Bike Tuscany 2008
Valerie Paul/Eddy Luttmer
October 4-11, 2008
SUMMARY OF TRIP INFORMATION
Bike Tuscany 2008
Leader Valerie Paul
Tuscany, Italy
October 4-11, 2008
Hiking
Title of trip
Leadership
Location(s)
Dates
Type of trip
check all that apply
Co-leader Eddy Luttmer
Total # of days 8
Downhill skiing
Kayaking
Backpacking
Cultural
Road biking
Nordic ski
Mountain biking
Snorkeling
Other – please describe
Biking with day trips from a central location
Max 12
Min 8
$ 1700
Does it include airfare? Yes
No
$ 850-1100
Is this proposal for a small group trip – i.e., less than 14 participants and 2
leaders or 7 participants and 1 leader? Yes
No
If yes, why is a small group proposed? Because a larger group size is unsafe for
cycling and the accommodation used only takes 14.
If a participant fee increase of more than 15% is proposed, please explain
why?
Number of participants
Advertised cost
Airfare range if not included
Smaller trips and leader
subsidization
LEADER AND CO-LEADER INFORMATION
Leader name
Leader address
Leader email
Leader phone
Wilderness first aid training
CPR training
Prior leading experience
Trip one
Trip two
Trip three
Other related trip experience
Co-leader name
Co-leader address
Co-leader email
Co-leader phone
Valerie Paul
85 Fruit Street
Valerie.paul@gmail.com
Home 508-231-1483
Work 508-647-1247
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: 04/08 - will recertify Spring '08
CPR
BLS
Expiration: July 2009
Please list the last three longer (5+ day) trips you have led for the AMC including
destination, type of trip, 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.
Bike Tuscany 2007 - coleader
Nickerson State Park - annual family outings car camping Aug 2007 - 40
Professional travel agent and trip designer
Eddy Luttmer
85 Fruit Street
eddy.luttmer@gmail.com
Home 508-231-1483
Work 508-903-2308

To lead a major excursion you must have current CPR and WFA at the time of your trip (or AWFA for all backcountry
trips). If you do not have the required level of certification at the time you submit your proposal or it will expire before
the date of your trip, you will need to make arrangements to recertify in a timely manner.
Revised 7/15/2016
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 1 of 5
Bike Tuscany 2008
Valerie Paul/Eddy Luttmer
Wilderness first aid training*
CPR training*
Prior leading experience
October 4-11, 2008
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: 4/08 will recertify spring '08
CPR
BLS
Expiration: Will get CPR recertification before the trip
If you are a new co-leader you must submit an application to be a major excursions
leader or co-leader prior to submitting this application.
Scouting
Have either of you led this trip
before or traveled to this
area?
Languages
Does either the co-leader or
leader speak the local
language?
Couples
Do the leader and co-leader
have a significant personal
relationship?
Private trips
Do either of you lead trips that
are private - not sponsored by
the AMC?
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below:
Valerie co-led Bike Tuscany 2007 and Eddy was a paying participant
Executive summary
Please provide a brief
description of the trip and the
activities planned.
Accommodations
Please describe your plan for
accommodation(s)
We will meet up in Rome and drive to Pienza, in the heart of Tuscany. We will be based
just outside of Pienza and will take day trips from there, some starting and ending at our
home base and others staged from nearby hill towns. On one or more days, we will drive
to local cities (Siena) for sightseeing.
We will return to the Agriturismo La Fonte, a spacious villa 2 km outside of Pienza in
the southern part of Tuscany that has been home for 4 previous Bike Tuscany trips.
Accommodation is in 4 apartments with kitchenettes and shared bath that sleep a total of
14. We will have access to a fully equipped main kitchen and dining room for our group
meals. There is a pool on site.
We will cook breakfast at the villa, buy communal provisions for picnic lunches and eat
3 dinners at the villa and 4 dinners at area restaurants. The plan is to incorporate at least
one cooking demonstration/dining experience.
Yes
No
Co-leader: Yes
No
Leader: Yes
No
Not applicable:
Yes
No
If yes, please list who has agreed to be your back-up in case one or
both of you need to drop out. This is required for approval!
Dave Conna - coleader of Bike Tuscany 2007
Yes
No
If yes, please note that you cannot advertise AMC and private trips
together unless there is a clear distinction between the two in any marketing
materials you send out.
LOGISTICAL DETAILS OF TRIP
Meals
Please describe your plan for
providing meals
Permits or permissions
Does the trip require special
permits or permissions?
(required on many U.S.
federal lands and national
parks)
Special equipment
Does the trip require special
equipment?
Special experience
Does the trip require special
skills on the part of the
participant?
Pre-trip activities
Do you plan to get your group
together before the trip for an
activity or social event?
Conservation, education and
Revised 7/15/2016
If yes, please describe below what you will need to do to obtain them:
If no, please describe the process you went through to find out that they were not
required:
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of equipment and how you
will ensure that people know how to use it:
Hybrid bicycles will be rented locally. Riders need to be intermediate cyclists.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of experience? Also describe
how you will ensure that the participant has this experience?
Tuscany is hilly and riders need to be moderately fit and have recent experience doing
25+ miles/day in hilly terrain. We will screen for this and try to get the group together
for training rides.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will do:
Yes we will try to coordinate at least one pre-trip ride and pot-luck supper.
