Mountain Rescue Insurance

In nearly thirty years of guiding we have only had three evacuations from the field for minor injuries or illness.

Read on to decide whether you need mountain rescue insurance. Or purchase rescue insurance here. 

CANADIAN NATIONAL PARKS

Mountain rescue in Canadian National Parks is performed by professional rescue crews who are constantly on stand-by. It is free if you have paid the park admission fee. You may buy this pass at the gate when you enter the park or at any park information centre. It is your responsibility to obtain this pass. No other rescue insurance is required for trips in these national parks:

  • Banff

  • Yoho

  • Kootenay

  • Jasper

  • Glacier (Rogers Pass)

ALBERTA PROVINCIAL LANDS

Mountain Rescue on Alberta provincial lands is free and performed by professional rescue crews who are constantly on stand-by. No other rescue insurance is required for trips in these areas:

  • Canmore

  • Kananaskis

  • David Thompson Highway

BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL LANDS

Mountain rescue on British Columbia provincial lands, including provincial parks, may be performed in two ways:

  • The guide calls outside resources directly for help. These resources may be a helicopter company or an adjacent guiding operation. This type of call-out is often the fastest way to get help in an emergency situation, such as an avalanche accident. If this occurs the group is responsible for all costs. These costs would be many thousands of dollars.

  • The guide calls for help from the local volunteer search and rescue team. This type of call-out takes longer to get a response, but may be used for non-emergency evacuations such as an injured knee. As a general rule this type of call-out (helicopter expenses etc.) is paid for by the provincial government but that may not always be the case. Whether a party is charged for the cost of a rescue is decided on a case by case basis by the provincial government (Emergency Management British Columbia); unfortunately it is not clear what parameters they consider when making this decision. Costs may run into many thousands of dollars.

You need to decide for yourself whether to buy rescue insurance for the small chance that we require a call out for outside resources and that you will be charged if those services are required. It may be appropriate to purchase mountain rescue insurance for trips to these areas:

  • All Backcountry Lodge ski trips (Sorcerer, Sol, Icefall Traverse, etc)

  • Assiniboine

  • Bugaboos

  • Summer mountaineering camps

  • Whistler area

Japan and other INTERNATIONAL TRIPS

It is highly recommended to purchase mountain rescue insurance for trips to Japan. The Global Rescue option shown below will help with the logistical difficulties that come with navigating the language and health care system in a foreign country. Other international destinations may have other options for insurance, please ask if your international trip is to a country other than Japan.

PURCHASE MOUNTAIN RESCUE INSURANCE

Here are some options for coverage. Research these carefully to make sure they are appropriate for your situation:

  • American Alpine Club Global Rescue package. For the cost of a membership in the AAC (US$80) you get US$7,500 mountain rescue insurance. This would probably cover most (perhaps not all) of the cost for many incidents. The advantage to this service is that they will organize your rescue with local resources. They are able to organize a rescue even if there are language barriers (EG in Japan). Recommended for both domestic and international trips.

  • Global Rescue. US$500,000 coverage. You need to be more than 100 miles from your home for this to kick in so it is not appropriate for clients on Canadian trips who live in proximity to Alberta or British Columbia. The advantage to this service is that they will organize your rescue with local resources. They are able to organize a rescue even if there are language barriers (EG in Japan). Recommended for international trips. If purchasing Global Rescue insurance you can buy the IMG TRAVEL INSURANCE option at the same time in the “ADDITIONS” section (not the “Total Care” option), this covers medical bills after the rescue and includes translation services.

  • Tugo. This may be less expensive than Global Rescue and may be appropriate for trips in Canada where your guides are familiar with call out procedures and language is not an issue. You will need the optional adventure sport coverage. Travel health insurance options are also available.

  • If you own a satellite messenger there may be an option to purchase insurance through your device. Investigate coverage carefully. Here is information for SPOT devices and InReach devices. The rescue needs to be initiated from your device for the insurance to be in effect.

 

FOLLOW: