I acknowledge that water and land related activities such as canoeing, tubing, rafting or kayaking, picnicking, camping, lodging, traveling and recreating in the wilderness entail known and unanticipated risks that could result in physical or emotional injury, death, or damage to myself, to property, or to third parties.
I understand and acknowledge that the enjoyment and excitement of adventure and water activities is derived in part from inherent risks incurred by travel and activity beyond the accepted safety of life at home or in my normal day to day activities and that these inherent risks contribute to my enjoyment and excitement and are an integral reason for my participation in this activity. I understand that such risks cannot be eliminated without jeopardizing the essential qualities of the activity. I also understand and acknowledge that failing to use or properly use assigned safety type equipment such as personal flotation devices and/or my failure to follow instructions increases my risk of injury or of not surviving an accident or incident while doing a water or land related activity.
The inherent risks associated with the related activity in which I are about to participate include, but are not limited to: sustained rigorous activity or paddling that may be mentally and physically stressful, encountering whitewater rapids and changing water flows and the possibility that I will be jolted, jarred, bounced, thrown to and fro and shaken about during rides through rapids, ledges and rocks with some of these changing water flows; it is possible that I could be injured if I come in contact with paddles or other equipment necessary to the operation of the water or land activity; I recognize there are foot holds in watercraft which may assist in stabilizing or steering in the watercraft but which may present an increased risk of knee, ankle or other injury as a result of restricted or sudden movement; the watercraft may break down or be faulty; it is possible that loss of control of the canoe, raft, tube or kayak could occur resulting in collision, capsizing or sinking and that if a canoe, kayak, raft or tube turns over I could be "washed" overboard; canoes, rafts & kayaks are slippery when wet and are unstable so that I could slip and fall or be knocked out of the canoe, tube, raft or kayak even in flat or non-moving water; while in the water I may become disoriented, panicked and/or experience trauma from rocks, boulders, etc; I can slip or fall during hiking or portaging or getting to and from the watercraft; I understand that the areas in which I might walk sometimes hide dangerous obstacles such as tree wells, tree stumps, creeks, rocks and boulders, forest dead fall, etc.; the canoes, tubes, rafts & kayaks or any portion of them may collide with or encounter other water craft, man-made or natural objects including submerged or semi-submerged or fallen trees, slippery rocks, branches, boulders, bridges, etc.; accidents can occur getting on and off or into canoes, tubes, rafts & kayaks; the weather can be unpredictable and change rapidly, storms or even lightening are possible; exposure to the natural elements can be uncomfortable and/or harmful and I are aware that this exposure could cause sunburn, dehydration, heat exhaustion or heat stroke, cold or hypothermia or fatigue, some or all of which may diminish my or the other participants ability to react or respond; I understand that prolonged exposure to cold water can result in hypothermia and in extreme cases death; I may encounter dangerous or aggressive or poisonous wildlife, insects, etc.; communication in the river environments in which this activity occurs is always difficult and in the event of an accident, rescue and medical treatment may not be immediately available.
I expressly acknowledge that the use of drugs and alcohol during any or all of the activities associated with or provides by SRO & SCC is done at my own peril and is not condoned, encouraged or excused by SRO and SCC in any way. SRO & SCC reserve the right to inspect coolers and remove alcohol.
I understand and expressly acknowledge that I have responsibilities, including the responsibility for my own safety while participating in any or all of the activities associated with or provided by SRO & SCC. I also acknowledge that I have the responsibility to inspect any and all facilities or equipment to be used and to immediately advise SRO & SCC of anything which I consider to be unsafe or to refuse to participate. I acknowledge that SRO & SCC is not a "Common Carrier" but rather is in the business of providing boating/floating and other recreation activities.
Transportation to and from activities is incidental to the activity. Transport and car, bus, or van travel in some instances may be provided by SRO & SCC. and/or SRO & SCC employees and may involve errors in judgment by SRO & SCC or staff operating the vans, buses, cars, or other type transport vehicles. The vehicles and transport trailers may malfunction, break down, or be poorly maintained, causing injury, accidents, delays or in the extreme case, death.
Furthermore, SRO & SCC staff have difficult jobs to perform. They seek safety, but they are not infallible. They may be ignorant of my or another participant’s fitness or abilities. They might misjudge the weather, the elements, or the terrain. They may give inadequate warnings or instructions and/or I as the participant(s) may fail to understand the safety directions due to language issues. I specifically acknowledge that decisions made by staff and participants are often made quickly and in difficult settings and are often based on imprecise, momentary and subjective perceptions so that decisions are subject to errors in judgment that can not and should not be associated with fault at a later point in time.
I acknowledge that I AM ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE for my own safety during my participation in SRO & SCC events/activities and on SRO & SCC’s own or leased property.
I am responsible for knowing the time and the place I am to come off of the Shenandoah River. Rescue fees can be charged for coming off the river past the last pick-up time.
