Travel Arrangements | The Fine Print | What to Pack

Travel Arrangements and Our Terms
See below for detailed flight and driving directions to bring you in to Mountain Trek, as well as "The Fine Print" which is our terms and conditions for things such as reservations and cancellations. These are also provided in our printed brochure, and can be ordered online.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
You can get here from there, but it takes a little planning! Our spectacular location in the southeastern corner of the British Columbia mountains is out of the way, but definitely worth the trip! It's all part of the adventure….

You have two choices for destination airports: SPOKANE WA (GEG) or CASTLEGAR BC (YCG). Airport transfers to the lodge (Saturdays Only) are included in your program fee. If you wish help arranging your flights, we recommend that you call Karen or Shelley at Totem Travel, toll free 1-866-364-1254 (direct 1-250-364-1254) or email karen@totemtravel.ca.

CASTLEGAR, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA (YCG): Castlegar airport is approximately a one-hour flight from the international airports of Vancouver (YVR) or Calgary (YYC). The Vancouver or Calgary flight into Castlegar is only serviced by Air Canada (www.aircanada.ca) and is a spectacular scenic trip of mountain peaks. All the seats on the airplane are window seats! When flying into Vancouver before going on to Castlegar, you must leave sufficient time between your arrival and connecting flight in order to go through Customs (at least 2 hours). Please note that passports are now required for USA citizens.

The Mountain Trek shuttle will arrive at Castlegar airport on each Saturday afternoon to transport our guests to our lodge (it is a 75 minute drive to our lodge). A return trip is made the following Saturday morning with arrival at Castlegar airport. If you require pick-up from or drop-off to Castlegar airport on any alternate day, there may be a $145 taxi fee charged.

If you arrive at Castlegar airport much earlier than pick-up time on Saturday, we will arrange a shuttle bus to NELSON (www.discovernelson.com). You may take the airport shuttle (Queen City Limo) to Nelson, store your luggage at The Hume Hotel in downtown Nelson, and spend a few hours in this quaint historic town, before being transported to the Mountain Trek lodge.

Often guests will fly in a day early and stay in the historic town of Nelson. Well worth the time! We can provide you with names of suitable accommodations, and will arrange your transport on the following day to the Mountain Trek lodge.

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, USA (GEG): A good option for our American visitors is to fly into Spokane WA airport. The Spokane airport is serviced by United, Delta, Northwest, Southwest, Alaska, KLM, Continental, and American West. A complimentary shuttle service is available every Saturday during our season. Schedule your flights to arrive by 1 p.m. in Spokane on pick-up day, and depart after 1 p.m. on your departure day, to allow sufficient time for the 4-hour guided scenic trip up to Mountain Trek.

DRIVING: If you are driving from Spokane (4 hours), Seattle (8 hours), Vancouver (9 hours), or Calgary (8 hours), we are happy to provide you with detailed instructions. Arrival time at the Mountain Trek lodge on Saturdays is 5 pm or later, and departure time on Saturdays is after breakfast.

Call 1-800-661-5161 (toll free USA and Canada), 1-250-229-5636 (Worldwide), or email: info@hiking.com to make your reservation.

PRIVATE PLANES landing in Castlegar BC airport: This airport is at 1600 feet elevation; the runway is 5300 feet long, and 150 feet wide. Please co-ordinate your arrival time to coincide with our pick up times - check with Mountain Trek reservations: 1-800-661-5161.

Driving Directions from Seattle or Spokane to Mountain Trek:
(Takes 4 hours driving time from Spokane, 8 hours from Seattle)

