Outdoor Expedition Risk Management Plan

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Trip overview and description

This is a class educational outdoor expedition to the Arkansas River, organized for the members of the Outdoor Leadership Class. The group constitutes 6 members, aged between 18 and 23. One of the group members has adequate training on first aid and life saving skills, and doubles up as the team coach-cum-first aider.

Given that this is the first outdoor expedition along a major rive for most of the members, the skills level and experience within the group is limited. All the members are of sound physical state, which is subject to medical verification by the school’s chief medical officer, four days before the trip.

The goal of the trip is to enable members acquire real life outdoor leadership skills. There are two broad based objectives for the trip. Firstly the group aims at visiting at least two different sites along the Arkansas River. Secondly, each member will get a leadership role to play within the group for the entire period of the trip.

The Arkansas River is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in North America. It attracts both local and foreign tourists, and is known for its unforgettable water rafting experience. The Arkansas River, starts at Leadville in Colorado as a mild gentle flowing river.

As it meanders through the Royal Gorge, the Arkansas River picks up speed such that by the time it gets to Kansas, it is a rolling mass of water (Lepper and Colorado State University, 2008). Rafting on the entire Arkansas River is impossible due to resource, skill and time limit.

Thus the group plans to hike over The Barbara Whipple Trail whose entire elevation gain is about 600 feet. The group also plans to have boating experience along The Arkansas River Trail, which can be accessed through the Barbara Whipple Trail.

The trip takes four days including travelling. The first day will basically involves travelling from home to the tour destination, which covers a distance of about 1699 kilometers. Since it’s a small group, the group plans to hire a sports utility vehicle to enable us tackle the rough terrain especially when accessing the Barbara Whipple Trail. The Barbara Whipple Trail can be accessed through the Buena Vista River Park Bridge.

From there, the group will turn east via dirt road named The Main Street. The group plans to start hiking from the trailhead. The Barbara Whipple Trail is approximately 1.3 miles, and as such, the group plans to begin hiking early in the morning on foot. This is aimed at giving the group ample time for stops along the trail.

The second day will involve a boat trip to The Arkansas River Trail, a 24 mile stretch, accessible via a dirt road on our utility vehicle. The group plans to take a 2 mile trail on foot up to the From Park restroom. The group takes a 2mile boat trip, to and fro, implying that the entire boat trip covers approximately 4 miles. Doing this requires boat a non-motorized oar driven boat, to be hired on site.

Leadership roles

The group hopes that the trip will generate a positive leadership experience to all members. As such, leadership roles have been designated to each group member as follows. Each team member has basic skills on the role allocated

Overall team leader: coordinate, harmonize all trip activities, ensures that the group operates within the time schedule.
Team coach: to prepare and train team members.
Logistics officer: organize and execute the trip activities.
A team motivator-cum-counselor: counseling, motivating and helping members overcome emotional strain
Accountant: control the trip’s expenditure (Rilling, 1990).

Trip Itinerary

The following is the detailed itinerary for the trip.

Table 1: itinerary.

Day	Activity	Time schedule
1	Departure from Canada	7:05 am
	Arrival at Kansas	10: 15am
	Departure from Kansas	11:00am
	Arrival at the camp site	1:00pm
	Setting the camp site	4:00pm – 6:00 pm
2	Breakfast	6:00am
	Departure from the camp site	7:00 am
	Arrival at the Trailhead	8:00 am
	Hiking starts	8: 30 am
	Completion of the trail	12:00 pm
	Lunch	12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
	Arrival at the camp site	4:00 pm
3	Breakfast	7:00 am
	Departure for The Arkansas River Trail	8:00 am
	Arrival at the kayak play side	10:00 am
	Boating	10:00am to 12:30 pm
	Lunch	12:30 pm to 2:00 pm
	Departure for the camp site	2:00 pm
	Arrival at the camp site	4:00 pm
4	Breakfast	6:00 am
	Tiding the camp site	7:00 am
	Departure to the airport	8:00 am
	Arrival at the airport	10:00 am
	Flight home	2:30 pm

Most people going for outdoor expeditions always encounter trouble due to failure to carry specialized equipment. With regards to this, the team has identified the following equipments as essential for the success of its trip.

