Pre Trip Instructions:

Require someone to Read the River Safety Lecture and the General Trip Information

On Monday before the weekend of the trip I call people and see who is interested in going. If you want to go you have to call and confirm before Thursday for a Saturday trip and before Friday for a Sunday trip. By Thursday night for a Saturday trip or Friday night for a Sunday trip the crew has to be "set in stone". If we can’t field a crew we can’t go. A crew varies depending on which trip we are going on, the experience levels and the physical abilities of people going on the trip. We can have some shuffling of the crew, cancellations, fill-ins, etc., but in general we need to "set" the crew well ahead of time. In general the crews will be made up of a combination of experienced and inexperienced people. The crews are never completely made up of inexperienced people. The crews for the American River Middle Fork run class IV are made up all people that have been on at least one class III run before and some people that have been on the Middle Fork run before.

I will provide one large cooler per raft. This should hold everything for 5 to 7 people for a day trip. There are also dry bags that can hold chips, cameras, etc. You should provide for your lunch (sandwiches, drinks, fruit, chips, etc). It is advised to bring drinking water. Please think "small and compact", only bring what you "really" need and are going to eat. Space in the raft is limited. Call and ask first if you are planning on bringing any specialty items (video equipment, fishing or scuba gear, etc.). It will be a long day and a strenuous day and there are endless beautiful places to stop on the river. No alcohol during the trip, save that for after the trip.

Vehicles: Gas vehicles up the night before the trip.

Spray jackets over wetsuits, you cannot swim in them.

Shoes, you must have shoes that will stay on for the entire length of the trip and / or an extra set of shoes.

For summer attire (shorts, not wet suites or dry suits). River shoes, sandals or diving boots are recommended.

For winter attire (wet suites or day suits).   Full ankle booties are recommended. Low cut water shoes / booties (ankle high) or beach shoes have a tendency of falling off (slip off easily) when wearing dry suits with full foot booties or when wearing wet suits with wet socks and are lost. If you wear ankle high shoes / booties you must bring an extra pair of shoes (booties or tennis shoes) in case you lose your booties. You cannot walk around in a dry suit or wet socks without some sort of shoes.  Cheap beach shoes are strongly not recommended.

Wear heavy cotton or levy cutoffs, no "light" nylon shorts or bikini bottoms. If you fall out of the raft and are pulled in you will be grabbed first by your life vest and then by your ass / shorts. If this happens in the rapids (which is also were most people be fall out) you’ll be pulled in real fast and with allot of force. If you are wearing light nylon shorts or bikini bottoms when your pulled into the raft you’ll probably loose them.

The rafts are Sotar Elites, 14’ long, 6’8" wide, 20" & 21" tubes, self-bailers manufactured by White Water Manufactures in Grants Pass Oregon. The rafts are more then $5,000 each and made out of a nylon base fabric coated with polyurethane. The rafts have been heavily reinforced with tube armor, an extra layer of material on the floor and chafing on the top of the tubes.

Don’t walk on the raft when it’s on shore. Don’t drag the raft; always pick the raft up. When ever you set down the raft (even in green grass) take a "good" look around for broken glass, old construction material (nail, rebar), etc. When you see real low water lift your feet up off the floor of the raft and suspend yourself from the tubes and the throats. The tubes and the throats will distribute your weight and pressure points. This raft is a "self bailer" and the floor of the raft is inflated but cannot distribute the weight of foot placed on it well and any pressure point between a foot (a 150lbs. man) and dragging over a rock will give the rock "cutting" ability and puncture the floor.

At the put-ins and take-outs there are allot of people, rafts, gear and trucks from outfitters and other private trips. Keep the gear together and keep track of it. Someone may completely and innocently pick up some of our gear and put it in another truck. So keep the gear together and keep track of it. Return any borrowed gear (wetsuits, booties, and gloves) to the gearboxes.

Trash: The cooler is the trashcan.

This river has allot of obstacles and maneuvering to be done. This raft is "big" and "wide" and the current is strong. So maneuvering the raft requires teamwork and quick response.

Rule 1: When I am talking, you are listening.

