Tour Du Mont Blanc Monarch of the Alps Hut-to-Hut Backpack
July 15 - 30, 2011
Joan Chambers/Cliff Chambers
SUMMARY OF TRIP INFORMATION
Tour Du Mont Blanc Monarch of the Alps Hut-to-Hut Backpack
Leader Joan Chambers
Co-leader Cliff Chambers
Mont Blanc region- Switzerland, Italy, France
July 15 - 30, 2011
Total # of days 16
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 12
Min 10
$ 1999
Does it include airfare? Yes
No
$ 1200-1300
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? To ensure hut accommodations and improve
the group exerience and safety in an unfamiliar and backcountry setting.
If a participant fee increase of more than 15% is proposed, please explain
why? This trip is a backpack.
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
Joan Chambers
16 Harcourt St. #5H ,Boston, MA 02116
wu.chambers@gmail.com
Home 617-680-6717
Work
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: Will recertify before the trip
CPR
BLS
Expiration: Will recertify before the trip
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.
Wild Wyoming Backpack 8/8 to 8/16 2009, 7 participants
California Sierras (co-leader) 8/9 to 8/23 2008, 10 participants
White Mountains Pemi Traverse 8/19 to 8/25 2007, 8 participants
Hut to Hut Presidential Traverse 2006, Aug. 21-26. Hut to Hut Presidential Traverse in
NH White Mountains, 10 participants;
Cliff Chambers
16 Harcourt St., #5H, Boston, MA 02116
wu.chambers@gmail.com

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
Tour Du Mont Blanc Monarch of the Alps Hut-to-Hut Backpack
July 15 - 30, 2011
Joan Chambers/Cliff Chambers
Home 617-938-4589
Co-leader phone
Work
Wilderness first aid training*
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: Will recertify before the trip
CPR training*
CPR
BLS
Expiration: Will recertify before the trip
Considerable backpacking and wilderness experience. Co-led with Joan in all of her
Prior leading experience
experience.
Co-led the Wild Wyoming trip with Joan 8/8-8/19, 2009
Trip one
Trip two
Trip three
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:
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)
This trip is the classic Tour du Mont Blanc which is a loop trail that goes around the
Mont Blanc Massiff. We will hike in the clock-wise direction and we will stay in huts
along the way. .
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!
TBD
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
Special equipment
Does the trip require special
equipment?
Special experience
Does the trip require special
skills on the part of the
participant?
Revised 7/15/2016
We will stay in huts along the trail or in small towns associated with the Tour du Mont
Blanc.
The typical hut accomodations include breakfast and dinner. There will be time in town
to purchase groceries to make lunches.
Yes
No
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:
None were required for Spencer Meyer's trip in 2008.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of equipment and how you
will ensure that people know how to use it:
Backpacks for gear, clothing and lunches for up to three nights and four days out at a
time. Careful phone interviews will be conducted if participants are not known to the
leaders.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of experience? Also describe
how you will ensure that the participant has this experience?
Participants must have at least intermediate backpacking experience and exhibit good
personal condition. They will have to be capable of hiking 11 miles in 8 hours. The trip
screening process will involve e-mail and telephone
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 2 of 5
Tour Du Mont Blanc Monarch of the Alps Hut-to-Hut Backpack
July 15 - 30, 2011
Joan Chambers/Cliff Chambers
communications, augmented with personal reference checks (i.e. speaking with
leaders of past trips that included participants) as necessary.
Pre-trip activities
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will do:
Do you plan to get your group
together before the trip for an
activity or social event?
Conservation, education and We will be introduced to the cultures of three different countries and we will see how a
well-used trail is maintained. There will be opportunities in towns to learn the history of
recreation
How will this major excursion the region and mountaineering in particular.
meet the mission of the AMC?
www.outdoors.org/about/
mission.cfm
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
Moderate trails, bad weather, Maximum elevation will be around 8800 ft. so altitude
sickness is unlikely.
Response
We will make sure everyone prepares for a variety of conditions and packs accordingly.
We will dress in layers and always bring raingear.
Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism
Foreign Country
Potential hazards
Switzerland, Italy, and France are all stable countries. English is a common language but
the leaders will be competent with some French and Italian common phrases
Response
Use a good language guide and keep a phrase book handy.
Road conditions, drivers, insurance
Transportation
Potential hazards
We will be using trains and buses to get to and from the trail from the airport. Normal
traffic hazards.
Response
Will likely use the same bus company used in 2008.
Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity
Participants
Potential hazards
We may encounter rocks and elevation gain.
Response
Particpants will be screened to make sure they can hike for 4-5 hours/day and have
appropriate geer.
Revised 7/15/2016
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 5
Tour Du Mont Blanc Monarch of the Alps Hut-to-Hut Backpack
July 15 - 30, 2011
Joan Chambers/Cliff Chambers
Conditions unique to this type of trip
Other
Potential hazards
N/A
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
The first option will be to go to a nearby mountain hut or farm. If we are in the valley,
Emergency communication
Phone contacts, language,
the appropriate emergency numbers are listed below.
documentation, distance from
emergency services
Leaders will have a first-aid kit. The huts will have the ability to respond to an
Emergency equipment
What sort of emergency first
emergency.
aid or communication
equipment (satellite phone,
two-way radios) do you plan
to use, if any?
We would work with the individuals who staff the huts.
Evacuation
Please describe your plan for
evacuation from the
backcountry location if
applicable?
France: 04-50-53-16-89
Medical care
Please describe the medical
Italy: 118 or 0165-84-22-25
care available in the area(s)
Swizerland: 144
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
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
Revised 7/15/2016
As of 5/15/10, the Swiss Franc is worth about $0.90; our budget assumes $1.00. The euro
is worth about $1.27 and our budget assumes $1.50. All accommodations, food, and
transportation will be paid in local currencies, 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.
Deposits are required at most of the huts but are refundable if the reservation is cancelled
at least a week in advance.
A week before the date of the reservation.
$500
Refunds will be given to the extent that it will not raise the cost to the other participants.
If the person's spot can be filled, that person may be entitled to up to a full refund of
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 5
Tour Du Mont Blanc Monarch of the Alps Hut-to-Hut Backpack
July 15 - 30, 2011
Joan Chambers/Cliff Chambers
policy be for the participants? costs paid.
Minimum numbers
Yes
No
If yes, please describe conditions:
Will you still run the trip if you Preferably not. If we have less than 8 participants, the leaders will have to pay more than
do not get the minimum
half the trip cost.
number?
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:
MEC Chair:
amcexcursions@outdoors.org
mecchair@amcboston.org
Revised 7/15/2016
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 5 of 5