Outdoor Adventures

Outdoor Adventures' trips are a cooperative group effort. We need everyone’s help for a safe and fun trip!

Safety basics

• The group must always stick together – make sure others especially the trip leaders know where you are!
• Stay between the trip leader at the front of the group and the leader in back. If you are out in front, the leaders are less able to protect your safety and less able to keep the group on a safe path at a pace everyone can keep up with.
• Communication – the group leaders carry radios. Communication is fundamental to a safe and fun cooperative trip – be sure to express your needs, concerns, and desires.
• Bear Safety – our group will enjoy safety in numbers. By keeping a super clean camp and minimizing food odors we will greatly reduce the chances of a bear encounter in camp.
• Water Safety – always wear your lifevest/PFD – Alaska’s cold water means that even a brief swim can be life-threatening.
• Canoe Safety – for better stability always paddle on the opposite side as your partner. By kneeling in the canoe you can lower your center of gravity thus greatly increasing your stability. Back-ferrying away from dangerous snags, sweepers, or rocks is another fundamental canoe safety skill.
• Heads up! – stay tuned into the environment around you - for potential dangers and also for wildlife and other natural wonders.
• Hypothermia – do your best to stay warm and dry and wear proper clothing. If someone does fall in help them quickly change into dry clothes. We must act to reverse the causes of hypothermia as quickly as possible to prevent further complications. In cold/wet weather watch for signs of hypothermia in others.
• River Crossings – You will need to wear shoes to protect your feet. Unbuckle your pack straps. Groups of 3-6 can cross deeper water together with the largest individual breaking the current for the smaller folks behind.

Expedition Behavior
This is a concept pioneered by NOLS – the National Outdoor Leadership School. Basically it means that our group will be working together in close proximity for an extended period of time. This makes it critical that we communicate clearly and respectfully with our group. Our society tends to be "me-focused" while in our group we need to always be considerate of each other for the sake of good group dynamics and safety.

Trip specific skills and safety issues will be discussed in greater detail at the pre-trip meeting. Email us questions at fywild@uaf.edu

PILLARS OF SAFETY

The Cooperative / Self-Responsibility Ethic and Assumption of Risk
Self-Responsibility is a fundamental condition of travel in extreme environments such as wild Alaska. Disasters such as the 1996 deaths on Mt. Everest show the danger in relying solely on others for your safety. In the wilderness, there are no absolute guarantees of safety – only challenges are guaranteed! Outdoor Adventures strives to do everything possible to ensure group safety – but we need the help of every participant. We ask every participant to look out for your own safety as only you can! We also need you to be the eyes and ears of the group – to keep an eye on others and quickly bring any (potential) safety issue to the attention of the group leaders.

Cooperative / Self-Responsibility extends to every aspect of an Outdoor Adventure. Thus don’t expect any coffee in bed! Every member of the group will take turns performing camp chores like cooking, cleaning, and filtering water. When we all pitch in and help these duties seem to take care of themselves.

Hazards and Risks
An essential part of safety and self-responsibility is Understanding and Assumption of Risk. Basically this means that you understand the risks involved in the activity and that you assume responsibility for these risks. This is a legal responsibility that you agree to when you sign the University’s risk waiver. Risks associated with a specific activity are discussed in the trip itinerary and at the pre-trip meeting. If you are not comfortable with these risks, you need to let the Outdoor Adventures staff know so we can excuse you from the trip and give you a refund.

It is impossible to eliminate all risks - especially in a wilderness setting. Careful risk management means that we are aware of and attempt to minimize the risks involved in outdoor recreation. These risks include: Hypothermia, sickness, emotional or physical injury and death.

Potential hazards include: river crossings, slippery rocks, wildlife, and vehicle accidents. Generally the drive on public highways to and from a trip is the most dangerous part of each trip. We do everything in our power to ensure safety on the road and in the wilderness, but let us know if we can do more. We always value your safety-related opinions!

Remember that evacuations are difficult and may take a long time from the wilderness – its better to play it safe, be conservative and to avoid accidents and injuries!