Application Process & Payments
To apply for any of our expeditions, there are three simple initial steps.
- Make contact with us by clicking the ‘Book Now’ button or fill in our online application form HERE, and our team will review it within 24-48 hours.
- Read, agree, sign, and return the ‘Program Terms and Conditions’ that we send to you.
- Upon acceptance, we will send you an invoice with payment details and ask you to pay your 25% non-refundable deposit. We recommend wire transfers as credit card payments will incur a merchant surcharge for the payer.
It’s worth noting that many insurers expect you to take out a policy within 14 days of paying a deposit to activate any trip cancellation or interruption policies. You can find our recommendations on insurance for mountaineering HERE.
It is only upon receipt of your completed application form, program terms and conditions, and your 25% non-refundable deposit that will we enrol you onto a CTSS expedition and allocate you a spot on our team.
Following the initial application process you will then:
4) Receive an onboarding email with all of your pre-trip departure information, gear list, itineraries, etc. to help you manage your expedition.
5) Be sent an updated invoice reflecting receipt of your deposit and your balance amount remaining, which is due 120 days (4 months) prior to departure.
6) Be asked to complete the remaining paperwork to ensure a smooth expedition including:
- Medical treatment release (allowing us to treat you and render first aid and care to you in an emergency)
- Physician’s assessment form (to be filled in by your doctor stating you are fit to participate and exert yourself at altitude; this will include additional cardiac testing if you are 50 years or older or are climbing above 8,000 meters)
- Copy of your passport photo page
- Copy of your insurance policy
- Your arrival/departure and travel details
Further details of our Payment Terms and Conditions, Cancellation, and Refund Policies can be found in the Application form, on your invoice, and in our Program Terms and Conditions form.
Suffice to say, we operate in some of the most remote and rugged places on the planet and as such we ask that you are aware and understanding that there could be last minute changes due to inclement weather, unsafe route conditions, or circumstances beyond our control that may impact your expedition.
We also plan your adventures well in advance and, in order to do so, make many non-refundable payments to suppliers to secure permits, services, etc. on your behalf. We therefore must strictly adhere to cancellation policies.
We strongly advise you purchase trip cancellation and interruption insurance as protection against an emergency which may force you to cancel or leave an expedition.
CTSS' 'No D*ckheads Policy*'
Successfully summiting the world’s mightiest peaks requires more than just physical fitness. It also demands enormous mental strength, commitment and most importantly deep humility.
For this reason, CTSS is HIGHLY SELECTIVE of our both our Guides and our Clients.
Unlike other operators we won’t blindly accept anyone who can pay the bill. We will only enrol climbers who we feel will be an asset to our teams.
This selection is not about your resume, fitness, age, demographics, skillset or even your previous climbing experience. It is exclusively about your character and creating a powerful, cohesive culture and a sense of belonging.
Over decades of front line guiding we have learnt the secret sauce that makes a good expedition great, is the people. When you have great people in the mountains together it is advantageous to everyone’s safety and success AND ultimate enjoyment.
From the moment you make contact with us, throughout the onboarding process and even during the expedition we will continually assess you to make sure you are a good fit for CTSS. If not, we’ll politely and respectfully part ways.
To qualify to be on a CTSS team you must pass the No Dickheads* test and demonstrate you have the right character;
This Selection Criteria includes;
Humility & Respect:
- For the mountains and the environment,
- For your Guides and their leadership calls,
- For your teammates and their goals,
- For our shared priorities of safety and success (strictly in that order).
You will be expected to clearly demonstrate;
- A positive and persevering spirit,
- A deep commitment to your goal and obtaining the requisite fitness, skills and experience required,
- A willingness and enthusiasm to work in a team environment and be a true team player by going the extra mile and helping where you can,
- A understanding that mountaineering requires you to be adaptable and positive
- A natural ability to take self responsibility vs. playing the blame game
- And finally, that you are a nice, kind person!
You will also be expected to prove that you DO NOT:
- Feel entitled to summit because ‘you paid for it’. Rather you understand that the summit is a great privilege and never a guarantee.
- Have an unhealthy ego that is prone to ‘summit fever’ and that you will not push circumstances, people or safety boundaries too far.
- A selfish, negative mindset that may infect a team and erode enjoyment for everyone
We will not hesitate to enforce this policy and have done so in the past – firing Guides, changing contractors mid season, expelling clients and declining countless applications who we felt jeopardised the health and happiness of the wider team.
We are extremely privileged to be in the mountains. We don’t take that privilege for granted and we expect you to share that appreciation.
CTSS is the class of the mountain and it is for this reason that spots on our expeditions are among the most sought after in the world.
*The No Dickheads Policy is credited to the NZ All Blacks – the most consistently successful sports team in history with a win rate of 86%. They attribute their success to their team culture and not suffering – quote – “…people who put themselves ahead of the team, people who think they’re entitled to things, expect the rules to be different for them, people operating deceitfully in the dark…”