<Down Under Adventure In New Zealand>
<John Lisker>/<Spencer Meyer>
<3-19 Feb 07>
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:
<Down Under Adventure In New Zealand>
B)
C)
D)
E)
<John Lisker>
<Spencer Meyer>
<3-19 Feb 07>
Total # of days:
<Three hut-to-hut backpacks>
Leader:
Co-Leader(s):
Dates:
Type of Trip:
F) Participants: (not counting leaders) Minimum: 10
Advertised Cost: <$2900>
17
Maximum: 12
2. TRIP DETAILS
A) Executive Summary: Brief outline of trip and trip activities.
<Ten days of hut-to-hut backpacking on Milford, Routeburn, and Abel Tasman Coast Tracks.
Small amounts of free time to explore Queenstown (1 1/2 days), Te Anau (1 day) and Nelson (2
half days). All activities take place on the South Island.>
B) Accommodations: Please describe your plans for accommodation(s).
<The Department of Conservation huts on the tracks are similar to the AMC huts, except that
guests cook for themselves in New Zealand. Lodging in Queenstown, Te Anau, and Nelson will
be very simple, hostel level (as budgeted) or a bit above.>
C) Meals: Please describe your plans for meals.
<Includes all breakfasts and dinners on the backpack trip. Participants will be responsible for
all meals in the towns, as well as for hiking lunches and trail snacks.>
D) Permits: Does the trip require special permits (required on all U.S. federal lands
Yes
<Trekking permits and hut reservations are available on the web on or after 1 July 2006>
E) Equipment: Does the trip require special/technical equipment?
<All equipment necessary for backpacking, except no tents or sleeping pads>
Yes
F) Pre-trip activities: Do you plan to get your group together before the major excursion for
an activity or social event?
No
<The real answer is "maybe". The leaders will decide once they see who signs up>
Revised 06/29/05
Pg. 1 of 7
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
<Down Under Adventure In New Zealand>
<John Lisker>/<Spencer Meyer>
<3-19 Feb 07>
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/>
<New Zealand has preserved a third of its landscape as parks or wilderness areas, making it
the home of the largest national park system in the southern hemisphere. The flora and fauna are
spectacular; much is unique to New Zealand. The South Island has several different
microclimates, including rainforest, mountains, and coast. This trip will explore several different
zones in an attempt to learn about the unique ecology and geography.>
H) Outfitters: Will this trip require an outfitter?
No
Name: <>
Safety record: <>
Liability insurance: <>
Emergency response: <>
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Pg. 2 of 7
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
<Down Under Adventure In New Zealand>
<John Lisker>/<Spencer Meyer>
<3-19 Feb 07>
3. LEADER INFORMATION
A) Contact Information:
Leader:
<John Lisker>
<2390 Commonwealth Ave>
<Auburndale, MA 02466>
(home) <617-244-1636>
(e-mail) <john.lisker@juno.com>
Co-Leader:
(work) <none>
<Spencer Meyer>
<84 Summer Street>
<Hampden, ME 04444>
(home) <207-862-5675>
(work) <207-581-2861>
(e-mail) <spencer.meyer@beyondkatahdin.org>
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: <expired>
WFA: <expired>
Other: <AWFA expired>
Co-Leader:
CPR: <June 07>
WFA: <expired>
Other: <>
If CPR and/or WFA certifications will expire before your trip starts, describe your plans
for re-certification:
<We do indeed plan to take the necessary re-certification courses in the 12 months before
the trip starts.>
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. <San Juans (Colorado) backpack 1999, 10 participants>
2. <Crete (Greece) hiking and culture 1999, 9 participants>
3. <Wind River (Wyoming) base camp backpack 1998, 6 participants>
Others: <Maroon Bells (Colorado) backpack 1997, 3 participants; High Sierras (California)
backpack 1996, 7 participants>
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Pg. 3 of 7
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
<Down Under Adventure In New Zealand>
<John Lisker>/<Spencer Meyer>
<3-19 Feb 07>
D) Scouting:
Have you or your co-leader led this trip before or traveled in the area?
