Wind River Backpacking
L Paul Davis; CL Keith Moore
Aug. 12-20, 2005
APPLICATION TO LEAD AN AMC MAJOR EXCURSION
1. SUMMARY INFORMATION
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
Trip Title:
Leader:
Co-Leader(s):
Dates:
Type of Trip:
The Best Backpack in North America – Wind River Range, Wyoming
Paul Davis
Keith Moore
Aug. 12-20, 2006
Total # of days:
9
Backpack
F) Participants: (not counting leaders) Minimum: 8
Maximum: 10
Advertised Cost: $636.00 not inc. airfare (est. $450-550)
2. TRIP DETAILS
A) Executive Summary: Brief outline of trip and trip activities.
We plan to fly into Jackson, Wyoming, on Sat., Aug.12 (some participants may come in a day
earlier), rent vans and then travel south to Pinedale, the gateway to the Wind River Range, for two
nights of car camping, with Sun., Aug. 13, spent doing an acclimatization hike. From Mon., Aug.
14 to Sat., Aug. 19, we'll do a 37 mile backpack loop through the northern part of the range
(following a route called Sky Pilot in the trail guide, although it goes on several different trails).
This will likely include one layover day. We'll return to the Jackson area on Sat. afternoon, stay in
a local hotel and return home on Sun., Aug. 20.
B) Accommodations: Please describe your plans for accommodation(s).
We will car camp at the Pinedale Campground in Pinedale, WY, on Sat. and Sun., Aug. 1213. We'll be using backcountry campsites from Mon., Aug. 14 to Sat., Aug. 19. The final night
will be at a bunkhouse in Jackson.
C) Meals: Please describe your plans for meals.
We will provide group cooked meals for seven dinners (Sat.-Fri.) and seven breakfasts (Sun.Sat.). We will have the final dinner in a restaurant and breakfast on the final Sun. will be on their
own. Participants will provide their own lunches and trail snacks (with a stop on the first Sat.
afternoon for individual food shopping).
D) Permits: Does the trip require special permits (required on all U.S. federal lands
Yes
We have to submit an application for a group permit to the Pinedale District Ranger Office (of
the Bridger-Teton National Forest) 45 days in advance of our trip. There is no fee for this permit.
E) Equipment: Does the trip require special/technical equipment?
Yes
The trip requires all standard backpacking equipment: expedition backpacks, lightweight
tents, stoves, etc. Given the potential for snow, even at this time of year, sufficient cold weather
clothing is required. In addition, bear country safety gear is required, including bear canisters and
pepper spray.
Revised 06/29/05
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Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
Wind River Backpacking
L Paul Davis; CL Keith Moore
Aug. 12-20, 2005
F) Pre-trip activities: Do you plan to get your group together before the major excursion for
an activity or social event?
Yes
We plan to hold one weekend of car camping and day hikes and an additional activity that will
either be a group dinner or another weekend of car camping and day hikes. The location (and
whether or not we have a second weekend activity) will depend on where the participants are
located. These trips will be optional.
G) Conservation/Education/Recreation:: Given that the AMC Mission Statement is as follows
Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is America's oldest conservation and recreation
organization. We promote the protection, enjoyment, and wise use of the mountains, rivers, and trails
of the Appalachian region. We believe that the mountains and rivers have an intrinsic worth and also
provide recreational opportunity, spiritual renewal, and ecological and economic health for the
region. We encourage people to enjoy and appreciate the natural world because we believe that
successful conservation depends on this experience. We fulfill our mission through the three
interconnecting pillars of the AMC: conservation, education, and recreation
How will this major excursion meet this mission of conservation, education, and recreation?
For examples, please see <http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/mission/>
This backpack is almost entirely in the Jim Bridger Wilderness and offers exceptional
opportunities to observe one of the few (relatively) undisturbed parts of the U.S. in the lower 48
states. Given the nearby presence of significant natural gas resources and the pressure to increase
these nearby activities, this area could be considered under threat, even though designated as
wilderness. We are therefore promoting conservation by increasing the number of people who
know about and understand the uniqueness of this environment and the need to protect it.
Recreation is a given as we will be hiking/backpacking over 40 miles, often at altitudes requiring
good levels of physical fitness. The educational component of the trip will focus on learning
about the alpine environment, its flora and fauna, its fragility and the need to treat it with care and
“leave no trace” principles as they apply to this environment. Additional educational opportunities
should come from the challenges of dealing with altitude and isolation.