Rule 2: Do what you are told to do, when you are told to do it. You have to paddle when you’re told to paddle and stop paddling when you’re told to stop (forward paddle, back paddle, dig "big paddle").

Rule 3: The guide in the back steers the raft and gives directions to the crew, NO ONE else does.

Rule 4: It’s not "right this minute", it’s "right this second". Quick response is "absolutely necessary" for allot of the maneuvering.

There’s not allot of work to this, there’s a little work, real quick, in allot of short spurts. There is plenty of time to screw off, but there are short periods of time when your absolute attention is necessary. We want to minimize the amount of collisions with rocks and boulders. A sharp piece of granite or quarts can slice the raft open. Now this raft is "tough", it can get hung up on boulders and it can take some pretty rough direct hits (the tubes are made out of polyurethane, which is many times stronger than PVC or Hypalone but also many times the price). So this raft takes teamwork to drive, so listen up and do what you’re told when you’re told to do it. Team players and a team spirit is absolutely necessary.

• Forward paddle
• Back paddle
• Right Turn – paddlers on the left paddle hard, paddlers on the right back paddle
• Left Turn – paddlers on the right paddle hard, paddlers on the left back paddle
• Dig (big paddle)
• Paddles up
• Stop
• High side, move to the high side of the boat and quick.
• Down in the raft
• Prepare for a drop
• Brace
• Paddle with the lead paddler
• Paddle in unison
• Paddle with clean and even strokes
• First in command is the guide, second in command is the next most experienced person in the crew.
• River manners / etiquette. Everyone knows me on the river so crew manners are important. What you do and how you act on the river is a reflection on me and how I run my boat.
• Even number of crew. The crews are 5, 6 or 7 people; this makes 4 or 6 paddlers and the guide. There is always an even number of paddlers on each side of the boat so if there is an even number in the crew one person will not be paddling (odd man out). The person not paddling can switch off with other people.
• PARKING THE RAFT - When parking the raft either at a bank, cliff wall or whatever you must "paddle into the wall" and keep paddling.  One of the front paddlers will jump out on the bank / wall and grab the front bow line and pull the raft tightly against the bank / wall.  When you are paddling toward the bank / wall you are to keep paddling even after the front paddlers has jumped out.  You keep paddling to keep force on the raft against the bank / wall.  The prevents the raft from moving downstream and gives the front paddler that has jumped out time to get a good footing to pull the raft in.  So do not stop paddling after the raft has hit the bank / wall, keep paddling!
• HELMETS AND LIFE VESTS are to stay on and buckled up until you are told it is all right / ok to take them off.
• RIVER RIGHT AND RIVER LEFT - are, as you are looking downstream. Even if the swimmer or boat are twisting around and facing upstream, river right and river left remain the same.
• EDDIES - are reversal behind rocks in the middle of the river, or along the banks due to turns or projections from the shore. Eddies are natural places to rest if swimming or to reassemble the boats if large enough. They are strongest and best entered close to the top, just below the rock or obstruction creating the eddy.
• EDDIE FENCE - Obvious line in river where current moves in opposite directions at each side.  This current differential between an eddy and downstream current ranges from a gentle surface line to a wall of water dropping around the obstacle and recirculating horizontally.
• HOLES - are vertical reversals in the river, water going over the top of obstacles and breaking back upstream. This is somewhat like a wave breaking on the beach, only continually. Holes are sometimes capable of holding a boat for a long time, even perhaps turning it over. If your boat is caught the best place to be is on the downstream side of it. The boatman’s command for this is "High side!" Do not hesitate. A flip may occur in only a few seconds if weight is kept on the upstream side of the boat. Naturally occurring holes in the river will usually hold swimmers for only a few seconds, even those wearing life jackets. If you get caught for longer than a few seconds, simply take a deep breath and tuck into a ball, and the swimmer will quickly get flushed out of the bottom or the sides of the hole.
• Holes - Smiling Less Dangerous  Holes - Frowning Most Dangerous  Water flows out of the ends of a smiling hole, making escape easier.  Water flows back into a frowning hole, making escape more difficult.  Weather a hole is smiling or frowning is determined by looking down stream toward the hole.
• FROWNING HOLE - A natural hydraulic whose outer edges curve upstream.  When viewed from upstream, it has the appearance of a frown.  A frowning hole tends to be a keeper by recirculating on itself / into itself.
• SMILING HOLE - A natural hydraulic whose outer edges curve downstream.  When viewed from upstream, it has the appearance of a smile.  A smiling hole tends to flush free a victim / boat due to the downstream current at its sides.
