Into The Wild - Alaskan Arctic Adventure
Stacia Zukroff/Sue Lach
June 9-23, 2006
APPLICATION TO LEAD AN AMC MAJOR EXCURSION
(Use the F1 key to summon help for most fields)
(Forms and General Information: http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/ )
1. SUMMARY INFORMATION
A) Trip Title:
Into The Wild - Alaskan Arctic Adventure
B)
C)
D)
E)
Stacia Zukroff
Sue Lach
June 9-23, 2006
Backpacking and Dayhiking
Leader:
Co-Leader(s):
Dates:
Type of Trip:
F) Participants: (not counting leaders) Minimum: 8
Advertised Cost: $3,875 plus $550-650 airfare
Total # of days:
14
Maximum: 10
2. TRIP DETAILS
A) Executive Summary: Brief outline of trip and trip activities.
This trip will give participants the opportunity to travel to the remotest region of Alaska and
North America. We will fly into Fairbanks and spend several days exploring the mountains along
the Dalton Highway as we proceed north by vehicle past the Arctic Circle to Coldfoot. Possible
dayhikes may take place in the Chena River State Recreation Area, in the White Mountains
National Recreation Area, in the Yukon Flats Wildlife Refuge and in Gates of the Arctic National
Park and Preserve. We will also visit Chena Hot Springs and do a full day float trip on the Upper
Chena River. From Coldfoot, the group will depart by bush plane to the heart of the coastal plain
of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), where we will spend 8 days backpacking in two
groups, guided by Arctic Wild out of Fairbanks. At the conclusion of backpack we will exit the
Refuge via the Eskimo village of Kaktovik. From there we will fly back to Coldfoot and return to
Fairbanks via the Dalton Highway.
B) Accommodations: Please describe your plans for accommodation(s).
Accomodatons will primarily consist of tents. We will stay in a hotel the first night in
Fairbanks and get at least 3 rooms for people to wash up and repack for red eye flights home on
the last day.
C) Meals: Please describe your plans for meals.
We will have a welcome dinner the first night and all meals are provided on the backpack.
Breakfast is provided at the hotel. While camping there will be a combination of group camping
meals and eating in restaurants as facilities are available along the Dalton Highway. Participants
will be expected to pay for only a few meals.
Revised 06/29/05
Pg. 1 of 9
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
Into The Wild - Alaskan Arctic Adventure
Stacia Zukroff/Sue Lach
June 9-23, 2006
D) Permits: Does the trip require special permits (required on all U.S. federal lands
Arctic Wild will obtain permits for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Yes
E) Equipment: Does the trip require special/technical equipment?
No
Standard backpacking equipment will be required by each participant. A detailed packing list
will be sent out months prior for participants to plan.
F) Pre-trip activities: Do you plan to get your group together before the major excursion for
an activity or social event?
Yes
Depending on the location of the group, a day hike of social will be scheduled for all to meet.
A weekend back pack will be held in the spring in the White Mountains.
Revised 06/29/05
Pg. 2 of 9
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
Into The Wild - Alaskan Arctic Adventure
Stacia Zukroff/Sue Lach
June 9-23, 2006
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/>
G)
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) was established for four main
reasons: (i) to conserve fish and wildlife populations and habitats in their natural diversity; (ii)
to fulfill the international fish and wildlife treaty obligations of the United States; (iii) to
provide the opportunity for continued subsistence uses by local residents; and (iv) to ensure
water quality and necessary water quantity within the Refuge. ANWR is under continuous
threat by successive Republican administrations that wish to open it up for oil drilling.
H)
Before the trip we plan to send participants copious information about the Refuge
and other areas where we will be hiking, alerting them to the the conservation concerns and
efforts being made to preserve the land. The Bureau of Land Management, the National Park
Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service operate an Arctic Interagency Visitor Center in
Coldfoot that has interpretive hikes and programs aimed at introducing visitors to the Arctic
environment, wildlife and conservation issues.
I)
During the welcome dinner we plan to have the owner of Arctic Wild give us an
overview of his work as director of a local non-profit that advocates for Arctic conservation.
J)
We will be visiting Eskimo villages and learning about Arctic way of life.
H) Outfitters: Will this trip require an outfitter?
Yes
Name: Arctic Wild
Safety record: They have never had an injury or medical condition in the field that required
evacuation.
Liability insurance: $2 million and will add AMC as additional insured
Emergency response: Guides are WFR certified and will carry satellite phones. Planes can be
flown into Refuge if needed.
