[Zavien Doombringer]

Tell your friend that everyone has a boss

Secondly, re-read the contract specifically about the deposit. Then Get the business owner, if that doesn't get anywhere, call the local TV Station in Alaska and explain the issue.

[oldenuff2no]

I used to be an outfitter for hunt camps in the mountains. Sorry folks but there are two things that make this a difficult situation of the business man. I always gave half of the deposit back if they told me at 30+ days that they couldn't make it, and none of their money back from 29+ days notice.
It always cost me money to have the slot sitting and waiting no matter if I had a customer of not. It was almost impossible to fill that time slot with less than 30 days notice. I kept a waiting list, but even with the list I almost always had to discount the hunt to get someone to go on that short of notice.