Why “Quiet” Guiding Co.? Must I be quiet?
Great question. We encourage laughter, singing, and animated conversations – if you so choose. We’ve found that often times in group travel, there isn’t a lot of downtime for those who may benefit from a solo recharge of their batteries. So with The Quiet Guiding Company, we’re striving for as much space-giving as we can muster safely in a backcountry environment. You can read more about our philosophy here and here.
What are your COVID-19 procedures?
Please see our COVID-19 procedures here.
Is there a minimum age?
Anyone younger than 18 will need to participate with a parent or guardian. We’d suggest that children younger than 12 might not enjoy some of our “quiet” programming or adventures. Please consult with us if you’d like to bring a young person with you.
Is there a maximum age?
No. As long as you’re in good health and mobility, we’d love to have you travel with us.
How many people will be on a trip?
We’re looking to keep the groups as small as we can without causing financial strain to the company. This will typically mean 5-8 participants per trip with 1-2 guides. We want you to have your quiet time.
Do I need previous experience to participate?
We welcome beginners with the caveat that our adventures involve a certain level of physical activity. Also we’re usually damp and dirty. If this doesn’t appeal to you, we may not be a great fit. If this sounds right up your alley, we spend time at the start of each trip with some instruction and are happy to continue sharing skills all the way through your trip.
Will we see {insert animal name here}?
Short answer: it depends.
Because we’ll typically travel as a smaller group, there is a good chance we’ll see wildlife. We’ve seen black bears, moose, all manners of birds and water fowl, squirrels and chipmunks, pine martens, beavers, otters, a wide variety of insects, turtles, frogs, snakes and more on our trips in Ontario.
Many of our bigger animal sightings have been at a distance. They often don’t want anything to do with us. We carry a pair of binoculars with us to help us catch sight of our long distance animal friends.
Where do we go to the bathroom?
Typically, each campsite will have something called a thunderbox (picture an outhouse without walls or a roof). If we’re paddling in between campsites and a thunderbox isn’t available, we’ll have a bathroom kit with a trowel for any urgent stops.
We’ll always have a handwashing station with biodegradable soap and hand sanitizer available.