To go on the De Anza College Outdoor Club Yosemite 2018 winter trip, you (and a parent / guardian if you are under 18) will need to agree to all the following, some of which might be new to you even if you went camping in the winter before or went on this trip before. Signing up will go much faster if you read this carefully in advance of coming to sign up for the trip.
Do not print and sign this page, there are other parts to fill out / initial on the official trip agreement.
Please note that the document might change before you sign it.
If you are under 18 years old, your parent/guardian must sign documents in person.
You must agree to all these rules. If you don’t want to abide by any of the rules, then (yup, you guessed it) don’t sign up for this trip.
Along with this form you will need to sign a release. You can print and fill it out in advance by going to:
field trip release (especially important if you are under 18 since a parent/guardian will need to sign it in person.)
When you fill out any of the documents, you will initial sections, not put “X”s.
Times/places to find us to sign up are at: Outdoor Club Coming Attractions
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I will be responsible for my own transportation whether as an individual or cooperatively with other students. I will in no respect rely on the instructor or other District employees for direction or supervision of my transportation.
I have read and agree to all the pages about the trip at this website starting at the moonbow trip webpage.
Before I offer/promise rides to people I will be sure the vehicle runs reliably, be sure chains can fit on the wheels, make arrangements for snow chains, get permission of anyone I need to borrow the vehicle from, get permission to drive in the snow from anyone who would need to give permission AND get time off from work.
I will have the courtesy to let my driver/ passengers/the Outdoor Club know immediately of changes to my ride needs or ability to drive.
If I park at the campground or anywhere near tent cabins, I will turn off my car alarm. I will disable the loud beep that goes off when the keyless remote is used to unlock the car OR I will take the remote off the keychain and use the key to unlock the door(s).I will disable the beep that goes off when the trunk is opened / any other beep. In the interest of letting others sleep, if I can’t disable the beep(s) (or disconnect the beepers) I will not drive that vehicle or I will park it at the back of a day use parking lot. If I rent a vehicle I will learn how to turn off car alarms/disable beeps at the rental business, BEFORE I leave for the trip.
If I stay at a tent cabin I will bring a sleeping bag. If I camp I will bring at least one full length insulating sleeping pad and not just sleep on an air mattress, a blanket or the ground. I will bring a dome-shaped tent with a full rain fly that goes all the way down the sides and I will pitch it with the rain fly on even if the weather looks good.
If I use a dining canopy and there is any chance of snow I will take it down (if I am not under it shaking snow off ) so it won’t collapse and possibly get damaged or damage a tent or person under it.
I will follow all National Park, trip and De Anza rules. Since the Rangers can impound my car/food or fine me if I don’t follow food storage rules, I will be responsible for fines, (the college/club will not pay the fine which can be even more than $5,000).I will keep all food and toiletries in the food storage locker except when I am actually using them. The park service says food farther than arms length is too far away and behind the back is an invitation (to animals), so I will sit (or have a partner sit) within arms reach of all food I bring out. I will shut and latch the door to the food storage box immediately after moving anything in or out. If I drive or ride in a truck I will be certain someone stays in the back of the truck to guard gear from raccoons until it is all unloaded and dealt with. I will make sure the doors are shut on my vehicle as each item is unloaded so raccoons don’t get in. I will make sure the vehicle is completely clean of my and others trash, food/toiletries at all times. No daypacks or containers that are shaped like food containers, even empty water bottles, will show through the windows of my vehicle/the vehicle I ride up in.
I will limit the amount of food, toiletries, and cooking gear to what will fit in one sixth of a campsite or tent cabin food storage locker. I will not padlock a shared food locker.
At bedtime I will triple-check my day pack, jacket and pants pockets for candy bars, chips, flavored chapstick or anything else that could attract animals into my tent, tent cabin or car. When I pack I will not mix food in with other gear. Since styrofoam ice chests and drinking cups can break up in to bazillions of pieces that can’t be cleaned up, I will not bring anything styrofoam.
I will bring a telephoto that is big enough for the photos I want and not endanger myself or others by trying to get close to animals for pictures. I will not photograph or videotape (includes using a GoPro) anyone on the trip without their permission.
I will bring everything on the list of required gear at the Snow or rain camp must-haves website page. I will not wear cotton socks. I will bring a real flashlight or headlamp (not just my cell phone).
