1. General

These Terms & Conditions apply to all mountain guiding, climbing, skiing, courses, expeditions and other services provided by Bjartur Týr Ólafsson, IFMGA Mountain Guide, through bjarturolafsson.com.

By booking a trip or service, the participant confirms that they have read and understood these Terms & Conditions and agree to them.

Mountain activities take place in a changing and potentially hazardous environment. Weather, snow and ice conditions, rockfall, avalanches, crevasses, altitude, route conditions and other objective hazards can never be completely eliminated, even with professional mountain guiding.

My primary responsibility is to make professional decisions regarding safety and to provide the best possible experience within the conditions available.

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2. Professional Standards

All guiding activities are conducted by an IFMGA/UIAGM-certified mountain guide and in accordance with the professional standards of the international mountain guiding profession.

I will use my professional knowledge, experience and judgment to assess the conditions and choose an appropriate itinerary.

Safety is always the first priority. However, participation in mountain activities involves inherent risks that cannot be completely removed.

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3. Booking and Payment

A booking is confirmed once the required deposit has been received and the participant has accepted these Terms & Conditions.

Unless otherwise stated in the individual trip proposal:

• The deposit is generally 30–50% of the total guiding fee.

• The remaining balance is due no later than 14 days before the start of the trip.

• Payment may be made by payment link, bank transfer, credit card or another agreed payment method.

• Prices are stated in euros (€) unless otherwise specified.

The individual trip proposal provided to the client forms part of the agreement and sets out the specific itinerary, price, inclusions and exclusions for that trip.

Payment of the deposit constitutes acceptance of the trip proposal and these Terms & Conditions.

 

4. What the Guiding Fee Includes

The guiding fee covers only the services specifically stated in the individual trip proposal.

Unless otherwise specified, the guiding fee does not include third-party costs such as:

• Mountain huts

• Hotels or other accommodation

• Cable cars, gondolas and chairlifts

• Trains and other public transportation

• Parking

• Meals and drinks

• Equipment rental

• Travel to or from the meeting point

• Rescue or evacuation costs

• Travel insurance or personal accident insurance

 

Where such expenses are required, they are normally paid directly by the participant as they arise.

If the itinerary changes because of weather, mountain conditions or other circumstances, the participant is responsible for the third-party expenses associated with the revised itinerary unless otherwise agreed.

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5. Itinerary, Objectives and Summit Attempts

 

The objective described in a trip proposal is the intended goal of the program, not a guaranteed result.

For example, a booking for a Matterhorn or Mont Blanc ascent represents a professional attempt to climb the proposed route or summit. No summit, route or specific objective can be guaranteed.

Mountain conditions, weather, route conditions, acclimatization, physical fitness, technical ability, equipment, route traffic and other circumstances may require the itinerary to be changed.

Changes may include:

• Changing the route

• Changing the objective

• Moving to another mountain or valley

• Changing the schedule

• Shortening or extending an activity

• Adding or removing a rest day

• Changing accommodation or transportation arrangements

• Cancelling a particular ascent

• Choosing an alternative activity or objective

 

Such changes are considered part of professional mountain guiding and do not, by themselves, constitute a failure to provide the contracted guiding service.

Whenever reasonably possible, I will discuss alternatives with the participants and aim to provide an objective or activity that is appropriate to the conditions, the group's abilities and the original goals of the trip.

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6. Weather, Mountain Conditions and Safety

Mountain conditions can change rapidly and may differ substantially from forecasts or conditions observed during previous visits.

The guide has the right and professional responsibility to change, postpone, shorten or cancel an activity when, in their judgment, the planned itinerary cannot be completed responsibly.

This may occur because of:

• Weather

• Rockfall or unstable terrain

• Avalanche conditions

• Crevasse or glacier conditions

• Excessive heat or cold

• Route deterioration

• High winds

• Lack of snow or excessive snow

• Hut or lift closures

• Access restrictions

• Other objective hazards

• Any other circumstances affecting the safety or feasibility of the planned activity

 

The final decision regarding whether, when and where an activity proceeds rests with the guide.

The guide will not knowingly compromise safety in order to reach a particular summit or complete a particular route.

 

7. Participant Fitness, Ability and Acclimatization

Participants are responsible for honestly assessing and communicating their physical condition, experience and technical ability before the trip.

The requirements for each activity will be communicated before the booking where appropriate.

The participant must inform the guide in advance of any injury, medical condition, medication or other circumstance that may affect their ability to participate safely.

The guide may modify the itinerary if a participant's:

• Physical fitness

• Technical ability

• Acclimatization

• Experience

• Psychological readiness

• Equipment

• Or general condition

 

is insufficient for the planned objective.

For safety reasons, the guide may decide that a participant cannot continue with a particular route or activity.

In such circumstances, the guide will make reasonable efforts to provide an appropriate alternative where possible. However, the original objective cannot be guaranteed where the participant is unable to safely complete it.

Once a trip has started, a participant's inability to continue because of fitness, acclimatization, personal circumstances, lack of appropriate equipment or insufficient technical ability does not automatically entitle the participant to a refund.

 

8. Guide-to-Client Ratios

Appropriate guide-to-client ratios are an important part of safe mountain guiding.

The ratio stated in the individual trip proposal is based on the expected conditions, route and participant ability.

The guide may increase the number of guides where this is considered necessary or appropriate for safety.

Conversely, the guide may determine that an activity cannot safely be undertaken with the planned ratio and may modify or cancel the activity.

For certain objectives, specific local regulations or professional standards may require particular guide-to-client ratios.

 

9. Equipment

A suitable equipment list will be provided for each activity where necessary.

Participants are responsible for arriving with the required personal equipment in suitable condition.

Depending on the activity, personal equipment may include:

• Appropriate footwear

• Helmet

• Harness

• Crampons

• Ice axe

• Skis and bindings

• Appropriate clothing

• Backpack

• Technical personal equipment

 

Technical group equipment may be provided by the guide where specified.

The guide may refuse to use equipment that is considered unsuitable or unsafe.

Equipment rental can be arranged where possible, but availability cannot always be guaranteed.

 

10. Insurance

Participants are responsible for obtaining appropriate insurance before participating in any activity.

Insurance should cover, as appropriate:

• Mountain rescue

• Search and rescue

• Helicopter evacuation

• Medical treatment

• Repatriation

• Personal accident

• Cancellation and interruption of travel

The participant is responsible for checking that their insurance covers the specific activities, altitude and countries involved in their trip.

Professional liability insurance held by the guide does not replace the participant's personal accident, rescue, medical or travel insurance.

 

11. Cancellation by the Participant

Unless a different cancellation policy is stated in the individual trip proposal:

More than 60 days before the start of the trip

The deposit will be refunded, less a €100 administration fee.

30–60 days before the start of the trip

50% of the total guiding fee will be refundable.

Less than 30 days before the start of the trip

The guiding fee is non-refundable unless the participant's place can be filled by another suitable participant.

Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase travel cancellation and interruption insurance.

Third-party costs such as hut reservations, accommodation, transport or lift tickets may have separate cancellation policies and are the responsibility of the participant where applicable.

 

12. Cancellation or Modification by the Guide

If the guide determines before the start of a trip that the planned program cannot safely or reasonably be carried out, the guide may:

• Offer an alternative itinerary

• Offer an alternative objective

• Reschedule the activity

• Postpone the program

• Cancel the program

 

Where the guide cancels a program before it has started and no suitable alternative can be agreed, any refund will be handled according to the circumstances and the applicable cancellation terms.

Third-party expenses that have already been paid or are non-refundable may not be recoverable.

The guide is not responsible for additional costs incurred by participants as a result of weather, mountain conditions, transport disruption, closures or other circumstances beyond the guide's reasonable control, unless otherwise required by applicable law.

 

13. Changes During a Trip

Once a trip has started, the itinerary may be changed at any time when required by weather, mountain conditions, safety considerations, participant ability or other circumstances.

A substantial change of objective does not automatically constitute cancellation of the guiding service.

For example, if a planned Matterhorn or Mont Blanc ascent becomes unsafe and an appropriate alternative alpine objective is undertaken instead, the guiding service continues to be provided under the agreed program.

The guide will make reasonable efforts to ensure that any alternative is appropriate to the participants' goals, abilities and the conditions available.

No summit is considered more important than the safety of the participants and guide.

 

14. Termination of a Trip for Safety or Conduct

The guide may terminate or modify a participant's participation if their behaviour creates a significant safety risk to themselves, the guide or other participants.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Ignoring reasonable safety instructions

• Deliberately taking unnecessary risks

• Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs

• Arriving with unsuitable equipment

• Providing materially inaccurate information about fitness or experience

• Behaviour that endangers or seriously disrupts the group

 

Where a trip is terminated for these reasons, the participant is not automatically entitled to a refund.

 

15. Extraordinary Circumstances

The guide cannot be held responsible for circumstances beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to:

• Extreme weather

• Natural disasters

• Rockfall, avalanches or other natural events

• Mountain or route closures

• Hut closures

• Lift or transport closures

• Government restrictions

• Strikes

• Epidemics or pandemics

• Serious illness or accident

• Other circumstances that could not reasonably have been prevented or anticipated

 

Where such circumstances affect a trip, reasonable efforts will be made to modify the itinerary or find an alternative solution.

 

16. Personal Responsibility and Risk

Participation in mountaineering, climbing, skiing and other mountain activities is voluntary.

Participants acknowledge that these activities involve inherent risks, including but not limited to:

• Falls

• Rockfall

• Avalanches

• Crevasses

• Seracs and icefall

• Glacier travel

• Exposure

• Extreme weather

• Altitude-related problems

• Equipment failure

• Other natural or human-caused hazards

 

Professional guiding reduces risk but cannot eliminate it.

Participants are expected to follow reasonable safety instructions and to communicate openly with the guide throughout the activity.

 

17. Photos and Media

Photos and video may be taken during trips for professional, educational or promotional purposes.

Participants who do not wish to appear in promotional material should inform the guide in writing before the trip.

No participant is required to consent to the use of their image for promotional purposes where such consent is required by applicable law.

 

18. Privacy and Personal Information

Personal information provided by participants is used for purposes including:

• Booking and administration

• Communication

• Trip planning

• Safety

• Hut and transport reservations

• Insurance or emergency purposes where necessary

 

Information will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.

Personal information will not be sold or used for unrelated purposes.

Where information must be shared with a third party for the operation of a trip — for example, a mountain hut, transport provider, permit authority or emergency service — only information reasonably necessary for that purpose will be shared.

 

19. Individual Trip Proposals

For private and multi-day trips, the participant will normally receive an individual trip proposal describing:

• Dates

• Proposed itinerary

• Guiding ratio

• Guiding fee

• Included services

• Excluded expenses

• Meeting arrangements

• Equipment requirements

• Other relevant information

 

The individual proposal and these Terms & Conditions should be read together.

Where a specific provision in an individual trip proposal differs from these general Terms & Conditions, the specific provision in the individual proposal will apply where explicitly stated.

 

20. Professional Judgment

Mountain guiding requires continuous assessment and decision-making.

Participants agree to respect the guide's professional judgment regarding:

• Safety

• Route choice

• Objective

• Timing

• Pace

• Equipment

• Guide-to-client ratio

• Whether to continue or turn around

 

A decision to retreat, change the route or abandon a summit attempt is a normal and essential part of professional mountain guiding and should not be interpreted as failure or lack of effort.

 

21. Final Note

The mountains are unpredictable, and even the best preparation cannot guarantee a particular outcome.

My goal is to provide professional, responsible and enjoyable mountain guiding while giving every reasonable opportunity to achieve the objectives agreed upon with the participant.

Sometimes the best day in the mountains is the summit day.

Sometimes it is the decision to turn around.

And sometimes the best trip is the one that changes completely because the mountains demand it.

By booking a trip, participants confirm that they understand and accept these principles, have read these Terms & Conditions, and agree to follow the guide's professional judgment throughout the activity.