• ROCKS OR LOGS - in the river have been known to wrap or pin boats caught sideways against them due to the tremendous water pressure. Again the boatman may command "High side" and all passengers should move to the downstream side immediately. Many times the boat can then be pushed or pulled off the rock. Very occasionally passengers may have to be evacuated to the shore by swimming. Ropes can then be used to pull the boat free.
• STRAINERS, "SAWYERS", AND DEBRIS PILES - should be avoided by boats and swimmers at all costs since they can also pin both to their upstream sides. Sawyers are downed trees that have not yet caught much debris, but their swinging branches are quite capable of injuring the unaware passenger or swimmers.
• DOWNSTREAM V' - Hydraulic effect in the form of V's pointing downstream caused by convergence of downstream water flow into the channels of least resistance.  The largest series of V's pointing downstream indicated the main channel (which may not be midstream).  Also termed a tongue.
• UPSTREAM V' - Hydraulic effect in the form of V's pointing upstream caused by downstream water flow around an obstacle.  Objects such as rocks submerged just below the surface present obvious hazards.  Rule of Thumb: When proceeding downstream, beware of smiles and grins.  Used in reference to holes, a "frowning" hole tends to be a keeper by recirculating on itself while a "smiling" hole tends to flush free a victim / boat due to the downstream current at its sides.
• HOLES AND BOILERS - The churning whitewater of a hole consists of between 40 - 60 % air.  This reduces the effectiveness of life vests.  Example a 22 lbs. high float in 50% air, now only has 11 lbs. of "lift".
• STOPPERS - When a wave becomes too large to support it own weight and shape, the uppermost starts spilling down the wave's upstream face.  Whether they're called curler, curling waves, breaking waves, or reversals, these waves can be very powerful.  If enough water is falling down the upstream face, it can carry sufficient force to stop and flip your raft - hence the name stopper.
• STICKERS 
• SLEEPERS - Submerged rock or boulder just below the surface, usually marked by little or no surface disturbance.
• PILLOWS - When the current collides with an obstacle, some of the current flows vertically against the obstacle's upstream side and forms a mound of water called a pillow or cushion.  These mounds stand higher than the surrounding river disclose the presence of boulders and other obstacles.  As pillows grow, they eventually become too large to support their own weight.  When that happens, the highest of water spills down the upstream face, creating a hydraulic much like a breaking wave.
• HAYSTACKS - Haystacks are the mountain peaks of the riverscape.  Although they look like towering, peaked standing waves, they're actually formed by converging standing waves, each contributing its energy to force the haystack higher than its surroundings.  With all the energy packed into one wall of water, haystacks are rarely stable - they tend to dance around on the river's surface and surge randomly.
• ROOSTER TAILS - Rooster tails are pillows gone berserk.  Like pillows, rooster tails from when a fast current piles into the upstream side of a rock or boulder.  However, rather than letting the water build smoothly on the shoulder of the rock, the rock slices through the current and deflects water into the air, creating a fountain in the shape of a rooster's tail.  If the rock is tilted upstream, it produces an upstream rooster tail, which is identified by the fan of water deflected through the air in an upstream direction.  A downstream rooster tail fans water through the air in a downstream direction.  Rafters should avoid any kind of rooster tail because the exposed rock and fast-moving currents can combine to tear or wrap the raft in an instant.  Rooster tails can also "hide" / be caused by dangerous man-made river debris (old sleuth boxes, metal boats and metal objects of all kinds).  These man-made debris are dangerous to boats and swimmers alike.
• BOILS - Boils are upwelling in the river current created when such things as underwater boulders, undercut ledges, and converging currents cause the river surface to roll and bubble like a giant pot of boiling water.  Small boils - common features on many rivers - can be annoying when you line up for a rapid.  They'll throw you off course when you're casually drifting and slow you down when you're trying to gain momentum.  Still, they're rarely dangerous.  Gain boils, on the other hand, can lift and tilt your raft, or even flip it over if they're big enough. 
• UNDERCUTS - A pillow - or, rather the lack of a pillow - also reveals a major river hazard: undercuts.  To spot an undercut from your raft, watch the river.  Whenever the current collides with an obstacle without forming a pillow, beware!  It is a certain indications that the obstacle is undercut, and that the current is diving under it - just where you don't want to be!  Since powerful currents can drag rafts and swimmers under ledges, banks, and boulders, undercuts must be treated as some of the worst hazards to be found on whitewater rivers.  
• RIVER HAZARD, WORST TO LEAST - Low Head Dams, Foot Entrapments and Strainers.

