Heather & Steve DePaola/Sue Lach
Family Hikes in the Colorado Rockies
SUMMARY OF TRIP INFORMATION
Family Hikes in the Colorado Rockies
Leader Heather & Steve DePaola
Co-leader Sue Lach
Estes Park, Colorado
August 7-14, 2010
Total # of days 8
Hiking
Downhill skiing
Kayaking
Title of trip
Leadership
Location(s)
Dates
Type of trip
check all that apply
Backpacking
Cultural
Road biking
Nordic ski
Mountain biking
Snorkeling
Other – please describe
Max 21
Number of participants
(excluding leaders)
Advertised cost
Airfare range if not included
Do you wish to have your trip
listed online before it is
published in The Outdoors?
Smaller trips and leader
subsidization
Min 14
$ Adults (13+):
Does it include airfare? Yes
No
$1585, Children (612): $620, Children
under 6: $425
$ 400-600
Yes
No If yes, please list the approximate month (max is one year in
advance of trip)
November or as soon as possible after trip approval
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?
If a participant fee increase of more than 15% is proposed, please explain
why?
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
Heather & Steve DePaola
77 Main St., Dover, MA 02030
Heather@Unpackingsolutions.com
Home 508-785-1977
Work 508-479-1467
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: May 2011
CPR
BLS
Expiration: March 2011
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.
Zukroff-Canadian Rockies-2009, ME 0930 -- Family H/B -- 21 participants, 4 leaders
Co-leader, Lach: 8/14-30/09 - Expedition Mongolia -horsepacking 12
Co-leader, Lach: 6/21-28/08 - Yosemite Hiking Day Sampler day hiking 8
Other trips by Co-leader Lach: 12/26/07-1/15/08 - New Zealand Treking and Sea

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 July 2008
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 1 of 5
Heather & Steve DePaola/Sue Lach
Family Hikes in the Colorado Rockies
Kayaking -hiking/kayaking 10
Co-leader name
Co-leader address
Co-leader email
Co-leader phone
Wilderness first aid training*
CPR training*
Prior leading experience
Susan Lach
73 Amherst Drive, Manchester, CT 06042
Slach@me.com
Home 860-533-0219
Work may not be used
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: 04/09
CPR
BLS
Expiration: 08/09
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?
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below:
Leaders have traveled in Co. Co-leader has been to Estes Park twice in the last 5 years.
Private trips
Do either of you lead trips that
are private - not sponsored by
the AMC?
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!
Since we have 2 leaders and 1 co-leader on this trip it is possible to lose one or two
leaders and still manage the trip. The leaders are a couple. Each leader is backed up by
the co-leader who is not a spouse, and if either leader were forced to leave, two leaders
would still remain (the co-leader is a certified leader)
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
Executive summary
Please provide a brief
description of the trip and the
activities planned.
Accommodations
Please describe your plan for
accommodation(s)
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)
Family friendly hikes no more than 5 miles and more challenging hikes (no more than 8
miles) daily. We will also enjoy all that Estes Park has to offer culturally.
Special equipment
Does the trip require special
equipment?
Special experience
Does the trip require special
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of equipment and how you
will ensure that people know how to use it:
Revised July 2008
YMCA of the Rockies
All meals are included by the YMCA, but we will eat out four nights. We plan to have a
welcome dinner at the Stanley Hotel. We also will have a afternoon & night out on your
own in Estes Park. We have yet to figure out the farewell dinner.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will need to do to obtain them:
$20/vehicle=$100 total. Will be purchased by leaders in advance of group arrival at Park
Headquarters or in Boulder.
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 experience? Also describe
how you will ensure that the participant has this experience?
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 2 of 5
Heather & Steve DePaola/Sue Lach
Family Hikes in the Colorado Rockies
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
recreation
How will this major excursion
meet the mission of the AMC?
www.outdoors.org/about/
mission.cfm
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will do:
A couple dayhikes locally. Age make-up of group will determine type of activity and
location
Participants will experience family-oriented recreation and cultural activities. A
naturalist might be hired to provide some educational content with a focus on the
wildflowers in season and conservation of this pristine landscape. Cost will determine
viability of this option. Some interpretive trails will be explored as well.
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
The climate/terrain hazards are all those listed in italics above for dayhikes on mapped
trails.
