Essential Eligibility Criteria for Grand Canyon Trips

Essential Eligibility Criteria: These criteria, if not met, will disqualify a person from participating in a river trip with OARS. The criteria exist for your safety and that of all trip participants. None of the criteria are meant to discriminate on the basis of any physical or mental disability, and they are applied uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability. OARS is committed to making reasonable modifications to any trip for individuals with a disability, as long as these modifications do not fundamentally alter the nature of the trip.  

For ALL trips and activities offered by OARS, each participant must:

1. Be in reasonably good health and fitness.
2. Be able to breathe independently without any assistance from medical devices.
3. Be able to perceive, understand, and recall the risks and hazards of the activity.
4. Be able to stay alert and focus attention for several hours each day for the duration of the trip.
5. Be able to understand and follow both verbal and non-verbal instructions given by the guide(s) in all situations, and to communicate effectively with guide(s) and other participants. During stressful, dangerous, or emergency situations, participants must be able to quickly and independently understand and follow both verbal and non-verbal instructions.
6. Be able to perform self-care and participate in all activities of daily living, such as dressing, personal hygiene, toileting (including bladder and bowel control), hydration, eating and being aware of potential exposure to allergens.
7. Be able to manage all personal medications, including dosing and administration.
8. Be able to remain adequately fed, hydrated, and properly dressed to avoid environmental injuries such as heat-related illness, sunburn, hypothermia, and dehydration.
9. Be able to remain active and manage personal care during extended periods of mobility and exertion, potentially exceeding 10 hours per day.
10. Be mentally and physically capable of participating in a group setting without negatively impacting or jeopardizing the health or safety of other participants or staff.
11. Be able to properly wear and use all required protective gear and clothing.
12. Be able to meet the demands of the trip within the time limits set by the trip itinerary and guide(s).

The following criteria apply for river trip participants. In addition to meeting the essential eligibility criteria above, each participant must:

1. Be able to brace in a seated position in a boat while holding on with at least one hand.
2. Wear a Type V Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (maximum chest size of 56 inches). Wearing leg straps may be required to ensure a proper fit. When necessary, properly wear a whitewater helmet.
3. Be able to independently board and disembark a boat multiple times each day. This may require stepping into the boat and maneuvering your body over and across tubes and fixed objects into a seated position.
4. Be able to independently navigate shoreline terrain, including maneuvering around and across boulders, rocks, slippery and uneven surfaces, low branches, and vegetation. This includes the ability to maintain balance near precipitous ledges or cliffs.
5. Be able to independently swim in whitewater or swift currents while wearing a PFD. This includes being an active participant in your own rescue, with the ability to:
   (a) keep your airway passages sealed while underwater and regain control of your breathing when subjected to repeated submersion under waves or currents;
   (b) orient yourself to new “in-river” surroundings;
   (c) reposition yourself in the water to different swimming positions;
   (d) swim aggressively to a boat or to shore in whitewater;
   (e) receive a rescue rope, paddle, or human assistance, and possibly let go of the same;
   (f) get out from under an overturned boat.
6. Be able to assist another passenger who has fallen out of the boat by pulling them back in.
7. If on a paddling trip, be able to remain seated and balanced in a whitewater craft while holding on to a paddle, braced with your legs and feet, and paddling.

River trips, particularly those involving whitewater, are inherently risky. While the risk is part of what makes such trips exciting, it is essential to be fully respectful of the dangers involved. You must be confident in your swimming ability and your capacity to stay calm if you become an involuntary swimmer. Swimming in whitewater is much more challenging and physically demanding than swimming in flat water. Cold water can trigger a gasping response in your respiratory system, which can be managed by focusing on your breathing and calming yourself. Cold water will also more quickly sap your energy and decrease muscle function compared to warmer water.