Swimming with a Paddle:

Ferrying with a Paddle - If you hold your paddle handle across your chest, blade pointed downstream on one side of your body you will ferry to the other side from the side the blade is on.  If you make short strokes with the paddle your ferry speed will increase.  So on your back, feet first, paddle across your chest, blade on one side of your body pointed downstream.  You start make "little" paddles, a one to one and a half foot paddle swing you will ferry to the opposite side / directions the paddle blade is on.

Getting out of a hole with a Paddle - If you are in or going into a hole, hang on tight to your paddle.  Once you fall into the hole or before you fall into the hole, pull and hold the paddle handle as tight as you can to your chest with the blade sticking out over your head.  The blade of the paddle with disrupt the function of the hole and "grab" an exiting current and pull you out of the hole.  The blade is "large" and can grab onto exiting currents.

Keep you head up. Keep your feet forward. Keep on your back and kick with your feet. If you fall out of the raft with your paddle hold onto it, if you can’t hold onto your paddle don’t worry about it and don’t try to go get it. Try to get back to the raft as quickly as you can. Now it is easier for you to change your speed in to the water then it is for the raft to speed up or slow down. If you are in front of the raft and moving faster then the raft its easy to kick with your feet and slow down and the raft will come to you. If you are behind the raft and falling further behind keep your feet forward and on your back just don’t kick. We either throw you a line or pull you forward or you will just have to ride it out until we get to calm waters and can slow down the raft safely to pick you up. We cannot slow down the raft safely in the rapids; we have to paddle through them. If you fall out behind the raft and are gaining distance from the raft and if we cannot get a line to you (and it’s probably safer) you will just have to ride it out.

• If thrown from the boat, immediately face downstream and put your feet ahead of you. Imagine that you are sitting in a small foreign car, your heels slightly lower than your buttock, sitting back, knees bent.

• If you hit a rock your feet will protect you, but may twist you around so that you are going headfirst down the river. Use your hands and arms in a backstroke to turn yourself back around so you are again feet first down the river.
• If a rock is under the surface and you start to slide over it, flatten out and use your hands to protect the base of your spine.
• Where rocks are numerous and shallow and the currents are fast, stay flattened out to avoid bruising your butt. As you again find yourself in deep water, then sit up again.
• Do not attempt to stand up in current. Such attempts may occasionally lead to lower leg injuries or the remote possibility of a foot entrapment. Simple wait for a clam or slow spot and then swim in a backstroke to the side of the river.
• When swimming in large waves, relax and concentrate on your breathing. Keep your head turned to the side, and time your breaths for when you are in the trough of the wave.
• If suddenly out of the boat, the crew may try to reach you with a paddle or a short throw line. Rescuers should pull the swimmer to the side of the boat, turn their backs to the tube, hold the jacket by the shoulders or the swimmer under the armpits, push them down in the water and then jerk them back into the boat, all in one fluid motion. The swimmer can assist by kicking as he is pulled in.
• To get someone back in the raft, put their backs to the tube, hold the jacket by the shoulders or the swimmer under the armpits, push them down in the water and then jerk them back into the boat, all in one fluid motion. The swimmer can assist by kicking as he is pulled in.
• If the swimmer is too far from the boat, simply assume the swimming position, until you can either swim to the shore, or are picked up by a downstream boat.

