Trip # Assigned: ___________ Leader Name : Phil Mecagni
Switzerland
Destination: St. Moritz/Pontresina,
APPLICATION TO LEAD AN AMC MAJOR EXCURSION
If possible, please fill this form out electronically so that it can be distributed by email.
Type on or over lines and directly into the appropriate sections of tables. When responding to Yes/No questions, please delete the answer you do not want so that only the appropriate answer remains. If you are filling out a hard copy, please attach additional pages if you find there is not enough space to answer thoroughly.
I. TRIP PROPOSED
A) Trip Title: St. Moritz XC and Downhill Ski Holiday
B) Type of Trip: XC and Downhill Skiing
C) Date: Start Feb. 6, 2004 End Feb 15, 2004 Length of Trip 10 days
D) Participants: (not counting leaders) Minimum #14 Maximum # 22
E) Brief outline of trip and trip activities.
You may write or type below or attach as a separate sheet. A complete itinerary with all available contact information must be provided before departure.
The St. Moritz/Pontresina area in southeast Switzerland offers 100 miles of dazzling groomed XC trails, including the famous Engadine Marathon trail, and 6 major downhill areas amidst spectacular 12,000 foot alpine peaks. Also, it has over 50 miles of ploughed winter walking trails, endless shops, museums, sleigh rides, swimming and night life.
One intermediate/advanced downhill and one intermediate diagonal XC ski outing will be led each day. Superb fitness center for after-ski relaxation. Then meet for conversation in the lounge before dinner, and eat 5-course meal together, where we plan for the next day's activities. Stay at a 3-star hotel in Pontresina, including breakfasts and dinners. Free ski bus for downhillers and regional ski pass for bus and train connections for XC skiers.
Fly Swissair to Zurich from Boston, New York or Washington DC and travel by chartered bus to/from the hotel.
F) Permits: Does the trip require special permits (required on all U.S. federal lands)?
No
If yes, please explain what permits will be needed and how/when they will be acquired.
G) Equipment: Does the trip require special technical equipment? No
If yes, what equipment is needed and will any of it be provided by the trip? No.
Just regular ski equipment and clothing.

H) Educational Aspect: What are the specific education, conservation, or recreation components of this trip?
Conservation: Discussion and viewing of Swiss recycling and forest conservation practices, and hydro electric energy policy.
Education: discussion of Swiss history, viewing historic architecture, and visiting folk and art museums.
I) Outfitters: Will this trip require an outfitter? No
Why or why not?
We’ll only be skiing on commercial, patrolled ski areas.
The coleader know the area well, having participated in 2 previous ski trips here, so we're fully capable of doing the leading ourselves.
Who are they?
_________________________________________________________________
What is their safety record?
_______________________________________________________
Do they have liability insurance?
___________________________________________________
Can they provide a certificate of insurance listing AMC as an additional party insured?
Yes No
How do they handle emergencies?
_________________________________________________
II. LEADER INFORMATION
A) Contact Information
Leader: Phil Mecagni Co-Leader: Constantine (Ken) Samoylenko
Address: 226 Wood St.
Woodville, MA 01784
Address: 256 Thoreau Street
Concord, MA 01742
Home Phone: 508-435-5172
Work Phone: 508-393-2277 xt 222
Home Phone: 978 369-3409
Work Phone: None
Email: pmecagni@intralearn.com Email: costias@hotmail.com
B) First Aid Training – To lead a Major Excursion, you must have current CPR and
Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or its equivalent at the time of your trip.

Course
Other cert.:
Leader
Exp. Date
Aug 04
Aug 04
Copy Attached
Co-Leader
Course Exp. Date Copy Attached
Nov 04
Nov 04
Other cert.:
If copies of CPR and WFA or equivalent are not attached, please detail your specific plan to obtain this certification.
C) Leader Experience and Training
New Leaders: If you are a new leader or co-leader, you must have submitted the form
“Application to Become a Major Excursions Leader.” Please attach a copy of that from.
Experienced Major Excursions Leaders: Please list below the last three trips you have led for the AMC including destination, type of trip (backpacking, skiing, etc.), dates, and number of participants. Feel free to list additional trips you have led, particularly if they demonstrate experience related to the trip you are proposing.
1. Bike Tuscany 2002 (Co-leader)
2. Bike Tuscany 2003 – (Leader for approved trip – Sept 2003)
3. Backcountry Ski Colorado (Leader for approved trip -March 2004)
4. Numerous AMC weekend ski trips & private ski mountaineering / backcountry trips
D) Scouting: Have you or your co-leader led this trip before or traveled in the area? Yes
Co-leader went on the same trip in 2002 and 2003. Assisted the then co-leader with downhill group by leading the more advanced people, thus freeing the then co-leader to stay with the slower group
E) Special Experience: What special skills or experience are required to lead this trip and how do you or your co-leader bring these skills and experience?
Careful selection and preparation of participants. Caring and flexible leadership on the trails. Intimate knowledge of hotels, trails and transportation in the area and of international air travel. Repeated experience with foreign currency exchange planning and procedures. Ability to recommend trip extensions to other areas of Europe, which we know because of our travel there.
F) Couples: If leader and co-leader are a couple or have some other close personal relationship, what are your back up plans if one if you cannot go and the other must stay behind as well? Or if you are in the field and both of you must return?
G) Medical History: Both leader and co-leader need to have a recent copy of the AMC
Confidential Medical Form on file at 5 Joy St. This form can be obtained online at