Table 2: personal equipment.

equipment	description	quantity	comments
clothing and footwear	hiking boots	1 pair	to be worn during the hike
	long pants	4 pairs	to be worn when hiking through wooded areas
	short pants	4 pairs	substitutes for long pants
	hats and / or caps	2	for protection against the sun and rain
	jackets	1	as a precautionary item in case of sudden change of weather
	socks	5 pairs	preferably long, knee length
	sunglasses	1 pair	optional
camping equipment	sleeping bag	1
	knife	1
	flashlight, with batteries	1	rechargeable flashlight preferred
	emergency blanket	1
	backpack	1	large enough to hold personal equipment
other personal items	towel	1
	water bottle	1	should hold at least 1 liter of water
boating equipment	life saver jackets	1	waterproof and breathable
	gloves	1 pair
	swimming gear	1 pair of swimming costumes
other equipment	reusable towel	1
	biodegradable soap	1
	vests	2
	needles, thread, plastic clips , a pair of pliers	1 piece each	useful in repair of equipment
	A fully equipped first aid kit	1	Equipped with antibiotics and anti-venom, bandages and other first aid equipment (Redmond, Foran and Dwyer, 2009).

Table 3: group equipment.

item	quantity	comments
lantern	1	for lightning the camp site
camping stove	1	to keep the camp site warm
matchboxes	2
Compass	1	for navigation and direction

Water sources and treatment

Campers need up to eight liters of water every day. In this case, the group requires adequate sources of water for drinking and other purposes such as bathing and minor washing. The Arkansas River, despite being a famous tourist destination, is a source of water for domestic, agricultural and industrial use in Colorado. As such, the group will use water from the Arkansas River.

The Arkansas River is a source of clean water (Sandoval, 2012). Recent research indicates that hikers can use water from this river without any major treatment. However, the same researchers have indicated that hiker and visitors to this famous region ought to be concerned about the level of silt found in the water of Arkansas River (Marsa, 2005).

As such, while Arkansas River is the main source of water during the trip, the group intends to avoid the health dangers, such as wilderness diarrhea, that are likely to arise from using over silted water. There are numerous water purification methods available, and which the group can utilize.

These include boiling, decantation, chemical treatment and the use of ceramic filters. Each of these methods has its own demerits, besides being time consuming. As such, the group leader requires each group member to acquire a portable water filter, preferably the Microlite Water filter, found in mot local stores.

The Microlite Water filter is light, easy to operate, quick and easy to store. It can also filter silt and waterborne disease causing microorganisms such as bacteria and protozoa. Since it is light and easy to store, the group can carry it during hiking and purify water on the go.

Weather related information

Officially, the larger Arkansas is classified as humid and sub-tropical climatic region. Humid sub-tropical climate is regarded as mild with no extreme weather conditions throughout the year. Additionally, a humid sub-tropical climate has hot summers but no known dry weather period.

Other than being hot and humid, the summer in Arkansas is also said to be slightly mild, implying that Arkansas is less hot as compared to other States. In additional, the winters, like the summers, are said to be less cold, but drier than the summers. Arkansas’ winters can vary in intensity, unlike the summers. For instance, very cold winter spells are likely to be experienced for short durations.

Ice storms can break during the middle of the winter period. Cold and light masses of air blow under warmer air masses. This results to ice rain, which occurs mostly at night, and is attributed to the fact that Arkansas is geographically located near the Gulf of Mexico.

However, this is a rare occurrence, but when it does occur, there are devastating effects. In Arkansas, spring arrives from the beginning of March, but is short lived. By early April, most of the land mass is covered in luxuriant vegetation (Redmond, Foran and Dwyer, 2009).

Arkansas is divided into five natural climatic zones, the Arkansas River Valley being one of them. The Arkansas River Valley experiences elevation in temperatures throughout the year. The lowest temperatures (39.5) are experienced in January, and the highest temperatures (81.5) are experienced in July.

As such, the average temperature in Arkansas River Valley is around 60 degrees. Arkansas River Valley receives an average rainfall of about 48.52 inches with about 5 inches of snowfall (Nuttall, 1999). As such, since the group is taking the trip during the summer, it is expected that the entire duration will be hot, sunny and humid.

Daily preparations require adequate time based planning, and as such understanding the daily sunrise and sunset times is crucial. Sunset and sunrise varies significantly especially across the seasons. Summers days in Arkansas are longer than nights. In some instances, the sun can rise as early as 6:05 am and set as late as 8:20 pm. This gives the group ample day time to conduct its trip activities.

