Ouzel Outfitters COVID-19 Operating Guidelines

There are currently no travel advisories or restrictions affecting our trips.

• Vaccination is NOT a requirement to participate in our trips.   We may, however, ask you to report your vaccination status on the individual registration forms.  Should the severity of the COVID outbreak worsen and guidelines are reimposed that require us to once again separate groups, vaccination status will be a tool to help us do so.  This was our practice In the past, where we only combined fully-vaccinated groups and individuals. We want to be prepared to do so again if necessary.
• All Ouzel guides are required to be fully vaccinated.

• The CDC advises that masks should not be worn if they can get wet. In the past, we did not require masks to be worn in the rafts and do not anticipate such requirements in the future regardless of the current severity of the outbreak. 
• At this time, we are not enforcing social distancing or keeping groups separated on trips. If conditions warrant, we will return to the practice of keeping travel groups or households in separate rafts.  If you are concerned about being mixed with other individuals or groups,  consider paying for a "private raft" (available only for half and one-day trips). This may be more difficult on multi-day trips, so feel free to give us a call if you have concerns.

• Personal equipment such as life jackets, splash gear, helmets and camping gear, etc. will be handed out at the beginning of each trip.  Once you have collected your equipment, it is yours for the trip and it will be important to keep track of your gear, keep it separate and keep it within your group.
• On multi-day trips, guides will clean and disinfect food prep and dining surfaces and “common use” areas regularly. Hand wash stations will be readily available and we ask that guests practice regular handwashing and use of hand sanitizer. We recommend bringing a personal supply of hand sanitizer.
• On multi-day trips, guides serve individual dishes in a cafeteria-style buffet line.  Please check with your guide before heading to the kitchen for seconds of if you need anything from the kitchen. In general, please avoid food-prep areas.

Half & One-Day Trips

• Round-trip transportation from Bend and other locations will once again be offered for half-day McKenzie and full-day Deschutes River trips. 
• Masks are optional and will not be required in our shuttle vans.
• If you are uncomfortable being in a van with others, the option remains to meet us at the river and have your vehicle shuttled during the trip.  This is offered at no additional cost.

Multi-Day Trips

• Most multi-day trips include having your vehicle shuttled during the trip, so there is no van shuttle at the beginning or end.
• On the Rogue River, a 10 minute van shuttle from the meeting location to the put-in on the first day, and a 2-hour van shuttle from the take-out back to the meeting location on the last day is included. Mask are optional and will not be required. Avoiding the van shuttle and having your personal vehicle shuttled to the take-out during the trip is available for an additional fee.

• Follow all guidelines on this page and/or additional instructions or guidelines provided by your guide.
• If you are feeling ill or have had a recent confirmed exposure to COVID-19 (CDC indicates within 5 days) stay home and do not participate in the trip.
• Take responsibility for yourself (and your children) and follow the practices that you feel are appropriate for you. Bring a mask, hand-sanitizer, keep your distance, etc. 
• MOST IMPORTANTLY,  everyone needs to be respectful of others choices in this regard.
• Practice good sanitation. For multi-day trips, wash your hands regularly, keep your personal gear with you and ask the guides if you need something from the kitchen.

Should a guest or guide experience symptoms indicative of COVID-19 during a trip, the following actions/guidelines will be followed:

• The guest or guide will be immediately isolated from the rest of the group both on the water and in camp to the best of our ability.
• Any examination or care will be conducted from a distance if possible.
• A “primary care” person will be identified if close interaction is necessary. This may be a guide or another person within that person’s family or travel group.  Enhanced PPE will be provided for the ill person and the “primary care” person. 
• Evacuation
• A decision on evacuation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Every situation and every trip is different. The following facts will inform this decision.
• What is the severity of the symptoms? Our standard evacuation protocols always apply. This includes immediate evacuation for conditions including, but not limited to respiratory distress and persistent high fever.
• How much longer is the trip? Are we on day-1 of the trip, or does the trip end tomorrow?
• Where we are on the river and what are our resources? What is the nature of the group or groups on the trip – how many unvaccinated people do we have? Where are we in relation to vehicle or other access?
• How successfully can we isolate the ill person until evacuation can be achieved?
• In all decisions regarding evacuation (except where our standard evacuation protocols require it), decisions will be made with input from the ill person, family members and other groups on the trip. 

We cannot make exceptions to our cancellation and refund policy for cancellations due to contracting COVID.  The proper Trip Protection Plan can cover cancellation for this reason. See Trip Protection Insurance on our Policies Page.

Guests are asked to inform Ouzel Outfitters if they have become ill with COVID-19 directly following the trip. Ouzel Outfitters will also inform guests if their guide on a recent trip has become ill with COVID.