Revised 06/29/05
Pg. 3 of 9
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
Into The Wild - Alaskan Arctic Adventure
Stacia Zukroff/Sue Lach
June 9-23, 2006
3. LEADER INFORMATION
A) Contact Information:
Leader:
Stacia Zukroff
20 Lakehill Drive
Arlington, MA
(home) (781) 648-5503
(e-mail) szukroff@yahoo.com
Co-Leader:
Sue Lach
73 Amherst Drive
Manchester, CT 06040
(home) 860-533-0219
(e-mail) suelach@cox.net
(work) (781) 239-4005
(work) 860-547-7741
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: 6/2006
WFA:
Other: Advanced WFA - 6/12/07
Co-Leader:
CPR: 4/10/07
WFA: 6/10/07
Other: Advanced WFA - 6/12/07
If CPR and/or WFA certifications will expire before your trip starts, describe your plans
for re-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”.
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. Wild Wyoming - Yellowstone & Grand Tetons - Backpacking - 8/6-13/05 -10 participants
2. Wild Wyoming - Horsepacking the Teton Wilderness - Supported Camping - 7/30-9/6/05 8 participants
3. African Adventure: Kilimanjaro and the Serengheti - Guided Backpack -12/26/04-1/10/05
- 15 participants
Others: <Trip description>
Revised 06/29/05
Pg. 4 of 9
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
Into The Wild - Alaskan Arctic Adventure
Stacia Zukroff/Sue Lach
June 9-23, 2006
D) Scouting:
Have you or your co-leader led this trip before or traveled in the area?
Yes
Leader led trip in Alaska in 2004, but it was only day hiking in Kenai and Denali.
E) Special Experience:
Are any special skills or experience on the part of the participants required?
No
F) Couples:
Do the Leader and Co-leader have a significant personal relationship?
No
4. RISK ASSESSMENT
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.
A) Climate/Terrain
Potential Hazards: Climate - The average summer tempature in the Fairbanks area ranges
from69F to 48F. On June 21 daylight lasts 21 hours. In Coldfoot temperatures average 75F.
Terrain - HIking will be done on trails that may or may not be heavily traveled and well marked.
Rocky terrain and river crossings are expected.
Response:
Climate - Leaders will breif participants of the risk of hypothermia. Proper
clothing will be required. Leaders will carry first aid supplies to treat.
Terrain - Leaders will confirm trail conditions and review route with rangers prior to
departure. Participants will be briefed on the days hike. Proper hiking boots will be required.
Arctic Wild guides will have extensive experience with ANWR terrain and water crossings and
will give us an indepth overview of conditions and safety concerns.
B) Foreign Countries
Potential Hazards: N/A
Response:
N/A
C) Transportation
Potential Hazards: Primary transportaion will consist of two (2), six (6) passenger 4WD trucks
that are approved for travel on the Dalton Highway. The potential hazards consist of flat tires and
vehicle malfunction. Air transportation will be provided by Artic Wild for transportaion to the
Artic Wildlife Refuge.
Response:
Leaders will confirm that the appropriate jack equipment equipment, flares
and spare tire are on the vehicles. Leaders are also confirming if the vehicles will be equiped with
CB radios. They will also be carrying 2-way radios and a satalite phone for emergency situations.
Under critical emergencies the procedure is to call the State Troopers via 911. Also, addition
collision insurance will be carried on the vehicles. The backup plan for the aircrafts will be
reviewed with the outfitters to assure that the scehdule will not be impacted if there is a problem
with the aircrafts.
Revised 06/29/05
Pg. 5 of 9
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
Into The Wild - Alaskan Arctic Adventure
Stacia Zukroff/Sue Lach
June 9-23, 2006
D) Participants
Potential Hazards: Hypotermia, blisters, exposure to cold/heat, underestimation of abilites.
Response:
Leaders are AWFA trained and certified and are capable of handling minor
medical situations. Sever situations will require stabaliving the participant and calling 911 or
evacauation. In the event that a participant is hiking above their ability, the leaders will determine
the best solution of the participant and the entire group. This may require spliting up in two
groups or having one leader and a small group assist the participant to the destination.
E) Other
Potential Hazards: Bears and other wildlife; mosquitoes
Response:
Participants will be supplied bear spray for use while hiking. The Leaders
will provide information on addressing bear encounters and this will be reviewed prior to entry
into the Alaska wilderness. Participants will also be educated on the other various wildlife that
may be encounter such as moose, caribou and wolf. Mid-June begins the mosquitoe season so
participants will be instructed to carry repellant and neating for protection.
5. EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
Please describe your plans for dealing with emergencies. Please use as much detail as
possible and attach additional sheets if necessary.
A) Emergency Communication
Pay phones are located in Coldfoot. Cell phone coverage is extremely limited and ends about
35 miles norht of Fairbanks. A satellite phone will be carried by the leaders for emergency
purposes.
B) Evacuation
All participants will be covered under the AMC emergency medical and evacuation insurance.
