Trip # Assigned: ___________
Leader Name: Mike Tannert
Destination: Zermatt, Switzerland
APPLICATION TO LEAD AN AMC MAJOR EXCURSION
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If possible, please fill this form out electronically so that it can be distributed by email.
Please type in any font other than italics so we can easily identify your responses. 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, leaving only the prefered answer.
Please save and forward your electronic document in the following format:
Leader’s Last Name, Trip destination-Trip Activity (if applicable), Trip Start date.
For example: Zukroff New Zealand Hiking 12.26.03.doc
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: _Zermatt Hiking
B) Type of Trip: Backpacking Day-hiking Cultural Skiing Other: ______________________
C) Date: Start Aug 18, 2004___ End Aug 29 2004 Length of Trip 11 days (9 nights in hotels)
D) Participants: (not counting leaders) Minimum # 10___________ Maximum # 20________
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.
Fly Swiss Air from either Boston or New York to Zurich. Take trains to Zermatt.
Stay at chalet Haus St. Stefan, in 2-person apartments with kitchenette where we make our own
breakfasts and lunches. Overflow will stay at nearby Hotel Dufour, a 2-star hotel with breakfast
provided. Eat dinners at fine restuarants in Zermatt, often followed by local musical
entertainment. Mike and Terry lead a strong intermediate to advanced hike each day. Splendid
mountain views and varied terrain make for some of the best day hiking in the world. First few
days' hikes are at lower levels for acclimatization. Then we take cable cars up to start higher. All
hikes are on trails well maintained by Zermatt, but have steep dropoffs in many places. One day
we'll hike with a Swiss guide across the Gorner Glacier to the Monte Rosa hut for lunch, and
back. One night we may stay overnight at the Trift Hotel, a typical Swiss mountain hut, to have
that experience and hike up from there the next day to the Mettelhorn, or over the Hohbalmen.
Return to Zurich by train Saturday evening, stay overnight in a hotel near the airport. Depart for
Boston and New York on Sunday morning. Individual trip extensions elsewhere in Europe
available at low cost on Swiss Air or using the Swiss rail pass.
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? Yes
If yes, what equipment is needed and will any of it be provided by the trip?
4-point Instep crampons are required for the hike across the glacier. We ask participants to buy their own, at around
$30.
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Appendix – Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
H) Educational Aspect: What are the specific education, conservation, or recreation components
of this trip?
Talks on Swiss conservation methods in the mountains and hydroelectric power.
Education on Swiss flowers, animals; on altitude and acclimatization procedures; on crossing a
glacier.
The main recreation is hiking; dining at fine Swiss restaurants; enjoying Swiss music and other
cultural aspects available in Zermatt.
I) Outfitters: Will this trip require an outfitter? Yes for one day only.
Why or why not? Mike Tannert is an experienced mountaineer and has run this trip at least 5
times for the AMC._Terry Peters, our proposed co-leader, is an experienced hiker, backpacker,
and peak bagger, and knows the Zermatt hiking trails due to participating in one of our previous
trips.
Who are they? A certified Swiss mountain guide, employed by the Zermatt Guide Service.
What is their safety record?
Excellent.______________________________________________________
Do they have liability insurance? _We buy Zermatt Helicopter Rescue Insurance for all
participants._________________________________________________
Can they provide a certificate of insurance listing AMC as an additional party insured?
No
How do they handle emergencies? _Zermatt Helicopter Rescue Service, with doctors on board.
Best rescue service in the world.
II. LEADER INFORMATION
A) Contact Information
Leader:H. Michael Tannert (Mike)
Co-Leader: Terry Peters
Address: 7 Linway Rd.
Address: 4769 Allens Hill Rd.
Lincoln, MA 01773
Honeoye, NY 14471
Home Phone: 781 259 0194
Home Phone: 585 229 2979
Work Phone: ---
Work Phone: ---
Email: joannahop@earthlink.net
Email: terrypetersny@aol.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
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Leader
Exp. Date
Copy Attached
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Course
Co-Leader
Exp. Date Copy Attached
Appendix – Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
CPR
WFA
AWFA
Other
Other cert.:
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
CPR
Mar. 03
Yes
WFA
Yes
AWFA
Yes
Other
Yes
Other cert.:NY Guide Certificate, for
hiking and camping. Expires 3/19/06
Red Cross Community First Aid and
Safety Expires 3/21/05
No
No
No
No
If copies of CPR and WFA or equivalent are not attached, please detail your specific plan to
obtain this certification.
You have Mike Tannert's certificates on file. He will update prior to departure as required.
Terry Peters is faxing his CPR and Red Cross Community First Aid and Safety certificate which
he is renewing in July and will get SOLO.WFA.
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.
Terry will email you that separately.