I will bring three full liter bottle(s) of water for my personal consumption on any hike. I will bring a set of waterproof hooded jacket/pants, not a poncho.
I understand that no use of alcohol or mind altering substances on college events is an enforceable rule. I further understand that use of alcohol in the cold is especially dangerous. Therefore I will not use any alcohol or mind altering substances at any time during this trip, I realize that medical/recreational Marijuana is illegal in a national park, even if it is legal in the state the park is located in. I will not bring any firearms or tazers even though they may be legal in Yosemite. I will not use a drone, since they are illegal in the park.
I will not bring pets.
I will go to a Ranger station and check about the trail I want to hike the morning of the hike. If I hike above the valley floor or ski away from the free groomed cross country trails at Badger Pass, I will do so in a group of minimum four people so if something happens to one of us there is someone to stay with the injured/ill person while two others go for help. If I hike above the valley floor I will stay on the trail(s), with this possible exception: if I want to get a closer view of the snowcone at the base of upper Yosemite Falls I will go off trail only a maximum of 15 feet, in a group of four or more people and stay in the top of the boulders high above Yosemite Creek near the trail. (And therefore not get close to the snowcone or the frozen creek area and risk losing my footing and sliding off the edge to my death). If I hike to Mirror Lake I will not hike above the valley floor, beyond the regular trails and into Tenaya Canyon, which is extremely dangerous even in the summer.
On any hike I will obey trail-closure or warning signage, closed gates, barrier fences and/or advice from Rangers that I not use any trail. I will leave sufficient space between myself and other hikers.
I acknowledge that the official club activities will be – – a possible hike part way to Vernal Falls (beyond the distance to Faculty Advisor goes will not be an official event) – – and optional brunch Sunday if there are enough people interested. Possible ice cream sundae making and eating date TBA. I acknowledge that any of the hikes/ ice cream sundaes might not be at a time/day convenient for me and if I do not participate I will not get any money back. All other activities, including sightseeing, skating, walks/hikes, stargazing and moonbow watching, photo walk with a professional photographer, rollerblading, biking, climbing, (if the resort opens skiing, sledding or snowboarding) are not club events.
I will wear a helmet for climbing, biking or rollerblading even if I am over 17.
I will not put on perfume/cologne before brunch – people sitting near to me at brunch may have allergies. I will not wear dirty camping clothes to brunch. I will instead plan to get a shower and put on clean Friday casual type clothes, or even a dress for ladies or a jacket/vest/tie for men.
Read and initial these next sections even if you have no intention of camping: Since noise is the first thing people complain to Rangers about (plus, out of consideration to trip members who would like to listen to Mom nature’s sound), I will bring personal headset radios/tapes, and turn my car stereo off before I enter the campground or other overnight accommodation area. (Acoustic guitars are encouraged, drums, tubas etc. are not allowed).
If I want to get someone’s attention in another campsite, I will go there and talk to them, not yell long distance.
I won’t walk through other people’s campsites to get to the restroom, to the bus, to another of our sites.
I will not get into my vehicle at night and run the engine to warm up (thereby waking up everyone in the vicinity and possibly running down the battery so the car won’t start later).
I will have snowball fights in a vacant part of the campground, not in our campsites or near other people. I will try to think safety, including packing the snowballs loosely with no rocks, not aiming for faces and only play with people who want to.
I will bring only firewood purchased in the park or gathered in the park away from Yosemite valley, or presto logs from home, not cut up lumber/logs/branches type firewood from home. I will be responsible for staying next to any campfire I start or finding someone else to do so if I leave the fire ring area. I will tie back my long hair when working around a campfire/stove. If I am roasting marshmallows and one catches fire I will not wave it in the air to put the flames out._
Interesting weather does not cancel club events.***NO REFUNDS, except if the club cancels the trip before the trip starts ***. If I sign up for this trip and it turns out that I am not a student at the end of winter quarter (and/or I am not a DASB card holder) and therefore can’t go on the trip, OR If I pay for the trip before doing paperwork and then do not get the paperwork done and in the hands of the faculty advisor before the trip, I realize I will not get a refund and I will not just show up in Yosemite and try to participate_.
I agree that due to the large number of people expected to sign up for this trip, the club may not be able to call/email or contact anyone if there are changes and I might even arrive in Yosemite National Park before I learn that part or all of the trip has been cancelled.
I will get time off work or whatever is necessary to be able to attend the MANDATORY pre-trip meeting at noon, Saturday, March 24 at the pool deck. This will be the time for last minute announcements, and a good time to have your tent, boots, or clothes looked at, to consult about food or other plans. Last minute carpools and shared overnight accommodations are often arranged then.
The club will provide: a first aid kit and possibly a water purifying pump for trip member hikes. Possibly provide ice cream and fixings for ice cream sundaes (date/time TBA). Trip participants are responsible for any other gear, including tent, sleeping bag/pad, and other personal gear, and all other expenses including food, gas, skiing and brunch.
Where I stay overnight (campground, tent cabin, cabin or hotel room) will be up to me (or I could come up just for the day Saturday – but people rarely do). I realize that since the campsites in almost all Yosemite Valley campgrounds are full as this is being written, I will need to make other overnight plans.
I will not try a summit hike (including Half Dome) or camp anywhere that a wilderness permit is required.
Since there will be no overnight supervision by the college, parents/guardians of under 18 year old students are expected to be at their overnight accommodation. If parents/guardians also want to participate in official club activities, they can take a De Anza class, such as an online class.
I acknowledge that I can read this contract at at this website and will not get a hardcopy of it.
The trip is open only to De Anza students. Therefore, people signing up will not try to pass off a friend as a student or tell friends to get their own campsite to get around club rules.
I will follow the rule that campsites, activity areas and all park restrooms, stores, restaurants, etc. and anywhere that smoke might drift into where people are, are non-smoking.
I realize that I can get kicked off the trip if I break any trip, park, club or college rules (and/or if law/rule breaking by others causes the club advisor to cancel the trip) and I will not get a refund. The Park Rangers could make me pack up and leave the park even in the middle of the night, depending on what I did/what happened.
You can be expelled from the trip, required to leave, and reported to the college if we determine that you are:
Unwilling or unmotivated to participate and shoulder your responsibility as a member of a wilderness expedition team, including following all trip and Yosemite National park rules
Posing a danger, through misconduct or unsafe practices, to yourself or others, including approaching animals too closely, feeding animals and not following food storage rules
Defiant, harassing behavior, inability to control your temper or otherwise compromising the emotional safety of others,
Using alcohol, drugs (including prescription medication not prescribed to you or sharing your medication)
Using tobacco products anywhere the park says you can’t or that others must smell/breathe the fumes.
If any trip participant has a serious condition, such as a heart condition, asthma/significant allergies, a bipolar disorder/anxiety disorder, substance abuse, or the like, or is pregnant, the Outdoor Club needs to know this at least three weeks in advance of any event, so as to seek, where appropriate, a doctor’s assurance that the participant can safely participate and has possession and knowledge of use of necessary medications, and to be sure that the trip members are prepared to deal with special needs, failing which the person may have to be refused participation (subject to Americans With Disabilities Act issues, worked out in advance with De Anza Disabilities Support Programs and Services (DSPS) counselors ). I am saying that this does not apply to me _______ OR I am saying that I have _______________ condition or that I am _____ months pregnant.
Cardiac Risk Factors include (circle any/all) • High blood pressure • Diabetes • Current or prior cardiovascular disease • High blood cholesterol/triglycerides • Smoking •
• Family history of heart disease (family member who’s had a heart attack at less than 50 years of age).
A stress ECG with one month of the trip is required if you had a heart attack OR:
1. Are over 25 years old and has 2 of the above cardiac risk factors.
2. Are over 40 years old and has 1 cardiac risk factor or anyone of any age who leads a sedentary lifestyle.
4. Are any age with known coronary artery disease.
5. Completed a cardiac scan and has a calcium score greater than 10.
6. Are over the age of 60.
If this applies to me I circle any/all that do) I will provide a written note from my doctor stating the date of the stress ECG and the results and the statement from the doctor(s) that I can participate in the trip.
It is important you understand that there are risks. Some adventure programs say that they can guarantee your safety. The Outdoor Club does not. The risk of injury, even serious injury or death, is unavoidable in the outdoor environment in which we travel. Indeed, much of the value of an Outdoor Club adventure lies in learning how to identify hazards and adapt behavior, not only on the trip, but also for a lifetime of enjoying the outdoors.
