Unless you request otherwise, we'll automatically debit any balance due on this same card 2 months before your trip. Email registrations are accessed only by Wintergreen's registrar and are deleted immediately after we've processed them. But if you prefer, you can provide your credit card number to us by phone. Or you can pay by mailed check -- please be sure we receive your deposit within 5 days of registering and your final payment within 2 months of your trip.

Our package prices include all meals, lodging, guide services, equipment, taxes and permit fees. The only additional expenses our guests generally incur are transport and clothing rental, if needed. About half of our guests opt to rent some clothing items from Wintergreen. Last year these guests spent an average of $75 in rental costs for boots, anoraks, snow pants, etc.

Rates are per adult, in double rooms. Rates for singles requiring private rooms are $50/night more. RETURNING guests get $100 off any trip, any time (Welcome back alumni!) NEW guests who register in June, July, or August get $100 off IF they submit FULL payment upon registration (refundable till Oct 1).

Youth discounts: ages 6-11 get $200 off, ages 12-17 get $100 off. Family discount: up to $300 off/child. Private groups reserving their own trips of 6 or more get $100 off/adult. Discounts are not cumulative (for example, early sign-up & kids or group discounts cannot be combined -- the largest discount will apply). All payments are fully refundable until October 1. Payments minus a $100 deposit are refundable after Oct 1 and until 2 months before your trip. Within 2 months of your trip, payments are nonrefundable but are transferable to another trip.

If you're concerned that your trip plans may be subject to change, we strongly recommend you purchase trip cancellation insurance from Travelex Company. It will reimburse you for any non-refundable trip or transport expenses you've incurred in the event an incident or illness (involving you, a family member, business partner or traveling companion) or job loss requires you to cancel your trip. It's reasonably inexpensive (about 10% of your trip cost), kids 16 & under are free and it provides some medical expense coverage. If purchased within 21 days of registering for your trip, it covers cancellations arising from pre-existing health conditions. Call Travelex at 800-228-9792, or enroll online at Travelex. Their "Travel Basic" plan is the best deal for those under 60, "Travel Select" covers people of any age. We recommend you protect your travel investment.

The more fit you are, the more fun you'll have on our trips. To enhance your enjoyment, we encourage you to use the anticipation of your trip as an incentive to improve your fitness. Strength is not a crucial factor. What counts is stamina and endurance -- good cardiovascular fitness. This can be achieved at any age. Even persons in "POOR" condition can achieve adequate fitness if (with their doctor's advice) they engage in 30 minutes of daily exercise for 3 months prior to their trip. Brisk walking, jogging, jump roping, swimming, biking or skiing are all good options. Consider this trip a reason to get fit for life! and it will be an investment that will pay off for years.

Our guests who live in the Midwest region (MI,WI,OH,IN,IL,ND,SD,NE,KS,MO) generally choose to drive. Ely is served by good all-weather highway systems (all but the last 50 miles is divided 4-lane) and in our 25 years of trips none of our guests have ever had their trip delayed by road closures. Allow for 4 hours drive time from Minneapolis/St. Paul, 12 hours from Chicago, 13 hours from Kansas City. Four-wheel drive is not essential.

Delta Airlines (www.delta.com, 800-225-2525) flies Minneapolis/St.Paul (MSP) to DULUTH (8 jet flights/day) and HIBBING (3 turboprop flights/day) as well as Detroit to DULUTH (2 jets/day). United Airlines flies twice daily direct Chicago O’Hare to Duluth. Allegiant Air offers twice weekly direct flights from both Las Vegas and Orlando to Duluth. Afternoon arrival and departure times are best but we’re happy to accommodate late night arrivals and early morning departures. Duluth is 2 hours by taxi shuttle service from Ely, Hibbing is 1.5 hours.