In consideration of being permitted to participate in an outdoor adventure facilitated by Alpine Endeavors, LLC (“AE”), I, the Participant, (or if the Participant is under the age of 18, I, on the Participant’s behalf) understand, acknowledge, and contractually agree as set forth below (the Agreement): - Acknowledgement of Dangers and Risks: I understand, acknowledge, and agree that participating in an outdoor adventure with AE, which experience may entail various activities including rock climbing, mountaineering, ski mountaineering, canyoneering, ice climbing, instruction, backcountry skiing, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, fishing, boating, caving and related transport by AE (hereinafter the “Activities”), can be HAZARDOUS AND INVOLVE THE RISK OF PHYSICAL INJURY AND/OR DEATH. I understand, acknowledge, and agree that participating in the Activities involves certain inherent dangers and risks that cannot be eliminated or controlled by AE, the presence of which are integral to the adventurous nature of the Activities. I understand and agree that the following list of inherent dangers and risks that could cause physical or emotional injury or death is not exhaustive – there are many other dangers or risks associated with the Activities not listed below: 1) General risks associated with the Activities, including: exposure to falls, (including from heights); errors in guide or instructor judgment or lapse in guide or instructor skill; rough or unmaintained trail; slipping, tripping or falling; collisions with members of the public, other Participants or natural or man made objects; trail obstructions and other unmarked or obscured hazards in the outdoor environment; variations in terrain; exposure to steep terrain; trail and ledge side drop offs; allergen exposure; exposure to poisonous plants; exposure to various dangerous wildlife or insects, including bee or wasp stings, tick bites, and snake bites; falling trees, rocks, or other objects; moving objects associated with extreme weather; changing weather, dangerously cold temperatures, wind, hail, lightening, and other adverse weather conditions; existing, changing, or otherwise dangerous snow, ice, rock and/or trail conditions; lack of shelter; surfaces covered with ice, snow, water, or other substances; difficulty with route finding, including getting lost; poor or varying visibility; high altitude; temperature fluctuations including extreme cold; extreme or partial darkness; wildfire or uncontrolled camp fire and associated smoke; burns or burning associated with campfires, cook stoves, hot surfaces and sun exposure; exposure to food-borne, water-borne, vectorborne, or airborne bacteria, virus, or pathogens (including but not limited to contraction of COVID-19); cooking related dangers; exposure to food allergens; landslides; rock-fall; mudslides; avalanche; all manner of outdoor injuries including head injury, spinal injury, broken bones, burns, internal injury, sickness or disease, hypothermia, frostbite, sunburn, heatstroke, dehydration, hyponatremia, and high altitude injury; mentally or physically unstable or criminal trip participants; negligence by trip participants; inadequate or incorrect medical care; poorly executed or failed rescue attempts; dangerous contact with rescue vehicles or aircraft; failure or lack of communication equipment; equipment failure, malfunction, or failure to operate as intended; inadequate equipment; Participant’s failure to appropriately use protective gear or clothing; Participant’s failure to adequately place protective gear or equipment; Participant’s failure to estimate and operate within Participant’s experience; Participant’s failure to understand and comply with instructions; other participants’ negligence or equipment failure; and mental, physical, or emotional injury or distress from exposure to the inherent risks listed herein. 2) Specific risks associated with rock climbing, mountaineering, ski mountaineering, canyoneering, and ice climbing, including: falling; exposure to falling rock, ice, or other objects; being struck by or striking objects; unstable or loose rock or other terrain; crevasses; exposure to glacier travel; dangerous climbing conditions or surfaces; unsafe speed of travel for conditions or experience; and exposure to unmaintained, naturally existing and artificial climbing and rappelling anchors, including “fixed” anchors such as bolts, pitons, threads, “v-threads,” webbing, rope or chain that may fail. 3) Specific risks associated with ski mountaineering, backcountry skiing, crosscountry skiing, and snow shoeing, including: hazardous variations in skiing and skinning terrain; hazardous surfaces; dangerous skiing or snow conditions; snow immersion, including falling into a tree well, and suffocation; avalanche; whiteout conditions; collisions with trees, natural and man-made objects, exposed or hidden boulders, rocks, holes, stumps, trees, tree roots, and cliffs; and hazardous encounters with snowmobiles. 4) Specific risks associated with hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, and caving, including: exposed, hidden, unmarked and marked obstacles including boulders, rocks, holes, stumps, trees, tree roots, and cliffs; equipment misuse, failure or malfunction; exposure to small or confined spaces; drowning; hypothermia; and lack of oxygen or contaminated air. 5) Specific risks associated with boating, fishing and being in or around water, including: falling into water; water immersion including drowning; capsizing boats; getting trapped or caught beneath an overturned boat; striking and/or becoming entangled with strainers or other objects under the surface of the water; hypothermia; physical overexertion; mental or physical shock; boating equipment malfunction; slipping, tripping or falling around or from boats; exposure to fishing hooks and lines; and injurious contact with your own fishing equipment or that of other participants. 6) Specific risks associated with transport in a motor vehicle, including: all commonly understood risks of riding in a vehicle; risks associated with riding in a vehicle in remote terrain on backcountry or 4-wheel drive roads; and lapse in driver judgment or skill. I understand that AE has done its best to list the known risks of participating in the Activities, but agree that I have the right, obligation, and opportunity to research and verify the risks of participating in the Activities.
- Assumption of Risk: I acknowledge and agree that I am choosing to take part in the Activities despite the dangers and risks of doing so, and freely choose to accept the risks of participating in the Activities. I recognize that property loss, physical or emotional injury, and death are all possible while participating in the Activities. I expressly acknowledge and assume all inherent risks, dangers, and consequences of the Activities, including but not limited to those risks, dangers, and consequences set forth in paragraph 1 above, that may result in physical or emotional injury, property damage, or death.
- Participant’s Responsibilities and Representations: I represent that I am physically and mentally capable of participating in the Activities. I understand the importance of all safety instructions given to me, whether in writing or verbally, and agree to follow all instructions at all times while engaging in the Activities. Further, I represent that I have had the opportunity to both independently research and discuss with AE the risks of participating in the Activities and my assumption of those risks. I have been informed of and understand the expectations of me while engaging in the Activities. I understand that if I provide my own equipment, I am responsible for its maintenance and use. I understand that I am responsible for truthfully disclosing and notifying AE of any risk to me or other participants associated with my own mental or physical conditions, including allergies that could result in anaphylaxis. I specifically and expressly agree that I have full responsibility for managing and treating any such conditions to prevent injury to myself or others. I am not relying on any prior oral, written, or visual representations made by AE, including in any website or promotional materials, to induce me to participate in the Activities.
- Release of Liability and Agreement Not to Sue: Fully understanding the foregoing paragraphs, and in exchange for AE’s agreement to allow the Participant to participate in the Activities, I HEREBY AGREE NOT TO SUE ALPINE ENDEAVORS, LLC, its affiliated companies and subsidiaries, or any of its respective successors in interest, affiliated organizations and companies, insurance carriers, agents, employees, volunteers, representatives, assignees, officers, directors, members, and shareholders (each hereinafter a “Released Party”) for any property damage (including but not limited to equipment damage), injury or loss to Participant, including death, which Participant may suffer, arising in whole or in part out of Participant’s participation in the Activity. By signing this Agreement Not to Sue, I am releasing any right to make a claim or file a lawsuit against any Released Party. I agree to hold harmless and release each and every Released Party from any and all liability and/or claims or causes of action for injury or death to persons or damage to property arising from Participant’s participation in the Activity, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THOSE CLAIMS BASED ON ANY RELEASED PARTY’S ALLEGED OR ACTUAL NEGLIGENCE or breach of any contract and/or express or implied warranty (but not including gross negligence or intentional conduct).
- Agreement to Indemnify: I agree to INDEMNIFY (REIMBURSE) each Released Party from and for any and all claims of the Undersigned and/or a third party arising in whole or in part from Participant’s participation in the Activity. In other words, if Participant and/or anyone on Participant’s behalf files any lawsuit or brings any claim for injury or damage against released parties, undersigned will be required to pay back to the released parties all sums of money incurred by, or paid by or on behalf of, any of the released parties on account of the bringing of such suit or claim, including all attorneys’ fees and costs.
- Medical Authorization: I hereby: 1) authorize the Released Party to undertake any emergency medical care for me; 2) authorize the Released Party and/or their authorized personnel to call for medical care for me or to transport me to a medical facility or hospital if, in the opinion of such personnel, medical attention is needed; 3) agree that, following my transport to any such medical facility or hospital, the Released Party shall not have any further responsibility for me; 4) agree to pay all costs associated with the medical care, rescue, or any related transportation provided for me; and 5) shall hold the Released Party harmless from any claims associated with such medical care and/or related transportation.
- Application of Agreement to Minor Participants: In the case of a minor Participant, I, as parent or legal guardian, acknowledge that I am not only signing this Agreement on my behalf, but that I am also signing on behalf of the minor and that the minor shall be bound by all of the terms of this Agreement. Additionally, by signing this Agreement as the parent or legal guardian of a minor Participant, I understand that I am also waiving certain rights on behalf of the minor that the minor otherwise may have. I agree that but for the foregoing, the minor Participant would not be permitted to participate in the Activity, and sign this document out of a desire to have the Participant be allowed to participate in the activity. I represent that I am a legal parent or guardian of the minor Participant.
- Representation of Capacity to Contract, and Acknowledgement That Agreement is a Binding Contract: I represent that I am at least 18 years of age, and that I have the capacity to understand and be bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement. I understand and acknowledge that this Agreement is a contract and shall be binding to the fullest extent permitted by law. It is my intent that this Agreement shall be binding upon my assignees, subrogors, distributors, heirs, next of kin, executors, and personal representatives, and those of the Participant.
- Agreement to Application of New York Law and Selection of Forum: I agree that any and all claims for injury and/or death arising from my participation in the Activity shall be governed by New York law, and that the exclusive jurisdiction for any claim shall be in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Ulster, without regard to where the incident giving rise to any lawsuit occurs, and without regard to any jurisdiction’s conflicts of laws analysis.
- Miscellaneous Provisions: I agree that AE may utilize my photograph, or video of me participating in the Activities for any purpose, and that any such image is the property of AE. If any sentence, clause, paragraph or part of this Agreement is declared unenforceable, the remainder shall continue in full force and effect. This Agreement can be modified only in writing. An electronic signature or acknowledgment of agreement upon this contract is fully binding and enforceable, and a copy of this executed Agreement may be used as if it is the original. I agree that any subcontractors or other vendors utilized by AE during or incidental to the Activity are solely responsible for injury that occurs to me while I am in their care, and that AE is not in a joint venture with any such vendor or subcontractor. I agree that AE is not a common carrier.
I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THE FOREGOING AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTAND ITS CONTENTS. I AM AWARE THAT I AM RELEASING CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS THAT I OR MY MINOR CHILD OTHERWISE MAY HAVE. I AGREE TO BE FULLY BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT. I certify that I am the person whose name appears below as the legal signatory to this Agreement. Date: November 4, 2024 |