Waiver: In consideration of being permitted to participate in any way in the field trip hereinafter called the Outdoor Club winter Yosemite trip / optional brunch, I, for myself, my heirs, personal representative or assigns, do hereby release, hold harmless, waive, discharge, and covenant not to sue Foothill-De Anza Community College District, its Board of Trustees, the individual members thereof, all District officers, employees, volunteers and servants, all other sponsors and supporters from liability from any and all claims including the negligence of Foothill-De Anza Community College District, its Board of Trustees, the individual members thereof, all District officers, employees, volunteers and servants, all other sponsors and supporters, resulting in personal injury, accidents, or illnesses (including death) and property loss arising from, but not limited to my participation on the Outdoor Club winter Yosemite trip / optional brunch
I certify that I am fully capable of participating in this activity.
Indemnification and Hold Harmless: I agree to INDEMNIFY AND HOLD Foothill-De Anza Community College District, its Board of Trustees, the individual members thereof, all District officers, employees, volunteers and servants, all other sponsors and supporters HARMLESS from any and all claims, actions, suits, procedures, costs, expenses, damages and liabilities, including attorney’s fees brought as a result of my involvement in the Outdoor Club winter Yosemite trip / optional brunch and to reimburse them for any such expenses incurred.
Assumption of Risks: Participation in the Yosemite winter Yosemite trip / optional brunch, carries with it many risks which can not be eliminated or even minimalized, even with trip rules and protocols, regardless of the care taken to avoid injuries. The specific risks vary from one activity to another, but the risks, which I understand and appreciate, include, without limitation, by way of example: 1) emotional distress, fatigue, hunger, thirst, illness, exceeding my physical or emotional capabilities 2) property damage or loss 3) trauma caused by dehydration and/or weather including mild to extreme hot or cold temperatures and injuries from lightning hit or near hit, avalanche, wind, falling ice or rock, frostbite, immersion foot, being hot, cold, wet or uncomfortable 4) minor injuries such as scratches, bruises, sprains, sun/wind burn, animal/insect bites, allergic reactions, rashes or other poisonous plant exposure 5) risks related to hiking, walking, biking and camping including equipment failure, blisters, getting lost, illness from unclean water or food handling, risk of head or other bodily injury from slipping/tripping/falling, (including normal terrain and/or uneven or slippery terrain, including debris, talus, snow, ice, sandy or wet surfaces), risks related to carrying/lifting packs/equipment, and if it becomes allowed in Yosemite, risks from normal handling or mishandling/storage of bear spray 6) risks relating to using campfires and camping gear, including cuts, burns, pinched fingers, bruises, smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning, equipment failure despite reasonable care and use 7) careless or reckless behavior on the part of myself or other trip members despite reasonable, but not full-time, supervision and careless or reckless behavior on the part of third parties 8) diseases such as Hantavirus or rabies 9) major injuries such as eye injury or loss of sight, broken bones, dislocations, joint or back injuries, heart attack, heat stroke, hypothermia, stroke, concussions, animal bites, poisonous snakebite, and other wildlife, natural hazards or animal encounters 10) catastrophic injuries including drowning, loss of limbs, paralysis, permanent trauma and death.
I have read the previous paragraphs and I know, understand, and appreciate these and other risks that are not specifically identified that are inherent in the Outdoor Club winter Yosemite trip / optional brunch. I hereby assert that my participation is voluntary and that I knowingly assume all such risks including significant ones, which cannot be prevented.
Severability: The undersigned further expressly agrees that the foregoing waiver and assumption of risks agreement is intended to be as broad and inclusive as is permitted by the law of the State of California and that if any portion thereof is held invalid, it is agreed that the balance shall, notwithstanding, continue in full legal force and effect.
Acknowledgment of Understanding: I have read this waiver of liability, assumption of risk, and indemnity agreement, fully understand its terms, and understand that I am giving up substantial rights, including my right to sue. I acknowledge that I am signing the agreement freely and voluntarily, and intend by my signature to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent.
I have read the above trip agreement and understand its terms. I execute it voluntarily and with full knowledge of its significance. I have no questions or have had any questions about the trip or trip rules answered.
Do not print and sign this page, there are other parts to fill out / initial on the official trip agreement.
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For info on the logistics of where to pitch your tent, dealing with iced car door locks, staying warm and comfy overnight and more, go to: First-timer’s instructions
Did you read Prepare for winter driving and Safe driving in rain and fog ?
Will it actually snow during our trip? Maybe, maybe not. Snow camp weather, hike safety and first aid considerations
There’s easy camping info at: Have more fun camping and camping solutions for women