Transportation and communication

The main means of transportation during the entire duration of the trip is road. The group, as explained earlier has acquired the services of a sports utility vehicles which will enable it access the regions without much difficulty.

Additionally, traveling from Nova Scotia in Canada via road is quite cumbersome. As such, the group is set to fly southwest directly to Kansas, from where the group will board the SUV and head east directly to the camp site.

To make communication within the group easier, every group member is required to have a cell phone and spare battery. Additionally, the team leader in collaboration with the team coach has trained the team on useful communication symbol, to be used within the group in case of emergency.

For communication with other important persons without the group, the team leader has acquired important contact details which are listed elsewhere in this essay.

Rules and Regulations

The Arkansas River Trail and The Barbara Whipple Trail are non motorized tracks, used by people, bikers and animals. The following rules and regulation are essential for visitors

No use of motorized vehicles is acceptable.
Visitors to follow road signs.
Litter to be disposed only at designated places.
Visitors to use appropriate outdoor equipment at all times.
Visitors are to avoid activities or behavior that is likely to cause conflict with animals and other visitors.
Dogs and other pets should be leashed at all times.

Risk Assessment and Management

Some of the mishaps that occur during outdoor activities are due to lack of preparation as well as ignorance to rules. In this case, the team leader in collaboration with the team coach has identified a number s risks and hazards that members are likely to encounter. These risks are described below.

Table 4: risks and hazards.

Risk / hazard	Description	Frequency rating /likelihood of occurrence (low, medium, high)
High winds	Seasonal and short lived	Medium, due to the fact that Arkansas River Valley is geographically near the gulf of Mexico, and thus experiences seasonal winds that blow from the gulf over the valley.
Land/mudslides	Occasional short-lived	Very low, but can occur during heavy rains, on sloppy regions
Avalanches	Seasonal and short lived	Medium: Occurs during the winter
Tornadoes	Seasonal	Low likelihood of occurrence. Occurs during hot summers
Slippery slopes, trails and roads	Arkansas River Valley is served by dirt roads. Most of the roads are lined with loose gravel	High
Obscured tree branches/ stumps, big rocks		Low, likelihood of occurrence since park officials undertake to cleans up any fallen trees and stumps
Flashfloods	Unpredictable and can occur any time without warning	Moderate likelihood of occurrence. The geography is prone to flooding
Falling rocks	Huge rocks and boulders have been reported to fall near public pass ways.	Low likelihood of occurrence, and when they do occur they pose no significant threat to hiker since most of the roads are located away from public passage ways
Accidents involving bicycles	Most of the roads are slippery, have sharp bends and are narrow.	Moderate likelihood of occurrence, especially if drivers and pedestrians ignore traffic signs.
Wildlife and dangerous animals	The most common risks involves rattler snakes, horses and dogs	Low likelihood of occurrence for rattle snakes. Medium likelihood of occurrence for conflict and incidences involving horses and dogs since the animals share narrow roads and trails with hikers.
Human behavior	Unbecoming behavior especially by teenagers and preteens	Medium likelihood of occurrence
Fatigue	Emanate from high temperatures and humid weather conditions	High likelihood of occurrence

Table 5: Risks and hazards: severity of effects and risk management plan.

Risk / hazard	Effects /severity	Management plan
High winds	Moderately to very severe Results to wind storms which in turn block trails and other major roads. High winds also cause wind chill which leads to dangerous health conditions such as hypothermia and frostbite	Avoid areas prone to high winds
Land/mudslides	Not severe Blocks roads and trails	Avoid areas prone to Landslides
Avalanches	Not severe Blocks roads and trails	Avoid areas prone avalanches
Tornadoes	Not severe Blocks roads and trails	Avoid areas prone avalanches
Slippery slopes, trails and roads	Severe Can cause slips which can result to injuries such as sprains	Watch out for slippery slopes Train participants on how to navigate slippery slopes
Obscured tree branches/ stumps, big rocks	Not severe Can cause injuries and cuts to hikers	Train members to look out for obscured branches stumps and rocks
Flashfloods	Severe Hikers are likely to drown in case of flashfloods	Avoid and possible abandon trip incase of flashfloods
Falling rocks	Not severe Can cause injuries on hikers	Be on the look out for falling rocks Avoid areas prone to falling rocks
Accidents involving bicycles	Moderately to very severe Can cause injuries most of which are likely to be fatal depending on the nature of the accident	Be vigilant on other trail and road users Give way to bikers
Wildlife and dangerous animals	Moderately severe to very severe Animal bites especially by rattles snakes and dogs can be fatal	Be on the look out for animals such as horses to avoid accidents Avoid coming too close to dogs Avoid irritating the rattle snakes
Human behavior	Moderately to very severe Can lead to injuries which are likely to be fatal	Observe acceptable behavior Avoid contact with on people who exhibit unbecoming behavior
Fatigue	Moderately severe to very severe Can cause life threatening conditions	Train members not to be hyperactive and take rests at regular intervals

