Mountaingirl

Terms & Conditions

General Website:
Welcome to the Mountaingirl website. If you continue to browse and use this website you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions of use, which together with our privacy policy govern Mountaingirl Ltd.’s relationship with you in relation to this website.

The term “ Mountaingirl “ or “Mountaingirl Ltd.” or “us” or “we” or ‘our’ refers to the owner of the website whose registered office is 128 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JE. The term “you” or ‘your’ refers to the user or viewer of our website or the Mountaingirl Ltd. courses. "Mountaingirl Coaching Co." is a separate sole-trader entity with respective terms and conditions unrelated to this site. Please contact Mountaingirl Ltd. Offices for aforementioned terms and conditions.

The use of this website is subject to the following terms of use:
• The content of the pages of this website is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice.
• While we regularly update the information on the site and keep it as accurate as possible, neither we nor any third parties provide any warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness or suitability of the information and materials found or offered on this website for any particular purpose. You acknowledge that such information and materials may contain inaccuracies or errors and we expressly exclude liability for any such inaccuracies or errors to the fullest extent permitted by law.
• Your use of any information or materials on this website is entirely at your own risk, for which we shall not be liable. It shall be your own responsibility to ensure that any products, services or information available through this website meet your specific requirements.
• This website contains material and images which is owned by or licensed to us. This material includes, but is not limited to, the design, layout, look, appearance and graphics. Reproduction is prohibited other than in accordance with the copyright notice, which forms part of these terms and conditions.
• Unauthorised use of this website may give to a claim for damages and/or be a criminal offence.
• From time to time this website may also include links to other websites. These links are provided for your convenience to provide further information. They do not signify that we endorse the website(s). We have no responsibility for the content of the linked website(s).
• We are generally happy to link up with other like-minded companies and websites. However, please do let us know if you're making a link to our site.
Your use of this website and any dispute arising out of such use of the website is subject to the laws of England and Wales.

General Mountaingirl Ltd. Terms and Conditions.

Although we regulalrly update our site and brochures, these terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. “ Mountaingirl “ or “Mountaingirl Ltd.” or “us” or “we” or ‘our’ refers to the owner of the company whose registered office is 128 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JE. The term “you” or ‘your’ refers to you, the client as either booking or querying a course or general company information.

.Booking / Cancellation Policy

• All bookings are made with Mountaingirl Ltd., which is a Private Limited Company (no. 5764695 , registered in England.), also trading as 'Mountaingirl". All contracts between us and you is under the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
• Please note that all bookings can only be made directly through us. Booking made must be made by the person who is to attend the course and is named on the booking form. Bookings are not transferable in any way to another person. Should you need to change the date of the course, it is up to the discretion of the Directors to move your booking to another course date.
• When we accept your booking for a course or for guiding, we send you a written, dated confirmation (including e-mail confirmation), This confirms the contract between us and you. We reserve the right to refuse any booking. If we can’t accept your booking, any money you have paid will be refunded to you as soon as possible, either by cheque or by transfer to your bank account.
• A place on a course will be held for you only upon receipt of the completed and signed booking form, as well as receipt of deposit (50% of course fee). If you are booking the course within 2 months of the start date, the full amount of the course fee is due.
• The deposit is 50% of the course fee, and the remainding 50% is due 2 calendar months before the start date of the course. If you book within 2 months of the start of a course, the full course amount is payable upon booking and is non-refundable. Your cheque to us, or your transfer to our account is considered complete only once your funds are received and cleared in our accounts. This means you should allow at least a full business week in order for your payment to clear or for the transfer to be completed.

• If there is still an outstanding balance for your course fees 2 months before the course starts, we reserve the right to cancel your booking and you forfeit your deposit and any other monies paid to us. If you have a specific problem with payment, please call the Mountaingirl offices and we will try our best to agree a suitable arrangement, however this is upon the discretion of the Director. If we agree to change the terms of your payments, the agreement is valid only if it is writing from the Director.

• Should you need to cancel:
All cancellation must be in writing. Your deposit is fully refundable if you cancel more than 6 months before the start date of the course. If you cancel between 6 and 2 months prior to the start date, you will not be refunded your deposit, but any payments beyond the initial 50% deposit will be refunded to you. If you cancel within 2 months of the start date, you will receive no refund. We recommend an insurance policy that includes cancellation or curtailment of your trip or holiday.

• If for any reason you leave a course early, or do not take part in a portion of it, you are not entitled to any refund.

