General Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Washington and British Columbia. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they took this tour. Although we do our best to make sure what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
ENTERING THE UNITED STATES & CANADA: Non-U.S. citizens will need a valid passport and may need tourist visas. Consult your nearest U.S. and Canadian consulates for details. Canadian and US citizens should carry proof of citizenship in the form of a passport.
HEALTH: The Pacific Northwest presents no major health hazards, but there are several concerns. Perhaps the most serious problems stem from the use of inadequate gear. Warm and waterproof clothing and sturdy walking shoes are important as some walking over uneven ground or wet terrains is inevitable. We will be spending time at elevations of 7000 feet, and although our pace at these elevations is slow, participants with respiratory problems should be aware of the alititudinal stress. Insects will not be a major problem although a few mosquitoes and black flies will be encountered in the mountains.
PACE OF THE TOUR There are no particularly long or strenuous hikes on this tour. The longest walks are only moderate in length, and do not climb any substantial heights. Most walking is done on roads and trails, although there will be some over uneven ground. We may also have to walk on sloping terrain through open burns to look for woodpeckers. There may be an optional walk onto a rocky jetty on the tour’s extension. Most mornings will start moderately early, around 5:00-5:30 AM. Most days we’ll try to schedule one to two hours of free time in the afternoon for rest and relaxation. On several evenings there will be optional owling expeditions. We cover a substantial amount of ground on this tour and there are some fairly long drives; including the extension, we cover about 2000 miles.
CLIMATE: Washington and British Columbia have a varied climate. Temperatures may vary from 90°F (32°C) in the Okanagan Valley to 40°F (4°C), with intense sun, wind and/or rain possible. It may be especially chilly while standing on the bow of one of the ferries or on the Westport pelagic trip.
ACCOMMODATIONS: We stay in standard to above-standard hotels throughout the tour.
DRESS: Informal throughout.
TRANSPORT: Transportation is by 12-15-passenger window van driven by the leader.
SMOKING: Smoking is prohibited in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, we ask that you do so well away and downwind from the group.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read the General Information & Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Washington and British Columbia will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary.
Updated: August 2007