May 7, 1990
Hank Haldeman
Vice President
Henry Ward Johnson & Company
Insurance Services, Inc.
333 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1010
Los Angeles
CA 90010
Re: Sierra Club
Admiral Insurance
Company
Policy No. A89EG17438
Dear Hank:
Sierra Club has approached J&H regarding a concern they have about the
mountaineering exclusion. The Club understands that the Club no longer has
insurance coverage for specified rock climbing and mountaineering activities or
training that involve the use of ropes, ice axes, pitons, jam nuts, runners,
bolts, carabiners, or belaying techniques. The Club has imposed restrictions of
any such Club-sponsored activities.
However, many leaders and members
have expressed concern that trip safety could be compromised if these insurance
restrictions must be interpreted to prohibit trip leaders from having ropes and
ice axes available for use if required for the safety of an outing. This
equipment would only be carried and used to mitigate a possible greater
loss.
Sierra Club has directed S&H to ask Admiral Insurance to
either agree that coverage would apply when ropes or ice axes have been used by
a leader to ensure the safety of an outing in an unexpected situation, or
modify Endorsement No. 17 of the policy to read:
"The follwing are
prohibited: All hikes, climbs, expeditions, instruction courses, schools, and
similar training that involve in any manner the use of ropes, ice axes, or any
form of climbing hardware. However, ropes and ice axes may be carried by the
outing leader and assistant leader only, to ensure the safety of an outing In
unexpected situations; examples are stream crossings and rescues. Ropes or ice
axes may not be used as climbing aids or on any outing where their use is
recommended by the opinion of experienced local climbers and leaders; and such
outings may not be conducted by the Sierra Club."
As usual, this has
become "an iasue' at the Sierra Club and I must have a written response from
you/Admiral Insurance Company. Tbank you for your attention to this matter.
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| Sincerely, |
Stephanie
Reynolds
Vice President |
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June 27,
1990
Karen Short
Methods Analyst
Sierra Club
730 Polk
Street
San Francisco CA 94109
Re: Mountaineering insurance
Restrictions Dear Karen:
Per your letter of March 30th and the copy
Bob Howell's memo of March 22nd, I re-approached the Admiral Insurance
Underwriter. See my attached letter. The underwriters telex response is
word-for-word as follows:
"Believe we are already doing what they want.
if you review the file back in 1988 when the climbing exclusion was added, this
subject came up. We all agreed to add '... are recommended' to the exclusion in
the event that an emergency arose. It Is also our understanding that the areas
for biking and climbing are defined as to what equipment is necessary and when
the various ropes, pitons, etc., are recommended, these areas are prohibited.
Agree?"
I hope this is sufficient, since the underwriter is unwilling
to discuss this Issue again, nor amend the policy.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Reynolds
Vice President
SR:87274asp
cc: V.
Thorpe, Sierra Club
R. Howell |
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