If the boat turns over – immediately get out from under. Tangled lines on the overturned boat have been known to ensnare swimmers and fixed loads can cause injuries. If immediately next to the boat, stay alongside the boat at the upstream end. Avoid getting on the immediate upstream end. Avoid getting on the immediate upstream end as you may get shoved under it if it hits a rock.

Downstream Protection:

Downstream protection is required when any considerable river hazard presents itself. Considerable river hazards include portages, (unrunnable rapids), class V and margin able runnable rapids, other unusual river formations (big holes, unusual and twisting holes, recirculating and recycling holes, low head dams, strainers, etc), and extremely fast changing river flows and altering rapid conditions. Downstream protection is when either kayakers or on shore people are sent downstream below the river hazard to provide protection, assistance and rescue to boats attempting to navigate the river hazard. Boats (rafts, catarafts, inflatable kayaks, kayaks) all have potential swimmers and / or the whole boat can get in trouble. Potential swimmers and stranded kayakers are the most common events. Downstream protection personal will usually have one to many throw bags and other rescue gear with them. Downstream protection personal will position themselves in critical spots below the river hazard. Downstream protection personal may even position themselves directly over a dangerous recirculating hole to assist swimmers or kayakers out of the hole. Throw bags for rescuing swimmers or kayakers are the most commonly used equipment.

Rescue Equipment:  If you do not know how to use it, it is only / just luggage

1 Whistle blast: "Pay attention to me"

2 Whistle blast: "Come back upstream to me"

3 Whistle blast (short): "Proceed downstream"

3 Whistle blast (long and repeated): "Emergency rescue"

1 arm in the air (a swimmer in trouble should concentrate on breathing and not attempt to yell for assistance): "Help"

2 arms up in the air: "Stop"

• It only takes one maverick to screw up every maneuver. If you cannot work in a team situation, follow instructions and commands and be disciplined, you are a danger to yourself and a danger to the rest of the crew. If the raft gets in a bad situation, everyone in the raft is in a bad situation.
• I have to talk loudly for you to here me over the noise and whitewater. I am not yelling at you but I am talking loudly. I am not doing this to "point you out" or disciplining you. I have to scream over the surrounding noises for you to here me, do not take it personally.
• Sometimes I have to correct a paddling behavior of an individual and will say your name directly. The paddling behavior might be inadvertently causing problems with navigating the raft. Again I am not "pointing you out" I am simple correcting a paddling behavior that is affecting navigating the raft, do not take it personally.
• Focus on the situation in front of us. You must stay in focus through out any of the critical maneuvers.
• Disintegration of discipline, just try me.
• Couples, no fights
• Moral, I can, I will, I’ll try, I won't give up.
• Accomplishment, on this day you didn’t watch life go by, you lived it.
• Buddy System: Every crew member will be grouped up with another crew member (buddy system). You will check your buddies helmet strap, life vest straps and other gear. You will not lose track of your buddy.
• It is not whether you fall down that matters its whether you get back up.
• When the going gets tough the tough get going.

Probably the most likely injury to happen to you is to get hit with a paddle or elbow from someone falling. The paddles are manufactured out of STM two plastic and are "hard" and "sharp".  A paddle is basically a "plastic axe".  An over-paddle / swing flies in the direction of the person behind you. An over swing with a paddle almost always comes in at "head height" to the person behind. You would be lucky if you hit the person behind you in the shoulder. If you take a hit to the head with the blade end of a paddle they’ll be a laceration. The smallest of head wounds take allot of stitches and bleeds enormously. So be careful not to over-swing with the paddle. When you fall in the raft put your paddle "out" and pulls your elbows "in". If you fall backwards with your arms out you will probably hit the person behind you with your elbow. And again your elbow will be at "head height" to the person behind you. It’s your body natural reaction to throw your arms "out" when you fall either backwards or forwards. So remember when you fall in the rafts put your paddle "out" and pull your elbows "in".

