Why does the OAC have a cancellation policy?
- A no-refund policy compels anyone who makes a cabin reservation to be serious about their trip. Each group should consider their abilities and level of fitness, the potential for unpleasant weather, the climate and terrain conditions for those dates, their capacity to manage emergencies or an unexpected bivouac, and book accordingly. And then, when the time comes, do the trip as planned in whatever weather or snow conditions prevail.
- Cabin fees are the only reliable source of revenue for the OAC. No one associated with the OAC makes money from the Club, and most Club work is performed by volunteers. But money is needed for: 1) trail and cabin maintenance (such as chainsaw fuel and oil for clearing trails or cutting firewood, helicoptering propane tanks to and from the cabins, cabin maintenance and repairs, replacing an outhouse, etc.), 2) for paid labour when the workload exceeds the available volunteer time and energy, 3) for planning and establishing new trails to extend the non-motorized recreational potential of the area, and 4) to hopefully build another backcountry cabin in the coming years. When a cabin reservation is cancelled and a refund is given (especially on short notice), the cabin will usually be vacant for those dates. The OAC loses revenue and the Club’s ability to maintain, improve, or expand the non-motorized recreational potential in our area is compromised.
- When someone makes a cabin reservation, everyone else is denied the opportunity to use the cabin for those dates. When a reservation is cancelled (especially on short notice), the cabin will often be unused for those dates – and this represents a loss to some other group that would have liked to plan a trip but didn’t because the cabin was already booked. We all like to get out to these wonderful places in the backcountry, and the cabins are a limited resource. Making groups take their bookings seriously weeds out frivolous and non-committal bookings, and frees up dates for those who are committed.
Cancellation Policy Details:
If a cabin reservation is cancelled more than 30 days prior to the departure date, a refund of 75% (less credit card fees) will be given.
If a cabin reservation is cancelled less than 30 days prior to the departure date, full refunds (less credit card fees) will be given only under the following conditions:
Summer
- loss of access, such as road closures due to mudslides, bridges out, etc.
- forest fire or flooding in the area
- mandated closure, such as happened during Covid 19, etc.
Winter
- loss of access, such as road closures due to mudslides, bridges out, etc.
- forecasted avalanche hazard as posted on avalanche.ca in the “below treeline” category for the area surrounding the cabin. Note that the forecast risk for “treeline” and “alpine” areas risks may be higher.
- for the Ozalenka cabin – level 5. Extreme for “below treeline” (with proper route finding there is negligible avalanche hazard enroute to the Ozalenka cabin, and route finding is easy)
- for the Eagle cabin – level 3. Considerable or higher for “below treeline” (there is significant avalanche hazard enroute to the Eagle cabin which requires careful route finding)
- extreme cold – daytime minus 20°C or colder, and/or nighttime minus 25°C or colder (as forecast by Environment Canada, for McBride, on https://weather.gc.ca/)
- mandated closure, such as happened during Covid 19, etc.
Refunds for any other reason will be considered by the OAC on an individual basis, but will only be granted for extreme or extenuating circumstances, such as a death in the family, hospitalization, broken leg, etc. Bad weather or poor ski conditions, etc. are not valid reasons for requesting a refund.
If you must cancel: The unexpected sometimes happens, and for whatever reason there will be groups that end up being unable to go on their trip as scheduled. If and when this happens, we encourage the group to let the OAC know as soon as possible so those dates can be opened again on the booking calendar. This gives another group the opportunity to reserve the cabin and make the trip.