• We reserve the right to cancel or amend any course if there is an insufficient number of participants. If your course is cancelled, we will give you at least 2 months notice of that cancellation and you may move your booking to a different course. The full amount for the course fee is still payable 2 months before the start date of the course. If, in this situation, you do not wish to move your booking to another course or course date, we will refund you your deposit.

• For the reason detailed above, we recommend you do not book any non-refundable travel or accommodation until 2 months before the course start date to ensure there are sufficient numbers. We are not responsible for costs incurred by or relating to cancelled or amended travel or accommodation plans, nor are we responsible for any arrangements you have made outside the activities of the course itself. You are responsible for ensuring all travel documents and insurance policies are complete before joining a course. This includes visas, flight arrangements, transfers, insurance for holiday or climbing insurance, and any other legal documents you might need.

Courses and Activities

• Mountaingirl cannot allow any client to join any course activities without first providing details of a sufficient insurance policy that covers those activities. Please ensure that your policy covers the specific activity (e.g. ice climbing) and in the specific location and (e.g. Europe, up to 4,000m altitude.) If you do not have the correct insurance coverage, we will not reimburse, refund or compensate you. We also recommend that your policy covers repatriation, helicopter rescue, personal injury and third party liability. Clients can arrange insurance through several organisations, including the British Mountaineering Council (www.thebmc.co.uk tel: +44 (0)870 010 4878).
• Mountaingirl and our Guides reserve the right to change any venue, route, or mountain objective, for any course or activity, if we feel that the proposed itinerary would place any clients or guides under undue risk. This may be due to factors including unfavourable weather, route conditions or client ability.
• We will not be held responsible for consequences arising from or relating to: industrial action, government intervention, natural disasters, war or acts of terrorism, quarantine, inclement weather conditions including flood or avalanche, or other untoward occurrences that might affect our activities or courses.
• Courses will run regardless of weather conditions, and it is up to the Guide's discretion to choose a suitable venue or route. The route or venue may not be the same as proposed upon booking if it is deemed unsafe, but Mountaingirl and its guides will always endeavour to find a suitable substitute. Should a substitute route be necessary, route or venue choice will be based on factors including the physical condition and ability of the client, weather or route conditions and any other factors which will affect the safety of any individuals or guides on the course.
• Unless you tell us otherwise on the booking form, Mountaingirl assumes you have general good health. All medical conditions, medications, allergies, intolerances and food requirements must be noted on the booking form; any omission or failure to do so will be considered a failure of disclosure within the terms of the contract between us and you. As any omission or failure to disclose this imformation could seriously jeopardise your or your group’s safety, we have the right to remove you from the course without any refund if you fail to disclose such information or make any false statement on the Booking Form.

• The course fee includes: All costs for course leaders, IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guides and group assistants, including all guiding and instruction, all road transport and tunnel fees, evening training and safety sessions (if specified on the course, some of the short courses do not have evening theory sessions, for example.). Although we pay for transport and travel costs mentioned above, you accept that in any vehicle, telepherique, train, or lift or any other means of transport, that the proprietor of the transport vehicle, and not Mountaingirl or its Directors, is responsible for your safety. Some of the courses include uplift and telepherique fees, please ask.
On ski courses and for all private guiding and private tuition, uplift / telepherique fees are not included and client / guide local travel costs are charged to the client. For private guiding, clients will be charged a small surcharge if the guide drives you to another valley (e.g. Cogne, which is charged at .30 centimes per km plus tunnel / peage fees).

• The course fees do not include: personal activities outside of the specification of course content, personal travel insurance, equipment hire or purchase, meals, snacks, all food and drink, telephone calls, charges for excess baggage, charges for accommodation / huts unless specified in the course outline, any excess costs beyond the standard half board fee in any mountain huts, any costs incurred by or related to the clients' stay over-riding the booked course dates specified, travel cost to or from the course, airport transfers, any damage or loss relating to your to accommodation or damage or loss of equipment (guides, other clients, personal or hire equipment, including ropes). Any equipment lost or damaged must be replaced within 1 calendar month on a new-for-old basis.
• We will always try to ensure you have a wonderful experience on one of our courses. We welcome feedback on what we did that you liked, and what you think could be better. In the unlikely event that you should have a complaint, we ask that you send any details in writing within one week of the course. All Trading Standards laws apply, naturally, and any refunds or compensation are at the discretion of the Directors of Mountaingirl.