• I-90 from Seattle to Spokane. The Spokane airport is right on the I-90 as well. Just follow the I-90 East signs.
• Exit I-90 at 281; Hwy 2 (East) Newport (also called Division Street). Follow Division Street north until the turn off to Hwy 2 (Newport). BE SURE TO TAKE HWY 2, NOT 385 to COLVILLE.
• Left on 211 North, Cusick/Metaline Falls. This exit is about 40 minutes from Spokane.
• Left on to Hwy 20, Metaline. This exit is 20 minutes from the last one.
• Hwy 20 turns into Hwy 31 (do not take the turnoff to Hwy 20, Colville).
• Border inspection at Nelway. You may have to show picture ID here.
• The highway is now called 6 North, and distances are in kilometers rather than miles. Follow the signs to SALMO, and then to NELSON.
• At NELSON, you may wish to stop for lunch. The main street is Baker Street; good restaurants are: The Rice Bowl (at Baker and Kootenay Streets, right across the street from the Kootenay Co-op, a wonderful health food store), the Outer Clove on Stanley at Baker Streets, or the All Seasons Cafe on Herridge Lane near Baker and Josephine Streets. Just ask anyone on the street; friendly place this is!
• It takes 45 minutes to drive from Nelson to Mountain Trek. We ask you to arrive no earlier than 5 pm. Thanks.
• Drive through Nelson to BOB (BIG ORANGE BRIDGE), following signs for Hwy 3A East. Follow Hwy 3A East to Balfour. At this junction, Hwy 3A East continues across the lake via a ferry ride, but you continue on Hwy 31 to Ainsworth Hot Springs (or some of the signs just say Kaslo). At this point it is 15 minutes to Mountain Trek.
• Enjoy the view; it is terrific. When you get to Ainsworth, take the left turn by J.B. Fletcher store, go up the road until it forks, and take the right fork which leads you past the Mermaid Lodge and above the hot springs pools. You will be on gravel/dirt road. Follow for ½ mile until you see a big cedar lodge on your right. Ignore the "no trespassing" signs (everyone else does). Drive up the driveway and ...... WELCOME!

Driving Directions from Vancouver to Mountain Trek:
(Takes 8 hours driving time)

• Take the TransCanada (Hwy #1) to Hope
• Transfer to Hwy #3, which goes through Princeton, Osoyoos, Grand Forks, Castlegar, and Nelson.
• At NELSON, you may wish to stop for lunch. The main street is Baker Street; good restaurants are: The Rice Bowl (at Baker and Kootenay Streets, right across the street from the Kootenay Co-op, a wonderful health food store), the Outer Clove on Stanley at Baker Streets, or the All Seasons Cafe on Herridge Lane near Baker and Josephine Streets. Just ask anyone on the street; friendly place this is!
• It takes 45 minutes to drive from Nelson to Mountain Trek. We ask you to arrive no earlier than 5 pm. Thanks!
• Drive through Nelson to BOB (Big Orange Bridge), following signs for Hwy 3A East. Follow Hwy 3A East to Balfour. At this junction, Hwy 3A East continues across the lake via a ferry ride, but you continue on Hwy 31 to Ainsworth Hot Springs (or some of the signs just say Kaslo). At this point it is 15 minutes to Mountain Trek.
• Enjoy the view; it is terrific. When you get to Ainsworth, take the left turn by J.B. Fletcher store, go up the road until it forks, and take the right fork which leads you past the Mermaid Lodge and above the hot springs pools. You will be on gravel/dirt road. Follow for ½ mile until you see a beautiful cedar lodge on your right. Ignore the "no trespassing" signs (everyone else does). Drive up the driveway and ...... WELCOME!

Driving Directions from Calgary to Mountain Trek:
(Takes 8 hours driving time; arrival time is 5 p.m. or later)

• Take the TransCanada (Hwy #1) from Calgary, through Banff National Park, to the turnoff for CRANBROOK (Hwy 93) ** you can take the alternative route through Revelstoke here – see below **
• Hwy 93 turns into Hwy 95 south of Fairmont Hot Springs. Continue on Hwy 95 through Cranbrook, where it connects with Hwy 3, and follow to CRESTON.
• Follow Hwy 3A from Creston to KOOTENAY BAY, where you will take a (free) ferry ride, about 40 minutes long, over to BALFOUR.
• At Balfour, make a right turn on to Hwy 31, and follow the signs to Ainsworth. This is a fifteen-minute drive through some spectacular bluffs; please drive carefully.
• Enjoy the view; it is terrific. When you get to Ainsworth, take the left turn by J.B. Fletcher store, go up the road until it forks, and take the right fork that leads you past the Mermaid Lodge and above the hot springs pools. You will be on gravel/dirt road. Follow for ½ mile until you see a beautiful cedar lodge on your right. Ignore the "no trespassing" signs (everyone else does). Drive up the driveway and ...... WELCOME!
  **Alternative Route through Revelstoke for Calgary drivers:
• If you continue on the TransCanada (Hwy#1) to Revelstoke, take the Galena Bay ferry south of Revelstoke to Hwy 23. South on Hwy 23 to Nakusp, then Hwy 6 to New Denver. Take Hwy 31A to Kaslo, then south on Hwy 31 to Ainsworth Hot Springs. You will pass the hot springs hotel on your right, and take the first right hand street at J B Fletcher store (Sutton Street). Go up the road until it forks, and take the right fork that leads you past the Mermaid Lodge and above the hot springs pools. You will be on gravel/dirt road. Follow for ½ mile until you see a beautiful cedar lodge on your right. Ignore the "no trespassing" signs (everyone else does). Drive up the driveway and ...... WELCOME!

