Physical and Mental Eligibility Criteria

Participant Physical and Mental Eligibility Criteria

The following physical and mental eligibility criteria apply to all guests participating in any Sierra South Mountain Sports rafting trip on the Kern River. These standards are in place to help ensure the safety of all guests and guides while on the river.

Participants must be able to:

• Have the ability to get on or off the raft independently or with the assistance of a designated companion. This may include maneuvering your body over raft tubes and other fixed equipment.
• Properly wear all required safety equipment, including a U.S. Coast Guard–approved Type V personal flotation device (maximum chest size of 56 inches). Leg straps may be required to ensure a secure fit. Helmets must be worn at all times on the raft.
• Hold onto safety lines or handles to maintain balance and stability, particularly while navigating rapids.
• Remain seated in a raft for extended periods, typically 3 hours or longer.
• Move safely along shoreline terrain, which may include navigating boulders, rocks, slippery or uneven surfaces, low branches, and vegetation. This may be done independently, with reasonable adaptive equipment, or with the assistance of a designated companion. Guests must also be able to maintain balance near steep terrain, ledges, or riverbanks.
• Respond appropriately if an unexpected swim occurs. While uncommon, falling into the river is possible. Participants must be able to remain calm and assist in their own rescue. This includes the ability to:
  • Hold your breath and control breathing while being splashed or briefly submerged.
  • Orient yourself in moving water.
  • Exit from beneath an overturned raft if necessary.
  • Float on your back in the current with your feet up and near the water’s surface.
  • Swim toward a raft or the shoreline while wearing a life jacket.
  • Receive and respond to rescue assistance, such as a throw rope, paddle, or help from guides or other guests.
• Assist another guest who has fallen into the water, when directed by a guide, including helping pull them back into the raft.
• Follow both verbal and non-verbal instructions from guides, including during stressful or emergency situations, and communicate effectively with guides and fellow guests.
• Maintain personal safety in an outdoor environment, including situations where allergen exposure or cross-contamination may occur.
• Manage personal care needs independently or with the help of a designated companion.
• Handle normal daily activities, including eating, toileting, and dressing, independently or with a designated companion.
• Manage all personal medications, including proper dosing and administration, independently or with the assistance of a designated companion.
• Maintain adequate hydration, nutrition, and appropriate clothing to help prevent environmental conditions such as heat illness, dehydration, or sunburn.
• Participate cooperatively in a group setting within a remote outdoor environment without jeopardizing the safety or experience of other guests or crew members.

Failure to meet the above criteria may prevent an individual from participating in a Sierra South rafting trip on the Kern River. These criteria exist solely for the safety of all guests and staff.

These standards are not intended to discriminate on the basis of any physical or mental disability and are applied consistently to all participants. Sierra South Mountain Sports is committed to making reasonable accommodations for guests with disabilities whenever possible, provided that such accommodations do not fundamentally alter the nature or safety requirements of the rafting experience.