Education: Tuscany is a treasure house of Etruscan tombs, roman baths, medieval towns,
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 2 of 5
Bike Tuscany 2008
Valerie Paul/Eddy Luttmer
recreation
How will this major excursion
meet the mission of the AMC?
www.outdoors.org/about/
mission.cfm
October 4-11, 2008
and renaissance churches. We’ll sample regional foods and visit a farm and a vineyard to
learn about local sustainable farming and the slow food movement. Recreational: We
will be exploring various sections of Tuscany by bike: including fortified hill towns like
Montalcino and Pienza; vineyards in Chianti, the moonlike landscape of Le Crete. We
will also devote at least one day to sightseeing in Siena.
TOUR OPERATOR AND GUIDE SERVICE INFORMATION
Will this trip require a tour
operator or guide service
during part, or the entire
trip?
Name of tour operator/guide
service
Tour operator website
Safety record
Please provide information
about their safety record.
Insurance
Do they have liability
insurance?
Emergency response
Please describe the outfitters’
response plan in the case of an
emergency.
Yes
No
Please describe their services. If you are using a tour operator for the entire trip,
please describe why you will be using them rather than doing this trip on your own:
Liability? Yes
No
Are they willing to list AMC as an
additional insured?
Maximum amt: $
Yes
No
RISK ASSESSMENT
Please assess the risks and hazards of your trip. Carefully consider each area of risk and how it may affect your trip.
Devise a plan to prevent each hazard and to respond to it if it becomes necessary. Please be very specific for each section
if applicable.
Trail conditions, river crossings, weather, wildlife (bears, snakes, etc.)
Climate/terrain
Potential hazards
Rain and poor road conditions
Response
Heavy rain will cancel bike rides. Sightseeing trips will be substituted. All rides have
been scouted. Rides are relatively short, 25-40 miles, with easy bail-outs.
Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism
Foreign Country
Potential hazards
Italy is politically stable and very welcoming to foreign tourists. Tuscany has a low
crime rate.
Response
Leader speaks the language. Leader and co-leader are familiar with the area.
Road conditions, drivers, insurance
Transportation
Potential hazards
Rental cars/vans will be used. Leader and coleader will drive with others signed on as
additional drivers for emergencies
Response
We will take out comprehensive car rental insurance. We will always be on public roads.
Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity
Participants
Potential hazards
Inappropriate fitness level, injury, sickness
Response
We will screen for fitness and have cell phones to reach local emergency services
Conditions unique to this type of trip
Other
Potential hazards
Response
EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
Please describe your plans for dealing with emergencies. Use as much detail as possible, and list any special
communications equipment you may need to ensure the safety of your participants. DO NOT LEAVE THIS SECTION
BLANK
Revised 7/15/2016
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 5
Bike Tuscany 2008
Valerie Paul/Eddy Luttmer
October 4-11, 2008
Emergency communication
Phone contacts, language,
documentation, distance from
emergency services
Emergency equipment
What sort of emergency first
aid or communication
equipment (satellite phone,
two-way radios) do you plan
to use, if any?
Evacuation
Please describe your plan for
evacuation from the
backcountry location if
applicable?
Medical care
Please describe the medical
care available in the area(s)
where you will be traveling
and list names and telephone
numbers for these facilities.
We'll bring emergency contact info for each participant, plus AMC contact info. Italy has
well developed emergency and medical systems, and we'll carry their contact info with
us. Since we'll allways be on public roads, we'll be able to make use of them if necessary.
Deposits
What deposits will be required
by airlines, hotels, tour
operators, etc., and when?
Refunds
What is the latest date you can
cancel and still receive a full
refund?
Participant deposit
What are the initial deposit
and your schedule of
payments?
Cancellation policy
What will your cancellation
policy be for the participants?
No deposits required. Full payment for lodging and bike rental due 30 days before
travel. May prepay van rentals to lock in a sale price but payment is refundable
We'll carry first aid kits and cell phones.
N/A
Italy has a well developed medical care system. There are 2 hospitals in the vicinity of
our lodging and close to our rides.
COST AND BUDGET DETAILS
Minimum numbers
Will you still run the trip if you
do not get the minimum
number?
Land arrangements can be cancelled until 30 days before travel. Leaders' air tickets will
be non-refundable once purchased and should be purchased early for best pricing.
$500 to secure a space. Balance due 60 days prior to travel.
After acceptance, cancellation penalties will be assessed as follows:
Before final payment, $400 if no replacement found, $200 if suitable replacement is
found;
60-31 days before departure: $1000 if no replacement is found, $300 if suitable
replacement is found
30 days or less before departure: $1400 if no replacement is found, $300 if suitable
replacement is found
Yes
No
If yes, please describe conditions:
Reference web links:
MEC Home Page:
Forms:
Deadlines:
Club House:
http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/
http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/application/
http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/listings
amcexcursions@outdoors.org
E-Mail Addresses:
Club House:
amcexcursions@outdoors.org
Revised 7/15/2016
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 5
Bike Tuscany 2008
Valerie Paul/Eddy Luttmer
MEC Chair:
Revised 7/15/2016
October 4-11, 2008
mecchair@amcboston.org
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 5 of 5