For many, vacation means straying off the beaten path in search of adventure. If you’re a thrill-seeker who loves the adventure of mountain biking, backpacking, rock climbing, parasailing or even camping in the backwoods, there are a few things you need to know if your sense of relaxation involves an element of risk.
While it’s tough to turn down the allure of hitting the trails and breathing fresh air, it’s important to know how to mitigate the potential risks you take when adventuring.
Unpredictable weather patterns, remote locations, and rough terrain are prone locations to situational dangers. Thankfully, making sure you are covered with some basic insurance plans will help you enjoy your adventure while knowing you are covered in case anything undesirable happens.
Liability Coverage
High-risk activities that may cause injury to someone or something else are easily covered by making sure you have liability coverage…and making sure it’s sufficient enough. Liability coverage covers any bodily injury and property damage that you might unintentionally cause to someone else.
An Umbrella Policy
An umbrella liability policy provides a significantly higher limit than your liability coverage. The purpose is to protect your assets from unforeseen events, such as a tragic accident for which you might be responsible. Umbrella insurance is invaluable in the event that something happens and you find yourself in a claim for more than your homeowner’s policy.
Life and Health Insurance
And it seems almost obvious but making sure your health and life insurance is paid up in the event that unforeseen risks become reality will ensure costs are covered and that your loved ones don’t suffer more than they should. 
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travel insurance is a plan available for purchase that covers any unforeseen financial costs and losses that can occur while you are traveling. The losses can be minor like a lost suitcase, or they can be major like a medical emergency. It includes accident (accident is defined as any unforeseen event) and hospitalization coverage, any "Medically Necessary" treatment, emergency medical evacuation, and return of mortal remains.
Good Old-Fashioned Planning
You’ve heard it said that proper planning is the best prevention, right? Never more true than with adventure-seekers, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention a few basics. Insurance will be there when something does happen...but it’s worth the extra effort to plan ahead and be prepared.
Sometimes the simple things are often the most overlooked:
- Make sure you have someone with you...or at least are in regular communication with someone who can notify authorities if you miss a check-in.
- Have a charged phone and battery charger.
- Keep your backpack stocked with high-energy snacks, insect repellant, sunscreen, and a first aid kit.
- Wear layers that can easily be added or removed as temperatures change, and make sure your water bottle is full before you leave.
- Finally, take time in the months prior to a trip to get into shape...making sure you’re physically ready to meet the challenges that lie ahead.
Scaling the majestic mountains of places like Colorado is a dream vacation for skilled climbers, hiking aficionados, biking enthusiasts, and more. However, accidents can and do happen. Even if you know the land like the back of your hand, the terrain can lead to all sorts of scenarios in which you can find yourself in over your head fairly quickly. Therefore, it is wise of you—even if you’re an experienced adventurer— to consider the answer to a question that nobody likes to think about... what happens if you get hurt?
So before leaving for your next adventure, run through your checklist to make sure you’re ready…backpack, hiking boots, water bottle, high-energy snacks, first aid kit…and a quick conversation with your AIC Insurance Executive to make sure you’re covered. Then, knowing you’ve done all you can for yourself and those you care about..set your mind at ease and enjoy the adventure!
Originally published 5/17/21 - Updated 3/23/23