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What is included on this trip?
Food and non-alcoholic drinks for the trip, guides, support vehicle, campsites, permits, and any entry fees into national parks and public lands.
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What Covid-19 protocols should I expect?
One of the safest places you can be during these challenging times is in the great outdoors, and Western Spirit has been working hard to support everyone who wants to get outside. There are many procedures in place to keep everyone safe and healthy, and these have been updated for this challenging time. You will be provided with a link to all details, but these include pre-trip health screening survey, daily procedures with no communal touchpoints, mealtime and shuttling precautions, and vigorous cleaning & sanitizing procedures between trips.
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What if I need to cancel?
Please note evo defers to the operator's cancellation terms. Should you need to cancel for any reason, Western Spirit will apply the following cancellation policy: For cancellations prior to 60 days before departure, a $50 handling fee per person is retained and the remainder of your deposit is refunded. For cancellations 60-31 days before departure, 50% of your trip fees are refunded. For cancellations 30 days or less before departure, no monies are refundable.
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What is not included on this trip?
Travel to and from Hood River, Oregon and any pre-trip or post-trip lodging. Travel insurance (we recommend World Nomads). Personal camping gear (can be rented from Western Spirit for $90 per trip ). Mountain bike (can be rented from Western Spirit for $55 per day). Alcoholic beverages. Guide gratuity.
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What skill/experience level is required for this trip?
This is an intermediate-advanced mountain bike trip. You should have experience mountain biking on singletrack and feel comfortable descending and climbing on narrow trail. The trail surface is made up of loamy soil, clay, rock, and some small rock gardens. Riders should expect to be in the saddle for about 5 to 6 hours per day.
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Can I bring my own camp and bike gear?
Certainly! If you bring camping gear, please bring a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. We’ll provide everything else you need. Don’t worry about the camp chairs—we bring those too! Please make sure all your gear is in excellent, working condition before you head out on your trip. We recommend a full-suspension mountain bike If you’re bringing your own bike, please make sure it has been tuned up and is in excellent riding condition before the trip.
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What bike rental do you offer?
A 2019 Specialized Stumpjumper 29’r with dropper post, and helmet can be rented from Western Spirit for $55 a day. You MUST bring your own pedals if you ride clipless. Bikes will come with flat pedals.
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What will the food be like? Can you accommodate my dietary restrictions?
We take our food seriously. We know that eating 3 great meals a day helps everyone enjoy the ride. For that reason we can handle almost all dietary restrictions. It is common to have vegetarians, vegans, paleo diet followers, etc… all on the same trip. We will ask you before the trip to fill out a questionnaire where you can indicate your dietary preferences and restrictions.
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What are the accommodations like?
We call it “glamping”, or comfortable camping. Basically, we take care of all of the details like solar showers, hand wash stations, commercial kitchen, tables, chairs, rain and sun shelters, fire wood, and everything else that you will need to be as comfortable as possible in the backcountry. It’s certainly not roughing it!
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How should I pack my gear?
We recommend you use a 3-bag system: Camping gear and personal items for camp (gets packed away and is inaccessible throughout the day), Small daypack (stays in vehicle and is accessible throughout most days, e.g., extra layers, prescription medications, extra snacks, etc.), hydration pack you wear (all things you readily need, right there on your back). We recommend a 2-liter hydration system (e.g., Camelbak) to carry the things needed during the day (water, snacks, lunch, rain gear, extra layer, sunscreen, camera, etc.), and to easily hydrate without stopping.
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Do I need to bring everything on the packing list?
We have carefully developed this list to insure your comfort on the tour regardless of the weather. If you are prepared for extreme weather, it is an adventure. If you are not prepared, it can be a serious problem. We recommend the layering system, including a wicking or long underwear layer, an insulating layer and a weather barrier for wind and rain. This list reflects that philosophy. weather can be unpredictable so be sure to bring all the warm clothing and rain gear listed!
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When and how do I meet up with the group?
This tour will begin at 9:00 AM PST at Dirty Fingers Bike Repair, 1235 State Street, Hood River, OR 97031. You will need to spend the night before in Hood River, which is 60 miles East of Portland, OR
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What is the minimum and maximum number of guests per trip?
We have a maximum of 13 guests on the trip. We do not have a minimum number of guests per trip.
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Is there a minimum age required for this trip?
You must be 18 or older to join this trip. We also allow individuals who are between 14 and 18 if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
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Do I need travel insurance?
While it is not required, we always recommend purchasing travel insurance for all trips. Travel insurance allows you to seek reimbursement if you are forced to cancel your trip for unforeseeable reasons, or if you need to cover medical help, emergency transport, theft and/or accidental damage while traveling. We recommend World Nomads.