COVID-19 Protocols Used By Wild Bunch Desert Guides
The health and safety of our hiking and mountain biking guests is the top priority of the Wild Bunch Desert Guides. That is why we have been regularly complimented and highly praised by countless concierges, various local entities, and droves of our guests for our respect and commitment to safe adventures.
With our impeccable credentials put to the test more than ever now by the pandemic, the Wild Bunch Desert Guides are following these COVID-19 protocols to reduce the exposure risks for our guests.
Social-distancing guidelines from the CDC are followed during every hiking or mountain biking adventure tour. Guides also are required to regularly wash and/or sanitize hands before, during and after each outing.
All gear and equipment provided for use is sanitized after every adventure tour by staff using protective gloves and extra cleaning supplies, including a stronger-than-normal disinfectant featuring a 10-percent bleach solution. As an additional precaution, the disinfected equipment is dried while waiting 24 hours between use by another guest. These extra sanitizing steps are taken on mountain bikes, bike helmets, cycling gloves and any backpacks.
Protective masks are not mandatory for outdoor activities. However, hiking or mountain biking guests can choose to wear their own face covering or request a complimentary mask from an adventure tour guide.
Guides are provided protective face coverings to wear when required to be in closer proximity to guests, such as providing first aid or helping a guest on to a mountain bike. As an extra safety precaution, some guides also may choose to wear their mask throughout an adventure tour.
All guides carry hand sanitizer for the adventure tour they are leading, as well as extra pre-packaged masks that any guest can receive upon request.
The to-and-from, pickup-and-drop off transportation option for any adventure booking remains available. However, because of the heightened risk of COVID-19 exposure to our guests and guides from riding in a vehicle together, all guests are asked to consider selecting instead the booking option of meeting their guide at the trailhead. Detailed directions are provided to those guests selecting this option. Thank you for understanding and considering ahead of time this difficult but necessary safety precaution during this challenging time.
All guides receive regular temperature checks to screen for signs of COVID-19. Guides also are not allowed to work if feeling ill the day of an assigned tour.
Contactless payment available for gratuities and any late upgrades or add-on booking features.
The specific cleaning protocols include staff wearing gloves while spraying all mountain bikes after use. Initially, bikes are sprayed with a soap/water solution for cleaning before sanitizing with a 10-percent bleach solution. Both spraying techniques focus on the saddle, handlebars, top tubes, brakes, shifters, bells, and grips.
Bike helmets and cycling gloves are disinfected in this same two-step spraying process. Backpacks provided for hiking or mountain biking are sprayed out with disinfectant after each use, too. All gear and equipment then are set aside for drying and a 24-hour wait between use by another guest.
Also helping make a Wild Bunch Desert Guides adventure tour safe during these unprecedented times is the nature of our business!
Our tours are completely private – only you and/or your family/travel party are with one of our expert guides in the great outdoors, with plenty of social-distancing space in the wide-open Sonoran Desert.
Thank you so much to all of our guests for your continued understanding and support of these many safety measures during these unpredictable and complicated times.
We have had tremendous success with our impeccable COVID-19 protocols, and we look forward to you being our guest for a safe and enjoyable customized adventure!
“Selection Sunday” is March 17. Three weekends after that, “March Madness” for college men’s basketball concludes with the “Final Four” in Phoenix. If making a fastbreak to the Valley of the Sun for “The Big Dance” – or even visiting for spring training baseball or Spring Break from school -- here is an “Elite Eight” list of must-do Phoenix adventure tours.
I have heard comparisons before to Drew Barrymore, with everyone from friends to guests noting I have a similar “crazy chick vibe” to the iconic actress and current talk show host. But recently, I got to step into Drew’s shoes for a glimpse into her world under the lights, with a camera crew turning the desert trails for guided Phoenix hiking tours & Phoenix mountain bike tours into a sort of movie set with me starring in a production all about my life.
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