Other than the risks highlighted above, the team leader has prioritized a pre-trip training exercise involving all members.

Outdoor etiquette: how to interact with other persons, wildlife and the natural world including proper waste disposal.
Basic first aid skills and life saving skills.
Basic outdoor communication symbols.
Basic hiking skills such as how to navigate slopes.
Watchfulness and vigilance.
How to row a boat.
How to avoid potential conflict with animals especially horses, dogs and snakes.

The team leader has identified the following rules as binding during the entire period of the trip. To begin with, all group members ought to stay together, and watch out for each other. No member of the group is allowed to wander off alone. The maintenance of the equipment is the responsibility of every member.

As such, members have the obligation of ensuring that all equipments are in good working condition and alert the group leader in case faults are noted. In additional to this, each member has an obligation to be vigilant of any risks and obstacles and alert other immediately, in case any of these are noted.

Emergency Action Plan

The team coach has identified the following procedures as essential in case of an emergency.

Injury emergency:

Alert the team coach at once
The team coach will in turn inform other team members
If possible move to a safer ground, out of the road or trail
Lie low and stay calm

Emergency from natural disasters:

Alert the team coach at once
The team coach alerts other team members at once
Move to a safer ground if possible

Emergency from conflict with animals:

Alert the team coach at once.
Move to a safer ground.
Take any necessary action that is likely to minimize the conflict.
Incase of snake bites move to a safer ground, alert the team coach, lie low and use a string to tie the body organ above the bite. Appropriate first aid follows.

The following hospitals are identified as essential for medical emergency:

Little Rock Baptist Health Medical Center, located west of the camp site along Wilbur D free way. Telephone 501-202-2000.
The University of Arkansas Medical Center, located west of the camp site along pine/Cedar Street. Telephone 501-686-8000.

Contingency plan

The table below highlights likely unexpected occurrences and contingency plan.

Table 6: contingency measures.

Unexpected occurrence	Contingency plan
Injuries, accidents or illnesses	Abandonment of the immediate activity First aid administration Incase of severe injuries and serious accidents, the trip is to be abandoned
Time delays	Re-drafting of the itinerary Abandonment of any unessential activity Look for possible shortcuts to the desired destination
Natural disasters	Abandonment of the immediate activity and return to camp
Extreme weather conditions	Abandonment of the immediate activity and return to camp

Misc

The following contacts are vital:

San Isabel Range District office, telephone 719-539-3591.
Buena Vista Trails Advisory Board, telephone 719-395-6119.
Buena Vista Fire Department, telephone 719-395-8098.
Buena Vista Police Department, telephone 719-395-8654.

Appendix: map

*The Barbara Whipple Trail and the Arkansas River trail.*

Reference List

Lepper, T. and Colorado State University. (2008). Reregulating the flows of the Arkansas River. Ann Abor, MI: ProQuest LLC.

Marsa, L. (2005). Going below the surface. Los Angeles Times. Web.

Meyer, E. (2009). Barbara Whipple trail track. Web.

Nuttall, T. (1999). A Journal of Travels into the Arkansas Territory during the Year 1819. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press.

Rilling, C. (1990). The most important co-leader skills and traits on extended outdoor expeditions as perceived by leaders. Web.

Redmond, K., Foran, A. and Dwyer, D. (2009). Quality lesson plans for outdoor education. New Jersey: Human Kinetics.

Sandoval, E. (2012). Guest commentary: balancing energy development with protecting public lands. Web.

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