2026 Wilderness Risk Management Conference

Main Conference: Tuesday October 20 - Thursday, October 22, 2026

Preconference: Monday October 19 - Tuesday, October 20, 2026

*Schedule subject to change.

8:30am PDT

Navigating the ADA and Employee Reasonable Accommodation Requests

Wednesday October 21, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

The Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), or similar state counterparts, apply to most employers. The protections it offers, and what it requires of both employers and employees can be incredibly confusing. This presentation will offer a step-by-step approach to help you determine if the ADA applies; what steps you need to take as an employer to prevent ADA discrimination and appropriately consider reasonable accommodation requests; how to vet reasonable accommodation requests; and how to avoid discrimination and retaliation claims.

Speakers

Amanda Esch

Partner, Davis & Cannon, LLP

Amanda F. Esch was raised on a guest and working cattle ranch, giving her a unique understanding of risk management in the outdoor industry. She helps employers draft policies and procedures, conduct independent third-party workplace investigations, and defends administrative and... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Clark 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Legal & Insurance, Breakout Session

10:30am PDT

Legal Issues 101: The Basics You Need to Know CORE

Wednesday October 21, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT

Weyerhaeuser

You know a lot about operating your program. How much do you know about the legal issues? This presentation provides an overview of the basics: what to tell participants when collecting medical information, what you shouldn’t say in your marketing materials, what to do with releases after you collect them, the key legal issues to address immediately after a serious incident, what indemnity is and why you should care, what discoverability is, and other topics.

Speakers

Frances Mock

Frances Turner Mock, Attorney

Frances Mock is an attorney specializing in risk management and claims management for wilderness and experiential education programs She is counsel to NOLS, Outward Bound, SCA, LL Bean’s Outdoor Discovery School, and other organizations, providing advice about: responding to incidents... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Weyerhaeuser 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Legal & Insurance, Breakout Session

1:30pm PDT

How a Climber Got Convicted of Manslaughter

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Clark

A climbing date gone bad, a fatal winter ascent, and a criminal conviction: A case study in how bad decision-making led to a manslaughter conviction. In February 2026, a climber was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter for the death of his girlfriend on the Grossglockner in Austria after abandoning his exhausted partner near the summit. The conviction was based on lack of experience, insufficient equipment, communication challenges, not turning back in time, and a cascade of bad decision-making. This session will examine what happened, the climber’s defense and justifications for his decisions, and why the court found him guilty. The judge was a climber and mountain rescuer so offered a uniquely qualified perspective to the case. While Austrian law is very different from the laws in the United States and Canada, this session will explore how the court established that the defendant owed his girlfriend a duty of care and how his actions fell short of reasonable alpine climbing standards.

Speakers

Jon Heshka

Associate Professor, Thompson Rivers University Adventure Studies Dept

Jon is a climber and former guide. He trained and coordinated search and rescue full-time in BC for 7 years, worked with Denali Mountain Rescue, and has been a professor at Thompson Rivers University in Canada since 2002. He teaches in the Adventure Studies Department and also served... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Clark 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Legal & Insurance, Breakout Session

8:30am PDT

A flash flood, a fatality, a lawsuit. A case study in critical incident response and preparing to successfully defend a lawsuit.

Thursday October 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

Weyerhaeuser

Join outdoor recreation attorney Leah Corrigan for a candid discussion of a river fatality in Grand Canyon on a commercial river trip. We will delve into risk management strategies that ultimately led to a favorable result in litigation. From risk management preparedness to immediate response and litigation, the session will explore tangible takeaways for managers and outdoor professionals.

Speakers

Leah Corrigan

Managing Attorney, Recreation Law Group

Leah Corrigan is the Managing Attorney of Recreation Law Group, a legal and risk management firm that advises and defends a wide variety of outdoor recreation businesses. Leah is an experienced litigator who has represented outdoor industry clients in serious personal injury matters... Read More →

Thursday October 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Weyerhaeuser 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Legal & Insurance, Breakout Session

10:30am PDT

Have You Got It Covered? Insurance 101 - The Basics

Thursday October 22, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT

Weyerhaeuser

In part one of the presentation participants will learn the basics of securing an adequate insurance program for an outdoor organization. Topics will include conducting a risk assessment and navigating a claim, as well as reviewing the fundamentals of the most important insurance policies: General Liability, Auto, Workers Compensation, Umbrella, D&O, Employment Practices, Crime, Cyber, Property and other miscellaneous policies. Are you confident your insurance policies are properly protecting your organization's assets and reputation? Do you understand what is required of you, the insured, to trigger coverage. In part two the presenters will facilitate several case studies to help participants understand how to navigate several different types of insurance claims.

Speakers

Sam Daume

Senior Vice President, Fred C. Church Insurance

Lach Zemp

Risk Management Council, Outward Bound

Lach (pronounced “Lash”) serves as Risk Management Counsel at Outward Bound, overseeing a range of risk management issues and claims for the Outward Bound Schools. Before joining Outward Bound, Lach practiced law for 30 years defending clients, including summer camps and employers... Read More →

Thursday October 22, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Weyerhaeuser 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Legal & Insurance, Breakout Session

3:00pm PDT

“We are Ready to Swear-in the Witness” – How Your Marketing and Policies Show Up in Litigation - A Deposition Simulation: Anne Jones v. ABC River Guides

Thursday October 22, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT

Clark

ABC River Guides has been sued in a personal injury action after Anne Jones fell out of an overturned raft, hitting her head on a rock after her helmet fell off due to an allegedly faulty buckle. Now, Bill Brown, owner/operator of ABC will give a deposition in the case. Listen in as ABC"s lawyer prepared Mr. Brown for his deposition, then watch a true-to-life simulation of the deposition with a debrief and Q&A to follow. Allegations/issues in the case include: insufficient informed consent, understated risk of activity, overstated training of personnel, improperly maintained/damaged safety equipment, failure to follow policies and procedures for equipment maintenance, delay in emergency medical response.

Speakers

Ben Scott

Partner, Butler Snow LLP

Ben is a partner with Butler Snow LLP in Memphis, Tennessee. His law practice focuses on civil defense litigation, including product liability, personal injury, premises liability, employment, and medical professional liability. Originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Ben is a... Read More →