We are excited to welcome you to Snowwater Heli Skiing. Thank you for choosing to join us for some of the most unforgettable skiing and riding of you life - and for entrusting us with your care and safety. In this type of business, we are accustomed to mitigating all forms of risk, and we take it seriously. Together with Blackhomb Helicopters, we are committed to protecting our staff, our guests and the community from the spread of COVID-19. Please read this document before departing for your trip, and let us know if you have any questions.

At Snowwater, we tend to obsess over every detail, and negotiating COVID is no different. We are diligently following the most comprehensive protection policies and procedures to protect everyone in our lodge and office environments and have adopted measures that are in accordance with guidelines set out by the BC Ministry of Health, WorkSafe BC, and HeliCat Canada. We do anticipate regulations and best practices evolving as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds and we will adapt as necessary. We will keep you informed of these changes along the way and appreciate your patience as we all negotiate the challenges ahead.

We look forward to seeing you this winter at Snowwater and providing you with the exceptional service and guest experience we are famous for.

Whether checking in, dining at the lodge, riding in the heli, or having a massage – each area has its own specific COVID guidelines that we, as a business, are required to follow. In addition, health screenings, temperature checks, and protocols around food sharing and interpersonal behaviours are now required in order to participate in our ski programs.

We kindly ask that all guests wear a 3-ply mask whenever two meters of social distancing cannot be achieved. You will be provided with a mask once you arrive at Snowwater. Our masks are 99.85% PFE Medically Graded and are being used in commercial settings worldwide. We encourage frequent hand washing and the use of hand sanitizer, which you will find in every room of the lodge. Please cover your mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing, and do not touch your face whenever possible. If you are unable to comply with these new procedures, we kindly ask you to contact our office and we will be happy to work with you in deferring your reservation.

We have divided our COVID plan into segments to better understand how it will work for each specific area:

Our goal is to keep all staff, guests and communities along your journey free from the spread of COVID-19. If you do not feel well, or develop symptoms while travelling here, please reschedule your trip. If you are visibly unwell at any time on your trip, you will not be permitted to take part in our ski program until cleared to do so.

Please do the following before leaving home:

• Please complete the following health screening and follow all directions upon completion. If this prompts you to self-isolate or get a COVID test after completing the screening, please contact us immediately.

• Sign your waiver before arriving on your trip (ideally this is done when you book your trip).
• Please complete your guest confirmation form well in advance of your trip, being sure to include any food that cannot or will not eat.
• Every guest is required to complete a pre-health screening 48 hours in advance of your trip, done by our office staff on the phone. This is done to ensure you do not arrive at our place of business with any COVID symptoms.
• Please do not travel or show up for check-in if you are experiencing any signs or symptoms of feeling unwell.
• COVID-19 tests are recommended if possible in your area.

It is important to understand that an outbreak of COVID-19 will end your trip and impact the livelihood of the staff providing your experience. It could also have serious impacts on the small communities that service our operation. Please be diligent in following our practices and protocols.

The following steps should be practiced when travelling to and from our location to limit the spread of COVID-19:

• Practice physical distancing.
• Use a face covering or mask when you’re close to others outside of your travel posse.
• Avoid crowded places like restaurants & bars.
• Do not travel at all if you have symptoms or feel sick.
• Drive to our location instead of flying, if possible.

For more information on preventing the spread of COVID-19 please refer to:

With new protocols and procedures in place, it’s more important than ever to arrive on time. Please read and follow our check-in procedures in place for this season:

• You are required to wear a mask for your arrival procedure. Guests must wear a mask at all times during transport when they are less than 2m from another person.
• We have separated the arrival and departure spaces to keep incoming and out going guests separted. All check-ins will take place at the Snowwater Clubhouse; check-out procedures will be done at the main office.
• Please use the sanitize stations on the outside of each building before entering.
• Upon arrival, as well as each morning at the lodge, you will be screened with a short questionaire and a body temperature check. 
• Upon arrival, please bring your luggage into the clubhouse where it will be room- tagged by our team and then loaded into a truck for transport to the lodge.
• All vehicles, guests spaces and snowcats are 'fogged' between groups - a procedure that kills 99% of all viruses. Hard surfaces are also wiped down, and we encourage the opening of windows.

