Trip Risks

At College Outdoors we are committed to exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest responsibly. The rivers, ocean and mountains offer adventure, and come with some inherent risk.  We work hard to mitigate these risks through training, site selection, policy and thoughtful practice. 

Due to the many variables of outdoor trips, it’s impossible to offer a comprehensive list of potential risks participants could encounter. The following is designed give you information on the common and rare risks that could be encountered. Our programs all follow strict risk management protocols. Our trip leaders are all members of the Lewis & Clark Community. 

Common Risks

Common injuries which could occur on trips include: blisters on feet from wearing new or ill-fitting boots, cuts resulting from walking barefoot or use of pocket knives, and burns from handling pots on a stove without hot pads or gloves, spilling boiling water, and sunburn from not applying enough sunscreen. These are all preventable with a little caution and common sense.  

Other Risks 

The following are some of the other possible risks to be aware of.  Many are location specific.  

Beach Cliffs

• Cliffs can be unstable above the beaches; to avoid these, stay on marked trails.

Black Bears

• While we have never seen a bear on our trips, we still take precautions and hang our food from trees and remind participants to not leave food in their packs, clothes, or tents at night.

Bugs

• Depending on the location and the weather, mosquitoes, flies, and ticks can be plentiful or non-existent. Usually the mosquitoes are not troublesome, but West Nile virus has been identified in the Pacific Northwest, so avoiding mosquito bites by using insect repellent and clothing to cover up bare skin is always a good idea.
• Yellow jackets (wasps) can be pests during the summer months, and people with the potential for severe reactions to stings need to bring their anaphylaxis kits (epipen) with them.

• While not common, Black Widow spiders and scorpions can be found under logs and rocks and occasionally in structures on the east side of the Cascades.  Checking your surroundings before you sit can help avoid contact. 

Rattlesnakes

• For trips on the East side of the Cascades, participants should be aware of rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes will generally leave you alone. Humans weigh more than 100 times as much as a snake — they are fairly intimidated by humans, and will almost always move out of the way if given the chance. We have never had anyone bitten by a snake on a College Outdoors trip, but people have seen the critters. Stomping around (the vibrations let the snake know you’re coming so they can get out of your way) and not putting your hands or feet in places you can’t see are two good ways to avoid rattlers.

Unpredictable Weather

• Weather can be unpredictable any time of year, especially in the mountains. Multi-day trips may not have access to updated weather forecast, so it is important to be prepared.
• Weather in August is generally warm and dry, but the nights can be cool - especially in the desert or at elevation.
• Especially on the east side of the Cascades, thunderstorms and lightning can occur, typically in the afternoon or evening.
• Rain is possible even in August; participants should be prepared with rain gear.

Waterborne Pathogens

• At times our trips may resupply water from natural water sources. Water from streams and lakes needs to be filtered or treated before you can drink it.  We have filters and tablets to do this, which remove or neutralize Giardia, bacteria, and viruses.  

Water Activity Risks

Any body of water carries the risk of drowning. We mitigate this risk by requiring Personal Floatation Devices  (PFDs, also called life-jackets) be worn when participants are in any water above waist height, and when participants are in moving water above knee height. Students interested in our rafting and surfing trips should be comfortable with swimming prior to the trip. 

• Some of the dangers in and around creeks include slippery rocks, logs and debris, hypothermia from staying in too long, and drowning.
• On rafting trips, swift water and rapids present hazards. 

• On the Oregon coast, sneaker waves (waves that are unpredictable and much larger than other waves), are rare, however, can hit the beach and have the potential to wash a person into the ocean if they are not paying attention to the surf.
• On the Oregon Coast, debris in the water or surf is possible. If a large wave washes in with a log in it, the log could injure or kill someone who is unaware of this possibility.
• Quite unlikely, the entire west coast of the U.S. has the possibility of a tsunami should there be a large earthquake. 

Wildfire

• Fire danger can be very high in August, and the threat of a wildfire is real. Participants need to be very careful with any type of fire.  Campfires are restricted or banned on some trips depending on conditions. All trips are non-smoking. 

Health Concerns

To help us prepare our trip leaders in the most appropriate way, we need to know about any health conditions or illnesses participants may have. Students are required to complete and return the online Health & Diet Questionnaire.

Please note that our trips go to remote areas and medical help is usually at least one day away. Our trips carry cell phones or satellite phones, but remember that service is not available in many wilderness areas and river canyons. Our trip leaders for remote locations are certified in Wilderness First Responder—the gold standard for wilderness medical response. 

If you have any concerns or questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at outdoors@lclark.edu or (503) 768-7116.