Canadian Rockies Backpack: Lake Louise and The Rockwall
John Lisker/Bob Knudsen
SUMMARY OF TRIP INFORMATION
Canadian Rockies Backpack: Lake Louise and The Rockwall
Leader John Lisker
Co-leader Bob Knudsen
Canadian Rockies
Satuday 7 Aug - Sunday 15 Aug, 2010 Total # of days 9
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
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
Max 8
Min 8
$ 950
Does it include airfare? Yes
No
$ 500-800
Yes
No If yes, please list the approximate month (max is one year in
advance of trip)
November 1
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? Kootenay National Park limits group size for
backcountry camping to 10, including leaders. If not for that, we would take another
two, but not more. Backpacks simply don't work for large groups.
If a participant fee increase of more than 15% is proposed, please explain
why? This kind of trip is a lot of work for the leaders, and there are good reasons
(above) why the group size must be limited.
LEADER AND CO-LEADER INFORMATION
Leader name
Leader address
Leader email
Leader phone
Wilderness first aid training
CPR training
Prior leading experience
Trip one
John Lisker
2390 Commonwealth Avenue, Auburndale, MA 02466
john.lisker@juno.com
Home 617-244-1636
Work
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: Nov 2010
CPR
BLS
Expiration: Dec 2010
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.
New Zealand Feb 2010

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
Canadian Rockies Backpack: Lake Louise and The Rockwall
John Lisker/Bob Knudsen
Trip two
Trip three
Other related trip experience
Morocco Feb 2009
Tour du Mont Blanc July-Aug 2008
New Zealand Feb 2007, San Juans summer 1999, Greece May 1999, Wyoming Wind
River Range summer 1998, Colorado Elk Range summer 1997, California High
Sierras summer 1996
Co-leader name
Co-leader address
Co-leader email
Co-leader phone
Wilderness first aid training*
CPR training*
Prior leading experience
Robert Knudsen
12-B Lawrence Street, Woburn, MA 01801
rknudsen@rcn.com
Home 781-491-0698
Work 978-657-1078
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: 5/2011
CPR
BLS
Expiration: 6/16/2010
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:
John was a participant on Stacia's 2002 Canadian Rockies trip. He subsequently did a 6day backpack with his daughter in August 2004, west of Banff and south of the backpack
route for this trip.
Co-leader: Yes
No
Leader: Yes
No
Not applicable:
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)
One day flying to Calgary and driving to the area, one (or two) day hikes, a five (or four)
day backpack, a partial day hike and sightseeing in Banff, and one day driving to Calgary
and flying home.
Special equipment
Does the trip require special
equipment?
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of equipment and how you
will ensure that people know how to use it:
Standard backpacking gear for each participant. Shared tents, stoves, and water filters.
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!
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
Revised July 2008
Youth hostels and backcountry camping.
The trip will provide all backpacking breakfasts, lunches, and suppers, plus lunch food
for day hikes and breakfasts at hostels. Participants will pay for dinners and lunches off
the trail, and for snack supplements..
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will need to do to obtain them:
We will have to apply (not more than 3 months in advance) for the backcountry camping
permit for the backpack. No permits are required for day hikes.
If no, please describe the process you went through to find out that they were not
required:
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 2 of 5
Canadian Rockies Backpack: Lake Louise and The Rockwall
John Lisker/Bob Knudsen
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
recreation
How will this major excursion
meet the mission of the AMC?
www.outdoors.org/about/
mission.cfm
For group equipment, large pots which I have and a tarp which I will get. We will be
interviewing each prospective participant, and will ask what equipment they have.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of experience? Also describe
how you will ensure that the participant has this experience?
Appropriate prior backpacking experience is required. We will be interviewing each
prospective participant, and will ask. We will also ask for references and check them.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will do:
A day hike late next spring..
We will be seeing and learning about an entirely different geology and ecology than that
of the Whites and New England. We have the opportunity to learn about endangered
species and invasive and non-indigenous flora and fauna. The history of European
settlement is unlike that of New England or even the Rocky Mountains of the United
States. We will be having a blast while doing doing it!