Leaders and guides will be carrying satellite phones and airplanes can be called in to evacuate
in an emergency.
C) Medical Care
Medical faclilites are located in Fairbanks. In the case of a minor medical situation, leaders
will be equiped with first aid supplies. Severe medical conditions will require transportation to
Fairbanks which is the closest medical facility. Evacuation procedures may need to be engaged
if in the backcountry. All participants will be asked to disclose their medical information.
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):
Hotels/Campsites - Reservation is held on credit card for hotel. Campgrounds may need
payment upon reservation but allow cancellation at a small penalty.
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Pg. 6 of 9
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
Into The Wild - Alaskan Arctic Adventure
Stacia Zukroff/Sue Lach
June 9-23, 2006
Car Rental - None; rental is held on credit card.
Outfitter - $500 deposit per person per trip is required to reserve space on scheduled trips or to
reserve dates on custom trips. Payment in full is due the earlier of the following: 90 days
prior to the trip start date or June 1st. If the balance is not paid , they may regard the
reservation cancelled.
B) What is the latest date for you to cancel and get a full refund? :
start date for Artic Wild, unless a person can be taken off waitlist.
90+ days from the trip
C) What is the value of the deposit you will require of the participants?
$ 800
D) What will be your cancellation policy for the participants?
Participants will get a full refund less a $50 cancellation fee up until 90 days before the trip. If
their spot cannot be filled, they will also be responsible for any fixed costs that would
otherwise raise the other participants' costs. After 90 days the Artic Wild's cancellation
requirements will dictate the cancellation amount:
Cancellation 90+ days from the trip start date
= full refund, less $250/per person surcharge
Cancellation 89-60 days from the trip start date = refund less 25%
Cancellation 59-31 days from the trip start date = refund less 50%
Cancellation 30-15 days from the trip start date = refund less 75%; if the fill spot, then refund
less 50%
Cancellation 14-1 days from the trip strat date = no refund
E) Will trip run if minimum participant count not met?
No
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
Please see <http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/info/Trip_Notice_Rules.html> for the current rules
and schedule for submitting notices for AMC Outdoors. E-mail both the long (150 words
maximum) and short form (50 word maximum) trip announcements to goeke@space.mit.edu ,
preferably in plain text format, at the same time you submit the trip application. Although the trip
notices travel a different route to the Committee, it helps to have the notices on the web site when
the trip is reviewed.
It your trip notice is somewhat preliminary at this time, that’s OK. You have plenty of
opportunity to change it before the publication deadline. If you don’t want to have the first (long)
notice appear at the normal time – see the above referenced rules – include your special request
in the body of the e-mail containing the trip notices.
Revised 06/29/05
Pg. 7 of 9
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
Into The Wild - Alaskan Arctic Adventure
Stacia Zukroff/Sue Lach
June 9-23, 2006
After you trip is approved, please check your trip announcements as posted on the Major
Excursions web site: http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/ ; we cut-and-paste directly from this site
to AMC Outdoors !
9. TRIP PROPOSAL AND APPROVAL PROCESS
Trips cannot come before the Major Excursions Committee for approval unless the application is
completed and received two weeks prior to MEC meetings for review. The ME Leader’s web site
has the Handbook and all required forms: http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/handbook/ . As a
minimum we need:
 This application form
 A detailed trip budget/costing form
In addition the following are helpful during the review process, but need only be submitted after
your proposal is accepted:
 50 and 150 word notices for AMC Outdoors
 Trip prospectus – without application forms
Finally, we need to have on file at Joy Street (again, after proposal acceptance)
 A filled out Confidential Medical Form for leader and co-leader
 Copies of first aid certifications for leader and co-leader
We will accept snail mail applications, but electronic forms are preferred. Please save and
forward your electronic documents with the following naming convention:
Leader’s Last Name, Trip destination, Trip Activity (if applicable), Trip Start date.
For example: Zukroff-New-Zealand-Hiking-12-03-Application.doc
Email should be sent to both of the following two addresses:
Stacia Zukroff, Major Excursions Committee Chair at mecchair@amcboston.org
Heidi Reilly, AMC Travel Programs Coordinator at hreilly@outdoors.org
Or, if you unable to send electronically, please mail a single hard copy to:
Heidi Reilly, Appalachian Mountain Club
Five Joy Street, Boston, MA 02108
617-523-0655, x356 (voice) 617-367-8878 (FAX)
10. 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. 8 of 9
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
Into The Wild - Alaskan Arctic Adventure
Stacia Zukroff/Sue Lach
June 9-23, 2006
Questions? Contact Stacia Zukroff at mecchair@amcboston.org or 781-648-5503. She can put
you in touch with an experienced MEC mentor who can help you with trip planning.
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Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16