• Mountaingirl is not liable for any loss, damage or wear and tear to your possessions and belongings. You are accountable for both insuring and protecting your belongings.
• Occasionally we list information for third party services and materials (including, for example, frequently used airport transfer services, restaurants in the local area, hotels, etc.) however, we cannot endorse any third party explicitly, and are not responsible or liable for materials or services provided by third parties, including transport, air travel, accommodation, personal activities, food and drink, medical advice or intervention and machinery and vehicles. It is your responsibility to inform yourself about any outside service, accomodation or material provider, and any contract or agreement you have is between yourself and the third party company or person.
• We take your safety and enjoyment as highest priority, and in the unlikely event that you see or experience anything on the course that you think might be an unnecessary risk, dangerous, or bad practice, it is important to notify Mountaingirl immediately. If you do not, we must consider it a failure of disclosure under the terms of the contract between us and you.

Safety:
• Mountaingirl is 100% focused on your safety. However, climbing, mountaineering, and other related outdoor activities are classified as ‘dangerous and hazardous activities’, and can carry with it a potential of injury or death. By joining a climbing course, you accept to participate in any hazardous activities at your own risk. This is also signified by the ‘I have read and agree to the terms and conditions’ box that you tick on your booking form.
• At all times you must follow and comply with directions of your UIAGM Mountain Guide. If you do not, or you knowingly misuse equipment, or are negligent, Mountaingirl and its Directors and Guides will not be held accountable for any injury or fatality you may suffer whilst on a course. This also applies to travelling to or from a course. You must be under the supervision of a qualified Mountain Guide when on activity portions of a course, specifically when undertaking the activities specified on the course related to outdoor activities (including climbing and mountaineering). You must stay with and follow the instructions of the Mountaingirl Guide) at all times.

• Mountaingirl only uses UIAGM guides that are fully trained and qualified to teach your activity, and we trust them implicitly. Whilst you are participating in outdoor activities outlined on your course content, the professional mountain guide or qualified instructor is responsible for your safety and well-being, and is responsible for any issues of negligence. You accept that it is the responsibility of the professional guide or instructor to assess and choose routes they feel are safe and appropriate, and understand that they are legally and professionally trained and competent to lead.
• Occasionally a Mountaingirl staff member may accompany your group to take photographs, although it is important to realise that they are neither technically a part of your group, nor are they mountain guides in any way. Any instruction from your Guide always takes priority and always supercedes instruction or information from other Mountaingirl staff, Your mountain guide for your course, as a fully qualified guide is specifically trained in all aspects relevant to the activities you are undertaking.
• If you leave the supervision of your guide during an outdoor activity, or you decide not to participate in a supervised activity, you accept that you are fully liable for any illness, injury or death to you or those accompanying you. There are times on the courses when you will be without a qualified guide (personal time, rest days and evening meals, for example). At these times you accept full responsibility for your health & safety. Importantly, please understand that you are personally responsible for your safety, should you pursue any form climbing (indoor or outdoor) or other outdoor activity without the supervision by a qualified professional.
• We feel certain that all our clients will behave in a respectful and civilised manner to others, particularly others on a course and their guides. However, we reserve the right to remove anyone from a course at any time, particularly if we feel your health or well-being is at risk, or if you significantly jeopardise the health, safety, or enjoyment of others in the group. In the highly unlikely event that this occurs, you would be entitled to neither refund nor compensation and would also be responsible for costs and arrangements for your journey home. All England and Wales statutory laws apply.

• Should you wish to receive the 10% discount given to any client who volunteers with one of our chosen environmental non-profit groups, these conditions apply: The 10% discount only applies once per course, though you may volunteer and receive a 10% discount for future courses with the same terms and conditions applying. You must volunteer at least one full 8 hour day, and if you want the discount to be applied to an upcoming course, for accounting reasons, you must complete this volunteering work 1 full month before the course date starts. We can retroactively apply a 10% discount after a course has occurred or after full payment has been made if you need to complete the volunteer work at a time closer to the course or after a course is complete, providing it occurs within one calendar month of the end date of the course and we receive confirmation from the charity that you completed your full day. We actively want you to volunteer and will make every effort to ensure that possibility, however, there may be rare times when this discount is not available, and we reserve the right to temporarily withdraw this offer.

..And another thing...

• When you are participating on a course, we or others may take photographs or film material of you. By agreeing to the terms and conditions, you give us permission to use this material, including use for promotional materials without any compensation to you or explicit written permission by you. Also, if you give us any photographs or photographic material, you agree to allow us free and unlimited use of any images or material, including for promotional materials. (However, we promise to try our best to only use extremely flattering photos of you, doing impressive climbing moves and generally being fabulous.)
• Mountaingirl hates junk mail as much as everyone else. We promise to never give out, or sell, your personal details, and we comply fully with the Data Protection Act 1988.