Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)

Trail Guides Yellowstone guests are required to meet the "Essential Eligibility Criteria" (EEC) listed below and should become familiar with these guidelines before participating in our Yellowstone guided backpacking trips or guided day hikes. Please read the following criteria carefully! These guidelines are not intended to be exclusionary, and were created to identify the basic requirements for backcountry travel, safety and risk management, and are consistent with Trail Guides Yellowstone overnight backpacking and day hiking policies. The "Essential Eligibility Criteria" are designed to provide participants with a general overview of the daily routine, but do not encompass every scenario for the various physical activities you may encounter on any overnight backpacking trip or guided day hike.

Participants will be required to sign an "acknowledgement of risk" form and provide Trail Guides Yellowstone with a completed "medical questionnaire"  that confirms that you have read and can meet the "Essential Eligibility Criteria" for the particular backcountry trip or day hike. If you have any additional questions, please contact us at: +1-406-595-1823.

General EEC

• Have the capacity to travel and navigate through a variety of terrain, temperatures and altitude. Continue traveling safely during adverse weather conditions such as wind, rain, snow, heat and/or cold.

• Accept the responsibility that you are traveling as part of a group. You must remain with the group while day hiking or backpacking. You are able to hike at a consistent speed and take regular breaks throughout the day. Handle short notice changes to itinerary and scheduling as needed.

• Take proper care of yourself by eating and drinking accordingly, dressing appropriately for the weather, maintaining your personal hygiene, managing your known medical conditions, and recognizing and avoiding environmental injuries such as hypothermia, heat illness, sunburn, or frostbite.

• Effectively communicate with the lead guide or other participants in the event of personal distress, injury or illness. Convey the need for assistance while engaging in these outdoor activities.

• Should be in good general health and are able to participate in strenuous physical activity. A current health history and a physician's approval are required.

• Remain alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling through the wilderness and other backcountry areas in Yellowstone.

• Understand and follow specific directions when traveling with the group.

• Follow the rules set forth by the lead guide for the safety and well-being of the entire group. The lead guide will always make the final decisions, but your input is always encouraged and welcome.

• Act in a manner consistent with Leave No Trace ethics. Participants must be able to follow the lead guides directions regarding minimum impact camping. For more information please visit: www.LNT.org.

• Recognize that the needs of the group supersede the desires of any one individual. Possess the ability to compromise to accommodate diverse requests, physical abilities, and personalities of all group members. Tolerance, compromise, and flexibility are a requirement.

• Travel and live in remote settings that are potentially hours or days from medical facilities with potential delays or difficulties in communication, transportation, evacuation, and medical care.

• For backpacking adventures, the ability to carry a backpack that may weigh up to 40% of your body weight over uneven terrain. Should also be able to request help from staff as needed.

• If conditions become adverse, travel without rest stops for more than one hour.