H) Outfitters: Will this trip require an outfitter?
No
3. LEADER INFORMATION
A) Contact Information:
Leader:
Paul Davis
117 David Rd
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
(home) 610-667-1144
(work)
(e-mail) pauld@worldlynx.net
Co-Leader:
Revised 06/29/05
Keith Moore
348 Hunnewell St.
Needham, MA, 02494
(home) 781-223-5822
(work) 508-855-4833
(e-mail) kamoore1963@yahoo.com
Pg. 2 of 6
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
Wind River Backpacking
L Paul Davis; CL Keith Moore
Aug. 12-20, 2005
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.
Leader:
CPR: 12/05 (plan to renew before then for a two year period
WFA: First responder exp. 12/06; plan to renew in 05/06
Other:
Co-Leader:
CPR: None; signed up for course with Red Cross in Nov. 2005
WFA: Basic WFA only (exp. Nov. 2006); taking AWFA in Nov. 2005
Other: NA
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”.
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.
Leader Experience
Major Excursions: Lake District, England – August 2004; Yosemite, CA – June/July 2005;
Patagonia, Chile Dec 2005/Jan 2006
Other: 10 day backpack in NC/TN as Inter-chapter Excursion, August 2003; 5 day hut-to-hut
in Whites as Inter-chapter Excursion, July 2004
D) Scouting:
Have you or your co-leader led this trip before or traveled in the area?
No
E) Special Experience:
Are any special skills or experience on the part of the participants required? Yes
Yes, participants require good backpacking experience, especially with multi-night
backpacking trips. Ideally, they will have been at some sort of altitude before (9,000 feet or
higher). A high level of physical fitness is required.
F) Couples:
Do the Leader and Co-leader have a significant personal relationship?
No
4. RISK ASSESSMENT
A) Climate/Terrain
Potential Hazards: Weather (possibility of snow, lightning in the afternoons); wildlife
(particularly bears); difficulty finding trails; injury
Response:
Weather: We will travel with sufficient clothing for cold weather. We have
built an extra day into the trip for possible weather delays. We will also monitor the weather
Revised 06/29/05
Pg. 3 of 6
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
Wind River Backpacking
L Paul Davis; CL Keith Moore
Aug. 12-20, 2005
carefully immediately prior to the trip, including talking to the rangers before starting. If the
forecast looks poor, we will alter the trip. Lightning: We will travel early and get to campsites or
below timberline by early afternoon. Wildlife: Standard bear country procedures: keep the group
together, don't round bends or blind corners without making noise, keep a clean campsite
(separate areas for sleeping and food preparation), food stored in bear containers and, as a last
resort, pepper spray. Injury is always a concern but we will have a fully equipped first aid kit, will
travel cautiously and slowly, particularly in rocky areas, and have an emergency plan should
evacuation be required.
B) Foreign Countries
Potential Hazards: NA
Response:
NA
C) Transportation
Potential Hazards: Missed connections; otherwise minimal
Response:
There is always a possibility of missed connections, particularly with 12
participants involved. The airport is only 100 miles from the trailhead, meaning that anyone who
arrives late can arrange a shuttle to the trailhead if we find we're unable to wait any longer. In
addition, we have an extra day of acclimatization hiking prior to the backpack and this provides
an extra day for people to arrive in the event of extreme delays. We are renting vans and will take
the full insurance to avoid any damage or liability issues. Driving distances are short and
highways aren't heavily traveled.
D) Participants
Potential Hazards: Insufficient fitness; poor response to altitude; poor group dynamics
Response:
Screening should address most of these concerns. We will probe very
carefully and ask very specific questions about fitness levels, current activities, planned activities
and past backpacking experience, including asking for references if we have questions. We will
provide participants with recommendations for training for the backpack. Altitude is more
difficult to address, given that its effects are sometimes unpredictable. Our acclimatization hike
the day after we arrive should help to identify anyone who may respond poorly to altitude. We
will also seek people who have been at altitude before and suggest they consult with their
physicians prior to undertaking the trip, both for a physical and to obtain medication if needed.