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. St. Moritz/Pontresina Ski Holiday, Mar. 1-9. 2003. Downhill and XC skiing. 20
participants,#0311, co-leader
2. Same trip, last February, 2002. 21 participants, co-leader
3.Davos Downhill and XC Ski trip, 2001, 21 participants, co-leader
4. Have led the Zermatt Hiking trip 5 times, most recently in August, 2000, #2046, leader, 19
participants
5. Also 3 hiking trips to Stubai, Austria (Mozart and Mountains), latest in 2000, in which Terry
Peters also participated.
D) Scouting: Have you or your co-leader led this trip before or traveled in the area? Yes
E)
If yes, please describe:
I climbed the Matterhorn in 78, and every year since except the last 3 have ski mountaineered
there. Have climbed 20 4000-meter peaks there with Swiss guide.
Terry Peters hiked in Zermatt with us for 4 days in 2000.
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Appendix – Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
F) 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?
I am an experienced hiker and mountaineer. Ability to read weather, instruct hikers in hiking
techniques in the Alps, use ropes to rescue as needed. Also experienced in glacier hiking on
crampons and rock climbing.
Some knowledge of German, know Switzerland well, know currency exchange, transportation
routes, etc.
G) 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?
Use experienced AMC hikers and/or leaders who are participants on the trip.
Worst case, hire local Swiss guide to complete the trip.
H) 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 Heidi Reilly at 617-523-0655 x356 to receive a hard
copy by mail.
Mike Tannert's medical history is on file.
Terry Peters will fax his.
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.
Potential Hazards
Avalanche/rock fall
Slipping off trail, over cliff
Rain/cold exposure
Crevasses
Foreign Countries:
political concerns,
crime, language
translation
Transportation:
vehicles, drivers,
Switzerland neutral, safe.
German language.
Pickpockets
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Swiss Air to Zurich
Swiss trains to Zermatt.
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Prevention/Response
Stay on marked trails. Observe slopes.
Instruct hikers. Carry ropes. Know belay
and rescue techniques.
Carry raingear, extra layers, hats, gloves,
gaiters socks, polypro underwear, first
aid kit.
Careful safety instructions in advance.
Wear crampons and take guide on
glacier.
Check State Dept advisories.
Know some German. Carry dictionary
Warn in advance..
All have proven safety records.
Appendix – Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
insurance
Cable cars in Zermatt
Participants:
skill level, health,
group dynamics
Intermediate or advanced
hiking skills required; else
low-level walks at own risk.
Careful phone screening and prior
experience.
Team building and safety rules from
start.
Other:
B) Emergency Action Plan
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)
SOLO soap note. German dictionary of accident-related and health words. Use nearest mt. hut or
lift station for phone contacts. Call in Swiss Helicopter Rescue service (Air Zermatt).
Evacuation (out of backcountry location, out of foreign country)
Use Swiss Helicopter Rescue service (Air Zermatt)
Medical Care (local medical facilities – location and quality)
Good doctors in Zermatt for accidents and illnesses.
Hospital at Brig or University Hospital in Berne (by helicopter) for serious accidents/illnesses.
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 # $2695 with maximum # $2655.
Cost per participant to be listed in AMC Outdoors $2695.
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Appendix – Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
B) What deposits are required in advance?Swiss Air 2 months in advance. Haus St. Stefan in
Zermatt -- no advance deposit required. Hotel Dufour: 50% 2 mo. in advance.
C) What is the latest date for you to cancel and get a full refund? 2 months in advance of
departure
D) What are your plans if you do not get the required number of people?
If close to 10 people, we would go and leader/co-leader would pay some of their expenses.
Otherwise, cancel.
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 for Leader Mike Tannert
Yes, Terry Peters is leading New York Guide Certification Trips in Adirondacks for hiking and
camping.
VI. AMC OUTDOORS INFORMATION
Detailed instructions on trip listings available at <http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/>.
A) Request month for trip to first appear in AMC Outdoors _November, 2003
B) 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.”
To be submitted via email in August, 2003.
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.
Tannert's First aid and solo certifications, Medical History, and Leader Qual Info are on file.
Detailed cost info is emailed in excel worksheet in required format.
AMC Outdoors listings to be emailed in August, 2003.
Detailed cost worksheet is being emailed along with this application.
Terry Peters CPR, Red Cross Certification and NY State Guide Certification have been faxed to
Heidi and Twalley today, 6/18/03, along with his Application to Co-Lead a MEC trip and a
resume of his hiking and leading experience in the past 6 years.
 First aid certifications
 Detailed cost information
 Leader Qualification information
 AMC Outdoors listings
 AMC Medical form for both leaders
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Appendix – Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
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
procedures 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: Heidi Reilly) to 617-367-8878 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>
Heidi Reilly, AMC Travel Programs Coordinator at <hreilly@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
71 Orchard St.
Belmont, MA 02478-3509
Major Excursions
Appalachian Mountain Club
5 Joy St.
Boston, MA 02108
Questions? Call T. Walley Williams at the above email or 617-484-1877.
He can put you in touch with an experienced MEC mentor who can help you with trip planning.
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Appendix – Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion