reasonable modification or accommodation is one that does not fundamentally alter the nature of the trip or the services that Backcountry Journeys provides, does not pose a significant health or safety risk to the participants or Backcountry Journeys staff, or one that would not cause an undue burden or hardship on Backcountry Journeys, including financial or administrative burdens. Please carefully consider the EEC below and speak to your physician prior to registering for a trip. The Backcountry Journeys staff is always available to answer any questions you may have.

If you plan to use an assistive device during your trip (such as hearing aids), please notify Backcountry Journeys at the time of registration or as soon as practicable.

To participate on a Backcountry Journeys trip, each participant must be able to meet:

all of the following General/Universal EEC; AND
all of the following hiking criteria for the Fitness Level assigned to the trip; AND
all of the activity-specific EEC which are applicable to the activity/ies on your specific trip,

with or without an accommodation, including with the reasonable assistance of a companion who accompanies the participant:

Universal EEC

All participants on any Backcountry Journeys trip must be able to meet the following EEC ALL trips

Be in reasonably good health and fitness relative to the Fitness Level assigned to each trip. See also Hiking EEC below.

Be able to breathe independently without any assistance from medical devices and/or trained professionals.

Be able to perceive, understand, recall, and independently respond to the inherent risks and hazards of the activity, including but not limited to those previously identified by the guides.
Be able to stay alert and to focus attention for several hours each day for the duration of the trip and during instruction and trip activities.

Be able to independently perceive, understand, and follow both verbal and non-verbal instructions given by the guide(s) in all situations and to effectively communicate with trip guide(s) and other participants. During stressful, dangerous, or emergency situations, participant must independently be able to immediately and quickly perceive, understand, and follow both verbal and non-verbal instructions given by the guide(s).

Be able to effectively communicate with guide(s) and participants including in challenging or high stress situations (such as medical or environmental emergencies) or in challenging environmental conditions which may include conditions of limited visibility, inclement weather, and conditions which require one to overcome loud background noise such as high wind or roaring rivers.

Be able to perform self-care and participate in all activities of daily living such as eating, hydration, personal hygiene, toileting (including bladder and bowel control), and dressing, either independently or with the reasonable assistance of a companion who accompanies the participant.

Be able to manage all personal medications, including dosing and administration, either independently or with the reasonable assistance of a companion who accompanies the participant.
Be able to remain adequately fed, hydrated, and properly dressed so as to avoid environmental injuries such as heat-related illness, sunburn, and other injuries such as hypothermia and dehydration, either independently or with the reasonable assistance of a companion who accompanies the participant.

Be able to remain active and manage personal care for extended periods of mobility and exertion of potentially over eight (8) hours per day, either independently or with the reasonable assistance of a companion who accompanies the participant.
Be able to enter and exit the mode of transportation utilized on the trip which may include a multi-passenger vehicle (i.e., a bus, van, SUV, or mini-bus), boat, bush-plane or float-plane either independently or with the reasonable assistance of a companion who accompanies the participant or assistance of a fellow participant or guide.
Be able to stay balanced and seated in the vehicle of transport utilized on the trip, while the vehicle is moving, up to eight hours in a single day, either independently or with the reasonable assistance of a companion who accompanies the participant.

Be mentally and physically able to participate in a group setting without negatively impacting or jeopardizing the health or safety of the other participants or guide(s).

Be able to maintain self-care in an environment where allergen exposure and cross-contamination may occur.

Be able to effectively notify or communicate with a companion who accompanies the participant, guides, or other participants of personal distress, injury, illness, or the need for assistance, including in adverse or challenging weather or environmental conditions.

Be able to meet the demands of the trip within the time limits set by the trip itinerary and guides.

Hiking EEC

All participants must meet the Universal EEC and the following Hiking EEC:

Be in reasonably good health and fitness relative to the Fitness Level assigned to each trip as described below:

LEVEL 1
- Suitable for those in fair condition. Activities include mostly road-based photography sessions and/or light overland travel to get to shot locations. Guests must independently be able to travel short distances (0.25 – 0.5 miles at a time) and up to three (3) miles each day on maintained dirt trails and paved or boardwalk pathways.

LEVEL 2
- Suitable for most ages with basic fitness. Activities include overland travel along maintained dirt trails and pathways with camera gear and/or a day pack. Guests must independently be able to travel short distances up to six (6) miles over the course of the day, where elevation gain is typically not more than a few hundred feet.

LEVEL 3
- Moderate hiking level. Activities include travelling along trails that may have more significant elevation gain and natural obstacles. Trails used on Level 3 itineraries may be uneven, rocky, and slippery. Guests must independently be able to travel short distances between four (4) and seven (7) miles over the day, where an elevation gain can be up to 1500 feet. Guest should be comfortable with the indicated hiking mileage, terrain, and elevation, while independently or with the assistance of a companion who accompanies the participant be able to carry their camera/day pack with essential items.

LEVEL 4
- Difficult level for those with good fitness. Activities include travelling on more challenging trails that are steep, uneven, and with elevation gain sometimes up to 2500 feet. The terrain may be narrow, uneven, rough, slippery, rocky, muddy, icy or snow-covered, vegetation-covered, have loose soil, may require maneuvering around or over boulders or under low branches, or is cactus or sagebrush covered, and may also have exposed cliffs or ledges. Mileage will vary but guests must independently be able to travel short distances from five (5) to nine (9) miles. Guest must be comfortable with the indicated hiking mileage, terrain, and elevation, while independently or with the assistance of a companion who accompanies the participant be able to carry their camera/day pack with essential items.

LEVEL 5
- Our most challenging activity level, for those with excellent fitness. Activities include steep travel on rough, rugged trails and often in trail-less wilderness areas. The terrain may be narrow, uneven, rough, slippery, rocky, muddy, icy or snow-covered, vegetation-covered, have loose soil, may require maneuvering around or over boulders or under low branches, or is cactus or sagebrush covered, and may also have exposed cliffs or ledges. Guest must be able to wade across creeks or shallow streams with possibly slippery or uneven bottom surface. Guest should be comfortable with the indicated hiking mileage, terrain, and elevation, while independently or with the assistance of a companion who accompanies the participant be able to carry their camera/day pack with essential items.

In addition to camera equipment, be able to carry personal gear and equipment for a day hike, either independently or with the assistance of a companion who accompanies the participant. Such gear and equipment may include a day-pack, at least two liters of water per person, extra clothing, rain gear, sunscreen, food and snacks, and other supplies.

Be able to endure exposure to diverse and changing weather conditions, depending on the specific environment for the trip for which you have registered. If guest is unsure of this criteria, please discuss anticipated environmental conditions with the BCJ staff.
For trips with stock (i.e., horses, llamas), be able to adapt to the mental and emotional challenges of being near or around horses or llamas.

For trips which include backpacking (i.e., self-sustained trips in which guests carry both personal clothing, food, water, camping gear, and camera equipment as well as potentially group gear and food), be able to independently carry a backpack weighing 30% of one’s body weight.

Tent Camping EEC

All participants on a trip that involves tent camping must meet the Universal EEC, the Hiking EEC, and the following tent camping EEC:

Be able to navigate and travel around a designated camp area which may include physical hazards such as uneven ground, tent stakes and lines, rocks, and other natural and man-made hazards, including in darkness, with a flashlight or headlamp, or with limited light, either independently or with the assistance of a companion who accompanies the participant.

Be able to enter and exit a tent pitched on the ground, including in darkness, with a flashlight or headlamp, or with limited light, either independently or with the assistance of a companion who accompanies the participant. One must also be able to sleep in a tent on the ground (with a pad designed for ground-sleeping).

Be able to get down to, up from, and sit on the ground, either independently or with the assistance of a companion who accompanies the participant.

Be able to maintain personal health and hygiene in a backcountry setting which does not include running water or flushing toilets, either independently or with the assistance of a companion who accompanies the participant. Backcountry toileting may include the use of pit-toilets, “wag-bags,” and/or “cat holes.”

Boat or Plane Transportation EEC

All participants on a trip that involves boat or plane transportation must meet the Universal EEC, the Hiking EEC, and the following Boat or Plane Transportation EEC:

Be able to independently or with the reasonable assistance of a companion, board and disembark a drift- or other boat or bush plane multiple times each day. Entering or exiting a bush plane may require stepping or climbing up a short flight of stairs, possibly without a handrail and crouching under a low ceiling or threshold, being in the cramped or confined space of the plane’s cabin. Entering or exiting a drift- or other boat may include stepping to and from shore across a gap of water and onto an unstable, rocking boat and then maneuvering your body over and across the seats of the boat and fixed objects into a seated position.

In the event of an involuntary swim,
- be able to independently reach and grab a thrown rope or rescue bag that is thrown to participant while floating in cold water, pull it to their chest, and hold with two hands while being pulled back to the boat.
- be able to keep one’s head out of the water and independently position one’s self in the “safe swimmer position” (get on your back with your feet out in front of you and use legs and feet to kick off of any obstructions).