<This is a near clone of Stacia Zukroff's trip in 2002-03>
No
E) Special Experience:
Are any special skills or experience on the part of the participants required?
<Intermediate backpacking and evidence of good condition>
Yes
F) Couples:
Do the Leader and Co-leader have a significant personal relationship?
Yes
<The co-leader is the leader's future son-in-law. If something happens to one before the trip,
the other is likely to continue to plan to go. If something happens to one on the trip, the other
is likely to be willing to continue. (The leader's daughter (the co-leader's future wife) is NOT
coming.)>
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: <Rain, river crossings, tidal currents, altitude>
Response:
<The Department of Conservation has people on the scene. Trails are
closed when considered to be too dangerous. Temporary bridges are provided when river levels
get too high. We are aware that several tidal crossings on the Abel Tasman Coast Track are
dangerous except for several hours around low water, and will consult tide tables appropriately.
Altitude does not exceed 4200 feet, and is therefore not a major concern.>
B) Foreign Countries
Potential Hazards: <None>
Response:
<New Zealand is extremely stable, both politically and economically. The
official language is English. The people are probably more peaceable than in the US.>
C) Transportation
Potential Hazards: <Road accidents.>
Response:
<We will be using public buses and shuttle services. We do plan not to
rent vehicles during the trip.>
D) Participants
Potential Hazards: <Experience level, health, group dynamics>
Response:
<We will take screening seriously. Participants must have at least
intermediate backpacking experience. Two of the backpacks are moderate overall, and the third
is easy. Given the distances between huts and the amount of daylight, even slower hikers should
have plenty of time to reach the day's destination.>
E) Other
Potential Hazards: <None>
Revised 06/29/05
Pg. 4 of 7
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
<Down Under Adventure In New Zealand>
<John Lisker>/<Spencer Meyer>
Response:
<3-19 Feb 07>
<>
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
<Most of the trip will be conducted in the backcountry, with the exception of about four days
in the towns of Queenstown, Te Anau, and Nelson. All huts along the backpack routes have a
hut manager and are equipped with radios. At no time will we be more than 3 hours walking
from the nearest hut. The Department of Conservation has an extensive staff of rangers and
managers in each park. The three trails are quite popular at this time of year, and so there will
be other people on the trails.>
B) Evacuation
<New Zealand is a first world country. Helicopters are used to resupply the DOC huts, are
described as available for evacuation in weather emergencies, and so are presumably also
available for medical emergencies.>
C) Medical Care
<There are small hospitals in Queenstown and Nelson, where we will be spending some
nights, and larger ones in Christchurch and Auckland, through which we will pass. As in the US,
health care quality in a town will relate to size of population served, >
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):
<Air New Zealand wants a deposit of $50 per seat reserved (paid within 3 weeks of making
the reservation) and the full balance no less than 2 months before departure. The Department
of Conservation wants full payment for huts when the reservations are made about July 1.>
B) What is the latest date for you to cancel and get a full refund? :
<Air New Zealand will
refund deposits up to actual ticketing. The DOC will refund in full for 48 hours after
reservations are made.>
C) What is the value of the deposit you will require of the participants?
$ 500
D) What will be your cancellation policy for the participants?
<Nobody's cancellation will be allowed to raise costs for others. Minimum penalty schedule:
zero before 1 July 06, $100 from 1 July 06 to 30 Sep 06, $300 after 30 Sept 06. If actual costs
are higher, they will be assessed instead.>
E) Will trip run if minimum participant count not met?
<Maybe, down to 8, but probably not. Besides, not filling seems unlikely.>
Revised 06/29/05
Pg. 5 of 7
No
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
<Down Under Adventure In New Zealand>
<John Lisker>/<Spencer Meyer>
<3-19 Feb 07>
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.
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.
Revised 06/29/05
Pg. 6 of 7
Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16
<Down Under Adventure In New Zealand>
<John Lisker>/<Spencer Meyer>
<3-19 Feb 07>
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.
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.
Revised 06/29/05
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Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion
Application Submitted 07/15/16