I understand that LIK activities vary from expedition to expedition and can include, but are not
limited to, camping, hiking, and backpacking through mountainous and other terrain;
mountaineering and climbing on rock cliffs, steep snow, ice or glaciers; canoeing, kayaking, and
rafting on whitewater and flat water rivers or lakes; ocean sea kayaking and sailing; fishing, and
caving. Some expeditions may participate in cultural exchange activities where participants live
with local indigenous tribe members, which may include doing chores. I further understand and
acknowledge that the activities of the expeditions have risks, some of which are inherent.
Inherent risks are those which cannot be eliminated without destroying the unique character of
the activities. The same elements that contribute to the unique character of these activities and
promote our educational objectives can cause loss or damage to equipment, accidental injury,
illness, or, in extreme cases, permanent trauma, disability or death. The following describes
some, but not all, of the inherent risks of LIK expeditions:
• LIK activities may be strenuous, physically and emotionally.
• LIK expeditions usually occur in remote places. They occur on lands open to the public and
exposed to the acts of persons not associated with LIK and who may pose risks. The remote
locations may be many days from medical facilities. Communication and transportation are
difficult and evacuations and medical care may be significantly delayed.
• Physical activities include, but are not limited to, walking, hiking, backpacking, including
crossing rivers on foot; climbing cliffs, steep slopes, and trees; paddling boats; repetitive lifting,
and use of hand tools. Certain activities will require travel by vehicle, raft, canoe, kayak, sail and
other boats, aircraft, train, on foot and by other means, over improved and unimproved roads,
rugged trails and off-trail terrain, including boulder fields, downed timber, rivers, rapids, high
mountain passes, snow and ice, steep slopes, slippery or loose rocks, steep or crevassed
glaciers, ocean tides, currents, waves, surf, and reefs. Travel risks include collision, falling,
capsizing, becoming lost, and other risks usually associated with such travel, and environmental
risks.
• Environmental risks and hazards include, but are not limited to, flowing, deep and/or cold
water; harmful insects, snakes, predators, and large animals; falling and rolling rock; lightning,
avalanches, flash floods, falling timber; weather which may change to extreme conditions
quickly or unexpectedly; and other forces of nature such as, but not limited to, earthquakes,
landslides, tsunamis, and wildfire.
• Meals are prepared over portable gas stoves and open fires. Water may require disinfection
before use. Participants with food allergies or sensitivities may come in contact with offending
food types.
• Injuries may include, but are not limited to, burns, cuts, skin infections, sprains, strains,
fractures, frostbite, immersion foot, sunburn, drowning, and other injuries from slips, falls, lifting
and exposure to the environment. Illnesses may include, but are not limited to, allergic
reactions, hypothermia, high altitude illnesses, heatstroke, dehydration, communicable and
other infectious diseases from insects, animals, or people such as diarrhea, flu-like or
respiratory illness, and other debilitating or life-threatening conditions including COVID-19 and
other diseases caused by coronaviruses.
• Equipment may fail or malfunction.
• LIK expeditions are instructional in nature. Participants accept the risks of instructional
activities, which are intended to challenge participants to expand their skills and judgment.