Currently officials anticipate that when these trips run in July-September, we will be in “phase 2” of Oregon’s reopening plan. Under this situation, public lands will be open and small group gatherings will be allowed. After reviewing the local, state, and national guidelines, Wander Women has developed a COVID-19 plan that includes principles of physical distancing, sanitation, and flexible cancellations.

1. Physical Distancing. One of the best things we can do to keep ourselves and each other safe is to maintain enough physical distance to reduce the risk of breathing in droplets that may contain the virus. The good news is that experts agree that the chance of infection is significantly lower outdoors, where the re-breath factor of contaminated air is very low. This means that as stay-at-home orders are lifted and we begin to resume gatherings, there is no better place to do so than the great outdoors. Lucky us!
To achieve physical distancing on Wander Women trips we have made 2 significant changes to how trips will operate: Each participant will have their own single-person tent (unless you registered with a household member and request a 2-person tent), and participants will need to drive themselves to the trailhead. We recognize that for some of you, the fact that transportation from Portland was included in these trips was a significant draw, and driving on your own will add cost and energy. This change may be disappointing, but unfortunately spending ~5 hours with a group contained within a vehicle together is one of the most significant risks for viral spread. We will provide detailed driving directions and maps to the trailhead (it’s easy to find), and we will be issuing a $75 discount for the portion of the trip fee associated with transportation.
2. Sanitation. Proper hygiene and sanitation is always important in the backcountry, and on Wander Women trips we use and teach the best practices for food handling and personal hygiene outdoors. In addition to these measures, this year we will implement additional precautions, including providing a personal bottle of hand sanitizer to each participant (instead of a shared group bottle), and bleaching dishes after meals. The use of bleach for sterilizing dishes in the backcountry is a common and effective practice which can be done with minimal environmental impact. Tents and other group gear is thouroughly sanitized after each trip. Finally, we will carry face masks which can be used in case anyone on the trip develops COVID-19 symptoms while on the trip.
3. Flexible Cancellations. If local, state, or national guidelines prohibit gatherings of this kind, or if the trails are closed to the public, then the trip will be cancelled and you will be issued a full refund. Since policies can change quickly, it is impossible to say how much notice we would be able to provide if the trip has to be cancelled, but we will let you know, via email, as soon as possible.
You may cancel for a full refund at any time! We understand that during this unusual summer, plans and health are uncertain, and we want to offer maximum flexibility. Please stay home if you are sick or have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 and suspect you may be infected. If you need to cancel, or if the trip must be cancelled all together, you will have priority registration for a future trip.