The effects of the coronavirus pandemic have extended across all spheres of modern life. As we navigate these times, the health, safety, and well-being of our runners and communities will always be our most important priority. There is never a way to operate wilderness and backcountry trips without risk. As we choose to move forward with Aspire courses at this time, we are enacting policies that will mitigate, not eliminate, the risks associated with COVID-19 in our operations. We have prepared detailed COVID policies and procedures that are available for your review. The purpose of this post is to educate and update our community on how we implement these procedures.
Sucia: Our First Trip in the COVID Era
Kicking off the 2020 season with a trip to the San Juan Islands felt like we had reached an acceptable level of equilibrium of life with the virus. After a season of sheltering in place and a slow return to operations, finally being in the field was incredible.
There are always tweaks and improvements to be made, but as a first go, I’m really pleased with how smoothly our COVID protocols played out. All of our runners completed pre-trip questions about their health and committed to following physical distancing on our trips. Having a temperature check and a daily check-in didn’t disrupt the flow of the trip. Wearing masks in close quarters has become common place and while it’s no one’s first choice, it was a small price to pay to spend a weekend in the islands.
The thing that stood out to me the most during and after the trip, was how good it was to connect with other humans. For so long we’ve been limiting our interactions with anyone outside of our covid “pods” that to suddenly be communicating, reflecting, and engaging with runners/humans who have all been experiencing this disruption in different but similar ways was particularly rewarding. Sharing sunsets, sharing meals, sharing beautiful trails together made the whole experience so much richer than running these trails alone.
Keep Reading to See how we’re operating with new COVID protocols…
Pre Trip Planning, Risk Assessment, and Communication
Every Aspire trip involves a lot of planning, preparation, and communication. While this has always been the case, that pre-trip work now includes a Covid Health and Safety addendum to our established Runner Profile Form. What this means is that in addition to reporting on your dietary preferences, training report, travel arrangements, and rental gear needs we are asking runners to:
- Agree to our updated Covid Acknowledgment of Risk Form in which runners:
- Certify that they are healthy and not showing any signs or symptoms of illness.
- Certify that they have had no known exposures to COVID-19 and are not prematurely leaving a quarantine
- And agree to following our Social Distancing and Health Checks while on our trips.
- This form also clarifies any trip specific considerations relating to COVID, outlines a covid gear list, including a mask or facial covering and personal hand sanitizer.
Our goal is that well before any of our trips start our runners have a clear picture of what our protocols will look like in the field and can make an informed decision to follow them while on their trip.
On the Ground, how Plans translate into Decisions, Actions, and Behaviors
In normal years Aspire operates trip specific shuttles from airports and population hubs. Where possible, we are limiting these shuttle services for the current season and asking that runner households arrange their own transportation to and from each trip.
Rendezvous are our predetermined locations where runners check in for each trip. This check in will now include some specific questions relating to Covid. Each runner will need to certify anew that they remain healthy and have not knowingly been exposed to COVID since completing their online health form. With this check in, we’ll take a baseline temperature and oxygen saturation reading of each participant. These measurements will serve as a baseline for each runner, and will become a reference if during the trip they begin to display signs or symptoms of illness.
Basecamp
Basecamps are the hub of Aspire’s operations. Typically this is a drive in campground at or near the trailheads we’ll be running from. While outdoor spaces pose a much lower risk of COVID transmission we are still committed to following social distancing and increased sanitization practices to reduce transmission vectors on our trips.
Six feet is the standard for social distancing basecamp protocol for runners and staff who are not from the same household. Any time that a 6’ separation between runners isn’t possible we’re asking that our community commit to wearing a mask. To facilitate this distancing we’ll be packing extra event tents and camp chairs to ensure that even in inclement weather we can create ample space in our basecamps for our runners.
Good food remains at the core of the Aspire experience. We’re committed to serving delicious, fresh, and seasonally inspired meals on all our trips. We’ve developed our COVID era food prep and serving practices based on restaurant guidelines. Expect to have meals plated and served by our staff rather than our traditional buffet style.
Throughout each trip Aspire staff will be cleaning and sanitizing high traffic surfaces. If a trip involves moving camps, we’re asking runners to ensure that all of their personal gear fit inside of a 80-120 liter duffel, backpack, or suitcase. These personal bags will be wiped and sanitized by staff before handling.
Sanitation and group hygiene has always been a priority on our trips, this practice will continue with renewed emphasis. Ample hand sanitizer along and dedicated hand washing stations will be set up in each camp so runners can frequently wash and sanitize their hands especially before mealtimes and after using restroom facilities.
Trails
Our trips by design operate in wilderness and backcountry spaces. The trails we run are among the most spectacular on the planet and some of the easiest places to social distance. We’ll ask that runners keep 12’ of separation on the trails as an added precaution, but given that our runners always spread out across the trail this shouldn’t represent much of a change from normal operations. As a courtesy to other trail users we are asking each of runners to carry a face covering or mask that can be easily applied when passing other runners or trail users. This can be accomplished by simply as carrying an accessible “Buff” style wrap and using it when needed.
Probably one of the most difficult asks we’re making of our runners is to avoid the traditional high-5, hugs, and embraces that typically come at the end of each day of running. In lieu of the high 5 we recommend the socially distant “foot” five, air hug, and the head turned elbow “bump”.
If a runner or staff member begins to feel sick and displays signs or symptoms of a COVID 19 infection, this person will be isolated and an evaluation/evacuation protocols will be followed.
Closing
This has been a difficult year. I have had many conversations with runners for whom the heath and economic challenges of this pandemic have been particularly painful. My hope is that our trips can be a respite from all the headache and heartache of the year and a chance to steep into the wild beauties and challenges that trails offer.
For those registered for a trip, If your training hasn’t been perfect, it’s okay, slowing down and savoring some long days is just fine with us. Fast or slow, many leg burning climbs, deep belly laughs, delicious meals, gorgeous vistas, and new friendships await. We look forward to sharing these adventures together. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to shoot me an email.
See ya on the trail.