Checklist

The checklists are to be done before the trip starts and at stopping points along the trip.  Before the trip, in the middle of the trip and at the end of the trip the following checklist have to be done.

1. Wet Suits Zippers
2. Dry Suits Zippers
3. Helmet Straps
4. Vest Buckles
5. Knife Or Attachments

1. Thwart Bag Tie Downs
2. Other Tie Downs
3. Extra Paddles
4. First-Aid Kits - Any used or out of date items need to be replaced.
5. Rescue Gear
6. Valves
7. Tube Inspection
8. Dry Bags
9. Pelican Boxes

Oar Rig Checklist:

1. First Aid kit, pressure release valve, buckles
2. Thwart bags
3. Thwart cam straps
4. Tool kit
5. Oar extra
6. Pump
7. Cam straps holding oar rig
8. Raft valves
9. Paddles extra

1. Float bags
2. First aid kits
3. Thigh braces

1. Radio check
2. Batteries

All the gear needs to be dried, inspected and taken inventory of (paddles, life jackets, throat bags, dry bags, foot pump, cam straps, first aid kit, patch kit, rope, rescue line, carabineers).

• The raft gets propped up on the paddles and dried, then the raft is deflated, rolled and packed.
• The raft gets flipped over and the tubes and floor get inspected "closely" for new damage. Any damage at all no matter how small to the floor bottom or tubes is reinforced and patched before the next trip.
• The life jackets get buckled and zipped up. Some of the life vests have gear (knifes, whistles, carabineers ) attached to them or in the pockets. The gear gets inspected and the pockets are checked to be securely closed.
• The first aid and patch kits are opened up and contents removed and inspected. Any water that does creep into the first aid or patch kit bags is dried out.
• First aid kit; any items used out of the first aid kit have to be replaced and inventoried for the next trip.
• Borrowed gear (gloves, shoes, etc.) gets returned / placed in the front throat bag.
• The cooler gets taken to a trashcan and cleaned out.

I charge nothing for the rafting trips and bear all the costs of the equipment, etc. I provide all the equipment (raft, paddles, helmets, life jackets, rescue gear, coolers, throat bags, etc.). What it costs you is your food, gas if you take your vehicle, parking and park fees and your cloths (wet suits, booties, etc.)

Directions to my house:

My house is at 2407 Maryal Drive 916-481-7049 residence kandregg@raftman.com. Maryal Drive is off of El Camino Ave near the intersection of El Camino and Eastern Ave. 2407 Maryal Drive is the third house on the right coming from El Camino Ave. My white Dodge four wheel drive with a camper shell is parked out front in the driveway.

I _______________________________________________________ have heard the standard RIVER SAFETY LECTURE, delivered by _________________________________________

At _______________________________________________ on (date) ___________________ at __________________ (a.m. / p.m.)

By my mark, I agree that I have head the points below discussed, that my questions have been adequately answered, and that I understand the points made: (Initials please)

_____ River running is a recreational endeavor with some risk. While rafting is generally conducted safely, some accidents do occur. I may be involved in such an accident and this lecture is to help me prepare to react appropriately.

_____ I have / haven’t (circle one) been drinking or using controlled drugs in the last three hours. I understand the dangers of alcohol and drugs for river trip passenger.

I understand the following river terms:

_____ River right and river left

_____ Eddies

_____ Holes

_____ Rocks, logs, and the command "High Side"

_____ Strainers, sawyers, and debris piles

_____ I understand that if I find myself swimming I should immediately put my feet downstream and get over on my back, knees bent and heels lower than my buttocks to protect my lower back

_____ I understand that when swimming I should concentrate on breathing in the troughs of the waves and exhale in the crests, trying to keep my head turned slightly to the side.

_____ I understand the dangers of a lower leg injury or catching my feet in rocks if I attempt to stand up in the rapids, and that I should wait for a calm spot, after swimming to the bank in a backstroke, before attempting to stand up.