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, wind, river crossings, altitude.
Response
Everyone will carry appropiate rain and wind protection. We will watch the weather
carefully, especially looking out for thunderstorms. A maximum altitude under 7,700
should not cause any problems for people conditioned enough for a backpack..
Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism
Foreign Country
Potential hazards
English speaking Canada is first world, law abiding, and very visitor friendly.
Response
Transportation
Potential hazards
Response
Participants
Revised July 2008
Pay attention, pretty much as if we were in the US.
Road conditions, drivers, insurance
The usual for a country with road conditions very much like the United States.
Drive carefully. We will rent nothing larger than a minivan.
Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 5
Canadian Rockies Backpack: Lake Louise and The Rockwall
John Lisker/Bob Knudsen
Potential hazards
Response
Other
Potential hazards
Response
Participants need to be fit and able to keep up with the group; pace will be moderate.
A full screening process will eliminate many potential problems and those that arise will
be dealt with on an individual basis. Both leaders have group leadership experience and
are practiced at handling uncomfortable situations. Potential health threats will be aired
during the screening process so leaders will be aware of participants' risks. We will not
be expecting to cover long daily distances.
Conditions unique to this type of trip
Bears and other varmits attacking our food.
We will use whatever bear poles and bear boxes are provided. We might use cannisters;
the already own three between them.
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
Two backcountry wardens are based along our backpacking route, none of which is more
Emergency communication
Phone contacts, language,
than 10 miles from a trailhead on a major road. We plan to carry ordinary cell phones,
documentation, distance from
but don't know how good reception will be.
emergency services
We do not plan to USE anything of this sort. We will bring a non-trivial first aid kit.
Emergency equipment
What sort of emergency first
We will not bring any special communication gear, unless the Major Excursions program
aid or communication
wants to provide a satellite phone.
equipment (satellite phone,
two-way radios) do you plan
to use, if any?
If possible, we will evacuate ourselves. If not, we will send two people out (maximum
Evacuation
Please describe your plan for
less than 10 miles) to a trailhead on a major road to contact the relevant National Park
evacuation from the
Dispatch Center to summon assistance.
backcountry location if
applicable?
For emergency medical care, Canada is very similar to the US. The closest hospitals are
Medical care
Please describe the medical
the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital (phone 403-762-2222) and Canmore General
care available in the area(s)
Hospital (phone 403-678-5536). There is a clinic in Lake Louise; the phone is 403-522where you will be traveling
2184.
and list names and telephone
numbers for these facilities.
COST AND BUDGET DETAILS
Foreign currencies
For int’l trips list each foreign
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
Revised July 2008
The current exchange rates for the Canadian dollar are CAD1.08672=1USD, or
USD0.9202=1CAD. All accommodations, food, and local transportation will be paid in
CAD, sometimes in advance from the US. We expect to be able to use charge cards and
ATM machines for everything we need to pay there, rather than having to carry cash into
the country. Despite the trip's bargain price, our budget allows a large contingency, to be
refunded (of course) if not needed.
To my pleased surprise, the hostels require no deposits until 2 weeks before we come.
The Kootenay National Park backcountry permit costs $11.70, plus $9.80/pp/night.
The Kootenay National Park backcountry permit is refundable except for the $11.70.
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 5
Canadian Rockies Backpack: Lake Louise and The Rockwall
John Lisker/Bob Knudsen
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
Initial deposit of $200 will be due with application. Second payment of $250 will be due
two weeks after acceptance. Final balance of $500 will be due June 1, 2010. Deposit
checks from wait listed applicants will not be cashed unless and until we accept them
AND they confirm continued interest.
Cancellation by an accepted participant will not be allowed to raise the cost to the other
participants or to the leaders. Published minimum penalty schedule: zero before March
2010, $150 in April or May 2010, $300 after May 2010. If actual costs are higher, they
will be assessed instead. We will reserve the right to reduce cancellation penalties if
costs incurred can be passed to a replacement participant.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe conditions:
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