DEPOSITS & PAYMENTS - DROPPING & REFUNDS

CHECK or *CASH (*in an envelope clearly marked with name(s) and trip year).  Hand to Coach Gunn or put in the Jog Pot at a hike.  

MAIL CHECKS: (see below).  

TRIP PAYMENTS: Credit Card (a 3% processing fee must be added).   CALL IT IN M-F, 9-3: 269-262-0516 (ask for Jan)  or 

MAIL TO:  

Andrews Tax & Accounting, 

18 N. 4th Street, Niles, MI 49120 

NEW

TRAINING FEE & DEPOSITS: 

Pay online.  Use button below.

$100 is the deposit amount for most trips.  It is also the amount for the annual Training Partner fee.  

2021 Hikers are divided into two teams; TRAVELING (Utah 2021) and NOT TRAVELING (2021 Training Partners).  For major trips the training fee is waived for the year that trip departs.

PAY $100 ONLINE (trip deposit or training fee)

1) REGISTER ONLINE

2) PAY $100 DEPOSIT

When trip description and price is announced you will have two weeks to opt in or out.  

Your date of deposit sets your seniority date.  Earliest dates have first choice of travel dates (when there are more than one tour) and are assigned first.  Once all tours are filled a waiting list is created by seniority date and stated preferences.

How did we get to this sign up sight unseen situation?

From 2004 up to the 2010 Scotland trip, hiking tours were promoted in the usual manner.  Coach Gunn must research the best hikes and places of interest, make a number of scouting trips, and finalize the bidding process before he can make a trip description and set a price.  

At 4 or 5 information meetings he presented a slideshow with live trip description and answered questions.  After the meeting those interested would sign up on  a paper form and make a deposit or go home to think about it.   

In 2009 after the first information meeting for Scotland the trip filled and many were on a waiting list.  After that no Cairn Stone alumni or anyone who knew a Cairn Stone alumnus would wait for an information meeting.  As soon as Coach Gunn mentions a destination in a lecture, we get deposits even 2 years in advance.

The first Grand Canyon hiking tour in 2004 included the hike training to prepare a core group of extreme hikers to day hike across Grand Canyon.  About 40% took on this challenge.  In 2005 there were some who did not want to return to hike the Canyon again but wanted to continue the hike training.  From this interest the Training Partner category was created.

As the interest has grown it has been rookies (newcomers) as well as Cairn Stone alumni interested in continued hike training even when not traveling with us.

It's a training program and Coach Gunn is interested in those who will commit to the program.  Casual hikers who drop in once in a while for a hike create complications and safety concerns.  Everyone must join a hiking team each year.  

Usually by March Coach Gunn will have a trip description and final cost available.  You have 2 weeks to commit or drop.  (After two weeks there is a sliding scale for refunds)

COMMIT:  PAY in full or payments. 

DROP:  1) Submit the Drop Form (within two weeks for full refund).

REFUNDS:  1) All payments or 

2) Transfer payments (to another tour).  Indicate on the Drop Form.

 DEPOSIT:  Is not refunded.  It becomes your Training Partner fee.  

 (Exception: The deposit can be refunded if you have not attended any training hikes this year. ) 

USE THE DROP FORM TO INITIATE THE REFUND PROCESS.