Response
Easier hikes for families with or carrying children will have less hazardous terrain and be
less remote, thus reducing risk. Screening to match participants to expected trail
requirements. Pre-trip activity. 3 leaders. Rescue resources closeby
Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism
Foreign Country
Potential hazards
In USA - none expected
Response
Road conditions, drivers, insurance
Transportation
Potential hazards
Airline delays, loss of driver, auto accident
Response
Initial location is close enough to airport to go back and get anyone delayed in arriving-even if this is the next day. We will make arrangements for back-up drivers in the event
a leader or co-leader have to leave or are unable to drive. We have emergency training
and will be close to emergency services throughout the trip. We will purchase rental car
insurance and all drivers are insured.
Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity
Participants
Revised July 2008
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 5
Family Hikes in the Colorado Rockies
Potential hazards
Response
Other
Potential hazards
Response
Heather & Steve DePaola/Sue Lach
The participant hazards are all those listed in italics above for adults and children
Screening, pre-trip activity to set proper expectations and verify suitability of
participants
Conditions unique to this type of trip
Family dynamics, interaction of children, unpredicabilty of children, weather
Screening and pre-trip activity. Participants will be advised that parents are responsible
for their children's behavior and must be able to control them. Everyone will also be
informed that this is a family trip and all participants must be flexible and
accommodating of family and/or child related issues as they arise. This could include
but is not limited to the foreseeable tardiness, travel delays, food concerns, illness, injury
and any other way in which one or more participant's issues may impact group activities
Weather: Thunderstorms pop up in the afternoon, so both hikes will be completed by
early afternoon. Safe hikes are our #1 priority.
Altitude: We are staying at 8,000 feet and need to be concerned about acclimitization.
Group will be advised to drink LOTS OF WATER and we will get the proper sleep that
we'll need. Also, hiking the first day or two will be shorter hikes with little elevation
gain.
Time Zone: This is a BIGGER factor especially with young childen and older adults.
We plan to eat meals early since we are two hour behind Eastern Standard Time. We
also are doing a buffet breakfast at the YMCA, so we can adjust schedules to make sure
participants are adjusting to the time difference.
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
Leaders and co-leaders will have cell phones and walkie-talkies. Emergency Services
Emergency communication
Phone contacts, language,
closeby. We will have contact info for local emergency services with each leader and
documentation, distance from
co-leader.
emergency services
Each leader and co-leader will have first aid gear, and communication equipment as
Emergency equipment
What sort of emergency first
listed above.
aid or communication
equipment (satellite phone,
two-way radios) do you plan
to use, if any?
N/A
Evacuation
Please describe your plan for
evacuation from the
backcountry location if
applicable?
TBD
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.
COST AND BUDGET DETAILS
Foreign currencies
For int’l trips list each foreign
Revised July 2008
N/A
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 5
Family Hikes in the Colorado Rockies
currency, the current $US
dollar exchange rate and what
contingencies you have if that
rate changes. If a tour
operator or agent is being
used, what currency is the
agent to be paid in?
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?
Minimum numbers
Will you still run the trip if you
do not get the minimum
number?
Reference web links:
MEC Home Page:
Forms:
Deadlines:
E-Mail Addresses:
Club House:
MEC Chair:
Revised July 2008
Heather & Steve DePaola/Sue Lach
Airfare is paid by participant directly, no deposit required for transportation, and YMCA
held with credit card and paid in full 14-day out.
see Cancellation Policy below
An initial deposit of $300 per person is due with application. Final payment is due 60
days prior to departure, which is Monday June 7, 2010
Our cancellation policy is based on the precept that your cancellation shall not raise the
cost to any of the other participants or the leaders. Therefore, if you cancel, we will
refund any money you have paid, less any expenses already incurred, or future expenses
that will be incurred, that have been the result of your registration and that cannot be
avoided. Refunded money will also be less a $50 cancellation fee. However, if you
cancel and the trip still realizes full participation, then any and all fees you have paid will
be refunded to you, in full, minus the cancellation fee. If you cancel after your airline
tickets have been purchased, you still own the ticket and will be subject to the airline’s
cancellation policy
Yes
No
If yes, please describe conditions:
Leaders are willing to bear costs to run this trip - minimum number 18 and maximum is
21 plus three leaders.
http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/
http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/application/
http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/listings
cyout@outdoors.org
mecchair@amcboston.org
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 5 of 5