_____ I understand that if I am thrown from the boat I should assume the sitting position with my feet downstream until pulled on board again

_____ I understand that if the boat overturns that the safest place to be is either alongside or completely away from the boat, so that downstream boats and rescuers can reach me.

_____ I understand that if I am unavoidably swimming into a strainer or debris pile I should attempt to turn over and swim into it in a crawl-type stroke as strongly as possible, with my head downstream, either climbing on top or over the obstacle-all in order to avoid entrapping myself.

_____ I understand the hazards of attempting to rescue another passenger who is swimming and in trouble.

I am aware of the following hazards:

_____ Slippery rocks on and near the water’s edge

_____ Diving off of the banks of the river

_____ Loose oars on oar frame boats

_____ Natural hazards such as poison oak, snake, nettles, etc.

I understand the basic whistle and arm signals, particularly:

_____ One arm in the air means, "Help me!"

_____ One whistle blast means, someone is trying to get our attention

_____ Arms making an "O" shape over the head means, "I am OK."

_____ Boatman pointing to river right or left means, "swim in this direction."

_____ I understand that my personal flotation device should be worn at all times while I am on the water and that I should adjust it so that I can get a full breath, but also so that when I fully exhale it will not slip up over my head.

_____ I understand that the opportunity may be offered to me, if the boatmen feel it is advisable due to weather and water conditions, to make a short swim, so that I can practice the basic swimming position. If the boatmen and trip leaders feel such a swim is not necessary, they have explained why not to my full understanding.

(Complete below only if optional swim is offered)

_____ I have been offered an opportunity to make a short, optional swim.

_____ I have / have not (circle one) elected to do so, and this was my own decision.

By my witnessed signature below I hereby agree that I have head all the material above, as indicated by my initials, that all my questions have been answered satisfactorily, and that I still wish to make the river trip starting this date, despite the risks as explained to me above.

Signed ________________________________ Date, Time, Place _____________________

Witness _______________________________ Date, Time, Place _____________________

In consideration of being permitted to participate in any way in the rafting activity I for myself, my personal representatives, assigns, heirs, and next of kin:

1. Acknowledge, agree and represent that I understand the nature of rafting activities and that I am in good health, and in proper physical condition to participate in such activity. I further acknowledge that the activity will be conducted over public rivers, roads and facilities open to the public during the activity and upon which hazards of traveling are to be expected. I further agree and warrant that if at any time I believe conditions to be unsafe; I will immediately discontinue further participation in the rafting activity.
2. I fully understand that (a) rafting activities involve risks and dangers of serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis and death (risks); (b) these risks and dangers my be caused by my own actions, or inaction’s, the actions or inaction’s of others participating in the rafting activity, the condition in which the rafting activity takes place, or the negligence of the "releases" named below; (c) there may be other risks and social and economic losses either not known to me or not really foreseeable at this time; and I fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages I incur as a result of my participation in the rafting activity.
3. Hereby release, discharge, and convenient not to sue the operators, their respective administrators, directors, agents, officers, members, volunteers, and employees, other participants, any sponsors, advertisers, and if applicable, owners and lessors of premises on which the rafting activities take place, (each considered one of the "releases" herein (from all liability, claims, demands losses, or damages on my account caused or alleged to be caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the "releases" or otherwise, including negligent rescue operations, and I further agree that if, despite the release and waiver of liability, assumption of risk, and indemnity agreement I, or anyone on my behalf, makes a claim against any of the "releases", I will indemnify, save, and hold harmless each of the releases from any litigation expenses, attorney fees, loss, liability, damage, or cost which any may incur as the result of such claim.
4. I understand this release is intended to discharge and release, in advance, the rafting operators, its members and their respective agents and employees from and against any and all liability arising out of or connected in any way with my participation in the event even thought that liability may arise out of negligence or carelessness on the part of the persons or entities associated with the rafting operator.
5. I have read this agreement, fully understand its terms, understand that I have given up substantial rights by signing it, and have signed it freely and without any inducement or assurance of any nature and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability of the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.

Signed ________________________________ Date, Time, Place _____________________

Witness________________________________ Date, Time, Place _____________________