Spokane, Seattle, Vancouver, or Calgary

THE FINE PRINT
The Basics:

Guests may pay for their program in either Canadian (CD$) or US (US$) dollars. We accept VISA, MasterCard, and AMEX. Note for our American/International guests: these charges are made in Canadian dollars and converted by your credit card company at the best exchange rate to your currency.

All our prices are quoted PER PERSON. Taxes (federal and provincial) are added to the quoted program price.

All our prices and program activities are subject to change without notice.

All our guests are required to sign a waiver and release of liability form before starting their program with us. As our activities take place in remote locations, sometimes without quick access to medical help, these activities may be hazardous and require acknowledgement of risk by our guests.

We do not permit possession or use of tobacco products anywhere on our property.

Our Terms:

A $500 deposit per week is required to reserve your space in your selected program. Upon receipt of your deposit, we will send you a confirmation package including a complete packing list of things you will need for your vacation, as well as a questionnaire, waiver and medical form that must be returned to us in advance of your arrival.

The balance of the payment is due 30 days before arrival to retain your reservation; we reserve the right to sell your space if your balance has not been paid 30 days before your original arrival date.

Cancellation Policy:

Deposits are only refundable more than 30 days prior to the originally scheduled arrival date, minus a $200 administration fee per person. Within 30 days of the originally scheduled arrival date, both deposits and balances of payment are non-refundable.

If you must cancel your trip 2 weeks or more in advance of your originally scheduled arrival date, you MAY be able to reschedule your vacation within the same season, DEPENDING UPON AVAILABILITY, and have your full deposit or balance transferred.

Cancellations less than 2 weeks prior to arrival cannot be rescheduled or refunded. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE PURCHASE OF CANCELLATION INSURANCE TO COVER THIS SITUATION. If you wish help arranging your cancellation insurance, we recommend that you call Karen or Shelley at Totem Travel, toll free 1-866-364-1254 (direct 1-250-364-1254).

Refunds or credits are not given for early departures from or delayed arrivals to a program for any reason. Refunds or credits are not given for prepaid activities booked in advance (eg. kayaking) if they are available but not taken during the vacation.

We reserve the right to offer special discounts via our web site at www.hiking.com . Please check in advance of making a reservation for early bird or last minute specials. These discounts are not offered retroactively, and are only available for reservations made online through the web site.

Mountain Trek Programs all include: private bedrooms with private bathrooms for singles and couples in our exclusive private mountain retreat, program activities, all your meals and snacks, daily personal laundry service, use of sweat suits, T-shirts, robes, backpacks, water bottles, use of all facilities (Jacuzzi, sauna, CYBEX weight room, fireside lounge), and transfers between Castlegar airport to and from the Mountain Trek lodge on Saturdays only at standard times (please check with the reservation staff about our driving schedule). Seven-night programs include 3 Swedish (60 min. each) massages. Extra massages and activities are available for additional cost.

NOT INCLUDED in the Mountain Trek Program Price: air fare or transportation costs (other than standard Castlegar/Spokane airport transfers), airport departure taxes ($10 at Vancouver airport), baggage insurance, any expenses related to delay, early departure, or cancellation of a trip whatsoever, hot springs passes, taxes, and gratuities for staff. There is a menu of optional extra services and products included in our brochure and web site.

Call 1-800-661-5161 (toll free USA and Canada), 1-250-229-5636 (Worldwide), or email: info@hiking.com to make your reservations.