http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/ or call Katherine Byers at 617-523-0655 x333 to receive a hard copy by mail.Will be mailed July 30,04
III. RISK ASSESSMENT
A) Please assess the risks/hazards of your trip. Carefully consider each area of risk and how it may affect your trip with specific potential hazards. Then, devise a plan to attempt to prevent each hazard and to respond to it if it becomes necessary.
Areas of Risk
Climate/Terrain : trail conditions, weather, etc.
Foreign Countries : political concerns, crime, language translation
Transportation : vehicles, drivers, insurance
Potential Hazards
Usual risks of accident, avalanche, etc. in skiing in high mountains.
Not a problem. Switzerland is stable. Most Swiss speak
English.
Usual chance of bus/auto accident on narrow, winding snowy mountain roads.
Prevention/Response
Careful safety instruction in advance.
Team cooperation stressed. Phil has
Mountaineers' weather knowledge.
Nearby shelter at lift stations and inns.
Co-leader speaks German
Leader speaks Italian
Employ large, commercial Swiss bus transport co., Masse Transport., experienced in Zurich-Pontresina route.
Participants : skill level, health, group dynamics
Chance person can't handle downhill trails. Chance of accident, heart attack or stroke, flu, diarrhea, altitude sickness, etc.
Other :
B) Emergency Action Plan
Require at least intermediate skills, else require take prof'l classes.Careful discussion of previous experience and trip goals, prior to acceptance on trip.
Before you leave for you trip, you will need to provide a list of participants and their emergency contacts in case something happens to someone in the field as well as an itinerary with phone numbers (where available) in case something happens at home. In the space below, please describe your plans for dealing with emergencies. Please use as much detail as possible and attach additional sheets if necessary.
Emergency Communication (phone contacts, language, documentation)
Most Swiss speak some English. Co-leader speaks some German. Phones located at all lift stations and inns. We carry Emergency phone numbers and get Rega alpine rescue insurance.
Evacuation (out of backcountry location, out of foreign country)

Rega helicopter evacuation service, in addition to regular ski patrol capabilities. Will evac to hospital in St. Moritz or to Berne or Zurich if specialized facilities required.
Eventual evacuation to U.S. would be by Swissair out of Zurich.
Medical Care (local medical facilities – location and quality)
Local medical care is excellent, for usual illnesses, ski accidents, and beyond. Doctor's office around corner from hotel in Pontresina. Hospital in nearby Samedan and St.
Moritz.
IV. COST INFORMATION
Your application to lead a trip will not be accepted if a detailed cost analysis is not attached.
A) Estimated cost per participant with minimum #: $1725.with maximum # : $1400
Cost per participant to be listed in AMC Outdoors: $1725.
COST ANALYSIS:
Per Person Estimate for 14 participants + 2 leaders:
Swissair Roundtrip 576. 8064
Chartered Bus, Rd. Trip 135 1890
8 Nights at Hotel,
including half board 975 13650
AMC 7% of Land Costs 77.70 1087.80
Admin/Currency/Banking 30 420
Rega Helicopter Rescue Insur 30 420
Share of Leader Costs 225 3150
Contingency 40 560
Total Expense 2088.70 29241.80
Total Revenue 2095 29330
B)What deposits are required in advance? Hotel deposit 50% required 1month in advance.___________________________________________
C) What is the latest date for you to cancel and get a full refund? One month in advance for hotel. 2 months in advance for Swissair seats reserved.
D) What are your plans if you do not get the required number of people?
If just short of 14, we'd probably go anyway, and leaders would pay portion of our costs.
If way short, we'd cancel the trip.

