Joe Stock is a professional Mountain Guide. He is certified, licensed, permitted and insured. The rates charged go toward a modest living for Joe, land use permits, liability insurance, workman's compensation, credit card fees, gear and an incident management staff for Alaska trips. If you find the service exceptional, gratuities are appreciated, but please feel no pressure. You may find a less expensive guide, but the product will reflect the rate.

Reservation Policy

A deposit of $1,000 (or payment in full if the trip price is less than $1,000) per person is required to reserve a trip. The remaining balance is due 60 days prior to the start of the trip. Reservations made within 60 days of the trip starting date require payment in full. If the participant cancels a reservation earlier than 60 days prior to the starting date, the deposit will be refunded, minus a $100 administration fee. If the participant cancels within 59-31 days of the starting date, 50% of the trip balance will be refunded. If cancellation is made within 30-0 days of the trip starting date, there will be no refund of any costs. Stock Alpine recommends cancellation insurance available through Travel Guard.

Trip Cancellations or Delays

Stock Alpine reserves the right to cancel or change the itinerary of a trip. In the event that Stock Alpine cancels your trip and you are unable to participate, your total balance will be refunded. Occasionally, weather or other factors may cause delays or make completing a trip impossible. In these circumstances, there will be no refund of fees. Stock Alpine is not responsible for any additional costs (e.g. airline flight changes, additional hotel nights, etc.) associated with trip delays or itinerary changes due to weather or other factors.

Trip Insurance

Trip insurance is recommended for all trips. Travel Guard is a popular provider and covers trip cancellation and delay, emergency evacuation, baggage protection and medical protection. Get the Adventure Sports Coverage plan on My Travel Guard. Call them anytime at 1-800-826-4919 for a quote. Get the Optional Cancel for Any Reason provision. Plans vary state by state. Evacuation coverage with Travel Guard is not as reliable as Global Rescue through the American Alpine Club (see below).

Another good option is Travelex Travel Select protection plan, with the Adventure Plus Pak optional upgrade.

Rescue Insurance

Accidents can happen. Rescue is often not free and can be expensive. Rescue insurance is recommended for Alaska trips and required for all foreign trips. Here are several options:

Global Rescue is a good deal. Available with American Alpine Club membership. Membership for 29 or younger costs $40 per year, $75 for age 30-64 and $50 for over 65. Each member gets $5,000 toward rescue and evacuation coverage. AAC members can upgrade to full Global Rescue membership at a 5% discount for various membership plans.
Travel Guard Adventure Sports Coverage includes emergency rescue insurance, although not as reliable as Global Rescue.

Alaska Booking Agreement

The goal of Stock Alpine and partners at Alaska Guide Collective is to minimize risk, achieve the objective and have fun. These goals are more easily met if you understand the points below. If you have any questions, please contact Stock Alpine at the address above.

1) The Objective is Second

Achieving the objective is second after minimizing risk. The guide will not be pressured into attempting your goal—a chute, summit, etc—if it does not align with the group goals or minimizing risk.

2) Plans Will Change

Alaska is the land of extremes. This phenomenon is known as The Alaska Factor. Everything is bigger—the mountains, powder, storms, avalanches, euphoria, etc. As a result, Alaska trips require a higher degree of flexibility than elsewhere. Plans will change. Going with the flow will improve your trip. If you are not flexible, then please consider a trip elsewhere.

3) Stable Powder and Blue Sky are Not Guaranteed

We all (including the guide) want blue sky and stable powder, but this is not always possible. We do our best to find the optimal snow and weather for skiing. This may require shifting to a different ski zone than originally planned, such as from summit tours to tree runs, or from the Kenai Mountains to the Talkeetna Mountains, or from an expedition to the Chugach Mountains to the Alaska Range.

4) Mountain Travel is Dangerous

The primary goal of Stock Alpine is to minimize risk. But we cannot eliminate risk. Mountain travel is dangerous. Hazards include, but are not limited to: avalanche, a fall in steep terrain, frostbite, hypothermia and bodily injuries. We will share the risk and you are responsible for yourself. Organized rescue in Alaska is slow and sometimes not possible.

5) The Guide has Final Call in Avalanche Terrain

The guide may decide not to ski a slope because "it doesn't feel right," or "I am uncertain." Snow and avalanches are complex problems—a degree of uncertainty is inevitable. Decisions made by guides in avalanche terrain are often based on intuition from years of experience. The reason for a no-go decision may not be explainable and may be made without group consensus.

6) Have the Gear

You are responsible for having the correct gear for the field. Some gear may be available for loan from Stock Alpine. Links to the gear lists are on the relevant pages on stockalpine.com. Here is the Alaska Ski Gear List.

7) Air Taxis Add Delays

While air taxis add to the Alaska experience, they also add delays that are out of Stock Alpine control. We estimate 50% of the fly-in trips have some flight delay. These delays include, but are not limited to: mechanical delays, multi-day weather delays both on the flight in and flight out, scheduling complications and pilot complications. Of course, our goal is to minimize these complications and maximize trip success. If you are flexible, the reward potential is huge.

8) Read This Cancellation Policy

If the participant cancels a reservation earlier than 60 days before the start date, the deposit will be refunded, minus a $100 administration fee. If the participant cancels within 59-31 days of the start date, 50% of the trip balance will be refunded. If cancellation is made within 30-0 days of the trip starting date, there will be no refund. Stock Alpine recommends cancellation insurance available through Travel Guard.

Stock Alpine reserves the right to cancel or change the itinerary of a trip. In the event that Stock Alpine cancels your trip, your total balance will be refunded. Occasionally, weather or other factors may cause delays or make completing a trip impossible. In these circumstances, there will be no refund of fees. Stock Alpine is not responsible for any additional costs (e.g. airline flight changes, additional hotel nights, etc.) from trip delays or itinerary changes due to weather or other factors.