We have also provided ourselves with six full days to cover a 37 mile route. This allows us to
keep our days to 6-8 miles per day and also have a potential break day. The route itself contains
only one steep section. Group dynamics are another thing that is unpredictable but screening
carefully, particularly with regard to objectives, travel style, etc., plus our pre-trip weekend
should provide a good sense of any potential group dynamic issues.
E) Other
Potential Hazards: Bears
Response:
Bears: Standard bear country procedures: keep the group together, don't
round bends or blind corners without making noise, keep a clean campsite (separate areas for
sleeping and food preparation), food stored in bear containers and, as a last resort, pepper spray.
Revised 06/29/05
Pg. 4 of 6
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
Wind River Backpacking
L Paul Davis; CL Keith Moore
Aug. 12-20, 2005
5. EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
A) Emergency Communication
This area has very spotty cell phone reception (even in the communities in the valley) and is
very isolated. Given the amount of times we'll be away and the distance, we plan to take a
satellite phone as an emergency communication system. These phones can be rented for a
minimal amount with costs only in the event of use.
B) Evacuation
If evacuation is required, we have a relatively large group (10-12), making it possible to
perform a self-rescue, should this be needed. If the injured person is capable of moving him or
herself, we can split his/her gear up amongst the rest of the participants without significantly
increasing any one person’s load. If the injured person cannot move, we still have the
possibility of attempting a carry. Given the altitude and potential isolation, this can be seen as
a last resort or would simply serve to get the injured person to a better location where Forest
Service rescue personnel could meet us. We will have a satellite phone and therefore the
ability to contact the Forest Service immediately should a serious injury or illness occur. We
are within the range of the Grand Teton Search and Rescue team, which has been
recommended by another major excursion leader. Should this communication fail, we are not
so isolated that one person could not reach help within 24 hours.
C) Medical Care
Jackson, Wyoming, approximately 100 miles from the trailhead, contains excellent medical
facilities, particularly suited to backcountry activities due to the presence of the Jackson Hole ski
area and nearby Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, the former in particularly being
one of the most visited national parks. There is a medical clinic in Pinedale, the closest town. The
closest major city is Salt Lake City, approximately 250 miles to the south.
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.
6. COST INFORMATION
A) What deposits are will be required from airlines, hotels, outfitters, etc. (and when):
Participants are responsible for their own airfare. We expect to have to pay for the
campground and the bunkhouse 60 days in advance. (These are relatively small amounts.)
B) What is the latest date for you to cancel and get a full refund? :
May 12, 2006
C) What is the value of the deposit you will require of the participants?
$ 100
D) What will be your cancellation policy for the participants?
Full refund (minus $50 for administration) if someone can be found on the waiting list;
otherwise refund half the deposit if cancelled 90 days ahead; deposit forfeited if cancelled
within 90 days.
E) Will trip run if minimum participant count not met?
Revised 06/29/05
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No
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
Wind River Backpacking
L Paul Davis; CL Keith Moore
Aug. 12-20, 2005
7. 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
8. AMC OUTDOORS INFORMATION
Long announcement:
THE BEST BACKPACK IN NORTH AMERICA – THE WIND RIVER RANGE,
WYOMING: The Wind River Range is one of the most remote and beautiful places in the lower
48 – and one of the largest wilderness areas in the country. It offers spectacular mountain scenery
with narrow serrated peaks soaring above boulder strewn meadows and beautiful lakes. The entire
areas is teeming with wildlife. After an acclimatization hike to the famous Cirque of the Towers,
we’ll follow a loop trail through the northern part of the range with views of spectacular Sky Pilot
Peak. We’ll take six days to allow for a leisurely pace and a potential side trip to Titcomb Basin,
sitting below several superb 13,000 feet peaks on the Continental Divide. Cost including all
meals, local transportation, camping and one night in a bunkhouse is $636, not inc. airfare (est.
$450-550).
Short announcement:
WIND RIVER RANGE BACKPACK: Join us for a six day backpack in the most remote and
beautiful place in the lower 48. This Wyoming wilderness features spectacular mountains, alpine
meadows and lakes, and abundant wildlife. Includes Cirque of the Towers and Titcomb Basin,
among others. Cost inc. all meals, local transportation, camping and one night in a bunkhouse is
$636, not inc. airfare (est. $450-550).
9. CONCLUSION
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.
Revised 06/29/05
Pg. 6 of 6
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16