V. PRIVATE TRIPS
Are you currently (up to and including the time frame of this proposed trip) leading trips that are “private,” i.e. not sponsored by the AMC? No
VI. AMC OUTDOORS INFORMATION
Detailed instructions on trip listings available at <http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/>.
E) Request month for trip to first appear in AMC Outdoors _July/August issue,
2004
Date to be pulled Feb. 1, 2004
F) Please provide an electronic copy of both the long (150 words maximum) and short form (50 word maximum) announcements. Note that the word count stops at the phrase “For info.”
*** Caribbean trips use only short form
VII. TRIP PROPOSAL AND APPROVAL PROCESS
Trips cannot come before the Major Excursions Committee for approval unless the forms are completely filled out and received three weeks prior to MEC meetings for review.
Please make sure you have filled out all appropriate sections of this form completely and included any necessary attachments.
 First aid certifications: already on file.  Detailed cost information: see above.
 Leader Qualification information  AMC Outdoors listings: emailed separately on
 AMC Medical form for both leaders: mailed separately on July 30, 2004
By turning in this proposal, you are agreeing to the following:
I have read the Major Excursions Leader Handbook and I agree to follow all policies and prodecures of the Major Excursions Committee and the Appalachian
Mountain Club in preparing for and conducting my major excursion.
Thank you for completing this form!

 Copies of first aid certifications and medical forms should be submitted in hard copy only. These can be faxed (marked attn: Katherine Byers) to 617-523-0722 or mailed to the Major Excursions, 5 Joy St. address below.
 Email submissions of this trip proposal form are preferred.
Email should be sent to both of the following two addresses:
T. Walley Williams, Major Excursions Committee Chair at < vze2g9bb@verizon.net
>
Katherine Byers, AMC Outdoor Leadership Coordinator at < kbyers@amcinfo.org
>
Or, if you unable to send electronically, please mail a hard copy to the following two addresses:
T. Walley Williams, III
Chair, AMC Major Excursions Committee
Major Excursions
Appalachian Mountain Club
71 Orchard St.
Belmont, MA 02478-3509
5 Joy St.
Boston, MA 02108
Questions? Call T. Walley Williams at the above email or 617-484-1877.

LONG FORM AMC OUTDOORS NOTICE
FOR July/August, 2002, ISSUE
TRIP NAME: ST. MORITZ XC AND DOWNHILL SKI HOLIDAY
DATES OF TRIP: Feb. 13 to Feb22, 2004
TRIP NUMBER:
LEADER: Phil Mecagni CO-LEADER: Ken Samoylenko
Thrill to 7 full days of world-class skiing on 100 miles of groomed XC trails in the sunny Engadine Valley or down six vast 12,000-foot mountains in St. Moritz and
Pontresina. XC the beautiful Rosegg Valley or the Engadine Marathon over lakes, through forests and picturesque Swiss villages. Downhillers can choose from endless intermediate and advanced runs, connected by free ski bus. One downhill and one classic
XC ski trip each day.
Also enjoy winter walks, swimming, museums, sleighrides, and nightlife. Stay at 3-star hotel with fitness center and piano bar in nearby colorful Pontresina.
Cost $ 2095 pp, including air, chartered bus, private bath, copious breakfasts and dinners. For info: Phil Mecagni, 226 Wood Street, Woodville, MA, 01784, 508 435-
5172, pmecagni@intralearn.com
or Ken Samoylenko, 256 Thoreau Street, Concord, MA
01742, 978 369-3409, costias@hotmail.com
SHORT FORM AMC OUTDOORS NOTICE
TRIP NAME: ST. MORITZ XC AND DOWNHILL SKI HOLIDAY
DATES OF TRIP: Feb. 13 to Feb 22, 2004
TRIP NUMBER:
LEADER: Phil Mecagni CO-LEADER: Ken Samoylenko
Thrilling world-class skiing on 100 miles of groomed XC trails or six vast mountains in
St. Moritz and Pontresina. XC the beautiful Rosegg Valley or Engadine Marathon.
Downhillers cruise endless intermediate/advanced runs. Enjoy winter walking, sleighrides, nightlife. 3-star hotel, private bath, fitness center. $ 2095 includes air, bus, breakfasts, dinners. For info: Phil Mecagni, 226 Wood Street, Woodville, MA 01784, 508
435-5172, pmecagni@intralearn.com
or Ken Samoylenko, 256 Thoreau Street, Concord,
MA 01742, 978 369-3409, costias@hotmail.com