While our guides are trained professionals, a successful rescue can be significantly hindered by a swimmer who is unprepared for whitewater conditions, fails to actively participate in their own rescue, or cannot follow directions while under stress. You will receive a detailed orientation talk at the start of your river trip, but you can gain a better understanding of what to expect by watching a version of the orientation talk here. https://www.oars.com/safety-responsibility/#safety-video

The following criteria apply to participants on an overnight trip that includes Tent-Based Camping.  In addition to meeting the essential eligibility criteria above, each participant must:

1. Be able to navigate and travel around a designated camp area, which may include physical hazards such as uneven ground, tent stakes and lines, rocks, and other natural and man-made hazards, including in darkness, with a flashlight or headlamp, or in limited light.
2. Be able to enter and exit a tent pitched on the ground, including in darkness or limited light.
3. Be able to sleep on the ground (with a pad designed for ground sleeping).
4. Be able to get down to, up from, and sit on the ground independently.
5. Be able to maintain personal health and hygiene in a backcountry setting that does not include running water or flushing toilets. Pit toilets or portable toilets will be used in the backcountry.

Hiking in or out of the Grand Canyon. In addition to meeting the EEC list above, each participant must:

1. Be able to walk ten or more miles in a backcountry desert environment.
2. Be able to walk and maintain balance on backcountry hiking trails, including those with rocks, roots, and low branches. The trails are dusty, steep, and present numerous reinforced log steps, loose rocks, and mule excrement. They range in width from 3 to 5 feet and may have exposed overlooks.
3. Be able to carry your own backpack with a minimum of 4 liters of water, rain gear, insulating layers, sunscreen, and food (approximately 30-40 lbs).

The following is intended to further inform all potential participants about the expectations for everyone involved, in order to promote a safe and enjoyable experience on the trip. There may be requirements, whether physical or mental, that are not specifically classified as “essential eligibility criteria,” but that helps our guests understand the realities of being on a wilderness river trip.

Our primary goal is to minimize the risks associated with adventure trips in a wilderness environment. The trip involves physical exertion and exposure to the elements, including cold water and the potential for heat, sun, wind, rain, and snow. We have experience accommodating individuals with a wide range of physical disabilities and health conditions. However, individuals who are overweight, lack conditioning, or have other physical limitations that interfere with realistic encounters in a wilderness river setting may endanger themselves, other guests, and the guides. Please consult your doctor if you have medical or health conditions that could impact your ability to participate in this outdoor adventure.

It is very important that each trip participant take an active role in their own safety. You will likely encounter wilderness conditions that you are unfamiliar with, and those conditions may change rapidly. It is critical to pay attention at all times, be aware of your surroundings, and avoid taking unnecessary risks. Even a non-life-threatening injury in a wilderness setting can become a major emergency and endanger the entire group. Swimming alone or hiking alone is discouraged. Excessive alcohol consumption or illicit drug use is not tolerated. Using common sense and following both the explicit instructions and the lead of your guides can go a long way toward keeping yourself and the group safe. Some obvious things to avoid in camp and on shore include: walking around without shoes in camp, approaching wild animals, neglecting to pay attention to what is above or around your tent site that could harm you, ignoring hazards such as poison ivy and rattlesnakes, and walking near precipitous ledges.

Due to the physical nature of this trip, we highly recommend that you engage in regular exercise prior to departure to ensure preparedness. Simple exercises like push-ups, sit-ups, and squats can significantly improve your core fitness. Start with these exercises and aim for three sets of ten repetitions each, three to four times per week. Aerobic training is very beneficial, 30–40 minutes two to three times a week going for a brisk walk, a jog, or a bike ride. Swimming is an ideal choice for aerobic exercise, providing a full-body workout that is beneficial in the event of an involuntary swim in whitewater rapids. It is important to challenge yourself in the months leading up to your trip by increasing your strength training repetitions and the intensity of your aerobic training. Check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program to ensure you are medically safe to participate. Starting  an exercise program that is more intense than what you are physically ready for may lead  to injury or exacerbate existing health conditions. Improving your fitness will undoubtedly enhance your enjoyment of the trip.