A guest who does not clear our in-person health screenings will not be permitted to participate but will be allowed to reschedule the booking (one time, within the season or the following).

We are required to ask and observe that our guests are not exhibiting any of the below symptoms:

• Fever and/or chills
• A body temperature in excess of 38°C
• A new or recent cough (or worsening chronic cough)
• Headache
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.  Anybody who has experienced these symptoms must be symptom-free for at least 72 hrs prior to arrival for their trip.
• Recent diminished sense of smell and/or taste
• Nasal congestion and/or runny nose
• Generally feeling unwell

We are also required to ask about your travel history:

• You have been refused boarding in the past 14 days due to a medical reason related to COVID-19.
• Are the subject of a mandatory quarantine order as a result of recent travel, or as a result of provincial or public health order.
• You have been in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
• You have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

For more information about COVID please see below:

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

• All guests are required to wear masks at all times while inside the heli or snowcat.
• All guests will eat when outside the machine, and at least 2 metres away from all other person(s) not in their assigned cohort.
• Optimum ventilation will be maintained by keeping windows open Please dress accordingly as this could lower temperatures and make things considerably more chilly.
• Individual lunches are pre-ordered the night before and will be pre-packed and handed out by the guides.
• Guests will use their own water bottle, which is theirs to keep!
• Plastic dividers: There are also plastic dividers between each row in the snowcat. There is a plastic divider between the pilot and guide and the group of 4 in the back.

In General

• We have become clean freaks! Yes - even cleaner than before!
• We have implemented new cleaning policies in general, and ones that specifically focus on high traffic areas.
• Daily tasks have changed dramatically to include detailed cleaning checklists in order to create accountability. Our staff is trained to use safe disinfectants that kill infectious diseases including COVID-19.
• Hand sanitizer is everywhere – please use it often, or wash your hands at any sink.
• We have purchased a DE-FOGGER machine, which kills up to 99% of all viruses!
• Please give each other space when you come in and out of any building, and always remember to wear your mask.
• Anyone that is visibly unwell at any point on a trip, will not be permitted to join activities until cleared to do so by a doctor. If you present with an illness of any kind, you will be taken off the mountain to see a doctor.  Any extra associated costs incurred, whether for hotel, restaurant, covid test, etc, will be entirely at the expense of the guest.

Dining

• Guests will eat in groups of 6 per table.
• Servers will wear masks while serving.
• Buffets are not currently permitted.  All food will be plated and served.
• All beverage, including coffee, wine, beer will no longer be self serve.
• Water glasses are served once guests are seated.
• Breakfast will be requested the night before.
• Cutlery is placed per meal, not layed out before hand.
• Breakfast and lunch cutlery rolls will be handed out.
• We no longer put salt and pepper on each table, nor condiments such as hot sauce or ketchup.  If requested, we will bring you a personal serving.
• You are not required to wear a mask when seated at the dining table, only when you get up to leave the table for any reason.

Guest Rooms

• Beds have been push to the walls to allow for as much room as possible between them.
• At least one window should remain open (better for sleeping anyway!).
• House keeping services will not enter your room during your stay.  If you need extra towels please let us know.
• You room will be 'fogged' between guests changeovers.
• Where possible, we are having single rooms for guests.

Massage Services

• 1 hr massage will be offered.  We will only have one theraist this season.  As we require 15 minutes between each treatment and time to completely clean down the room between guests, there will be fewer spots available, so please book in advance.
• Each guest will have an entirely separate blanket/pillow set up.
• Guests are required to wear a mask when on their back on the table.

Other Services

• The Hot Tubs will be open and limited to only 4 people per tub at one time.
• The water is changed between trips.

• As with our guests, each staff member is required to be screened and have a temperature each morning before entering any common space and/or commencing work.
• Masks are worn at all times, except when seated and eating meals.
• The upstairs of the lodge has been reserved for a staff-only place in order to ensure our team has a safe place to relax, eat and socialize.

• Guests will be taken to the main office where they will check out.
• Guests are brought to the office in groups of 4 at a time.