Bob Knudsen/Ron Phelps
Canadian Rockies Backpack: Mt. Assiniboine & Banff
SUMMARY OF TRIP INFORMATION
Canadian Rockies Backpack: Mt. Assiniboine & Banff
Leader Bob Knudsen
Co-leader Ron Phelps
Canadian Rockies
Saturday 13 Aug - Sunday 21 Aug,
Total # of days 9
2011
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
$ 996
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)
Nov 2010
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? Banff 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-Backpack- is a lot of work for the leaders, and there are several
good reasons (including National Park regulations) why the group size must be
limited. The leaders understand that they will be required to cover 20% of their trip
costs due to MEC limits on reimbursement by participants.
LEADER AND CO-LEADER INFORMATION
Leader name
Leader address
Leader email
Leader phone
Wilderness first aid training
CPR training
Prior leading experience
Trip one
Robert Knudsen
12-B Lawrence Street, Woburn, MA 01801
rknudsen@rcn.com
Home 781-491-0698
Work 978-657-1078
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: WFA-5/2012, AWFA-5/2011
CPR
BLS
Expiration: 5/9/12
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.
Co-Leader, Trip 1020, Lake Louise and The Rockwall, Canadian Rockies backpacking

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 October 2009
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 1 of 5
Bob Knudsen/Ron Phelps
Canadian Rockies Backpack: Mt. Assiniboine & Banff
Trip two
Trip three
Other related trip experience
Co-leader name
Co-leader address
Co-leader email
Co-leader phone
Wilderness first aid training*
CPR training*
Prior leading experience
Trip one
Trip two
Trip three
Other related trip experience
trip 8/7-8/15/2010 with 8 participants. This proposed trip is similar but backpacking
for 6 instead of 5 days and on a different section of trail.
None
None
5 Day Backpack, 7/21-26/2009, AT in Maine, Rt 4-27
Ron Phelps
81 Honeysuckle, Milford NJ 08848
phelps@amcdv.org
Home 908-995-0130
Work
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: 2012/05
CPR
BLS
Expiration: 2012/06
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.
Co-leader for trip 0923 Glorious Glacier National Park, July 11-19 2009
two week leader for AMC August Camp 2006 through 2010
August Camp 2010 was east of Golden BC: hiked in Yoho, Banff, and Kootenay
National Parks
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:
Co-Leader, Trip 1020, Lake Louise and The Rockwall, Canadian Rockies backpacking
trip 8/7-8/15/2010 with 8 participants. The proposed trip is similar but backpacking a
different section of trail.
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
One day flying to Calgary and driving to the area, a day hike, a six day backpack, and
one day driving to Calgary and flying home.
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 October 2009
Hostels and backcountry camping
The trip will provide all backpacking breakfasts, lunches, and suppers, plus lunch food
for a day hike and 2 only breakfasts at hostels. Participants will pay for dinners 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 by phone (not more than 3 months in advance) for the
backcountry camping permit for the backpack.
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 2 of 5
Bob Knudsen/Ron Phelps
Canadian Rockies Backpack: Mt. Assiniboine & Banff
parks)
If no, please describe the process you went through to find out that they were not
required:
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.
For group equipment, large pots and a tarp which I have. 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.
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
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 bears and
bear/hiker management as practised by Parks Canada in this region. We will be having a
great time hiking 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.
Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism
Foreign Country
Potential hazards
English speaking Canada is first world, law abiding, and very visitor friendly.
Response
Pay attention, as if we were in the US.
Revised October 2009
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 5
Bob Knudsen/Ron Phelps
Canadian Rockies Backpack: Mt. Assiniboine & Banff
Transportation
Potential hazards
Response
Participants
Potential hazards
Response
Other
Potential hazards
Response
Road conditions, drivers, insurance
The usual for a country with road conditions very much like the United States but pay
special attention to wildlife in the road.
Drive carefully. We will rent nothing larger than a minivan.
Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity
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
willbe dealt with on an individual basis. Both leaders have group leadership experience
and are practiced at handling uncomfortable situations. Potential healththreats will be
aired during the screening process so leaders will be aware of participants'risks.
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. From experience on trip
1020 cannisters are not needed.
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
At least two backcountry wardens are based along our backpacking route, none of which
Emergency communication
Phone contacts, language,
is more than 10 miles from a trailhead on a major road. This trip also passes near the
documentation, distance from
Sunshine Village Ski Area gondola summit station and the B.C. Park headquarters at
emergency services
Lake Magog
We will bring a non-trivial first aid kit, and ordinary cell phones. We will not bring any
Emergency equipment
What sort of emergency first
special communication gear, unless the Major Excursions program wants to provide a
aid or communication
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 call the relevant National Park Dispatch Center (Call 911 OR
evacuation from the
Satellite Phone: (403) 762-4506) to summon assistance. Banff Warden Office tel (403)
backcountry location if
762-1470
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
Revised October 2009
The current exchange rates for the Canadian dollar are CAD 1.0281 = 1 USD, CAD 1 =
0.9727 USD . 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 ATMs
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.
The hostels require no deposits until 2 weeks before we come. The Banff National Park
backcountry permit costs $11.70, plus $9.80/pp/night.
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 5
Bob Knudsen/Ron Phelps
Canadian Rockies Backpack: Mt. Assiniboine & Banff
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 October 2009
The Banff National Park backcountry permit is refundable except for the $11.70.
Initial deposit of $200 is due with application. Second payment of $400 is due two
weeks after acceptance. Final balance of $396 is due June 1, 2011. Deposit checks from
wait listed applicants will not be cashed unless and until we accept them AND they
confirm continued interest.
Our cancellation policy is based on several considerations. Cancellation will not be
allowed to raise the cost to the other participants or to the leaders. Published minimum
penalty schedule: zero during or before March 2011, $200 in April and May, and $400
after May 2011. If actual costs (expenses already incurred on your behalf and any
unavoidable future expenses that will be incurred as a result of your registration and
cancellation) are higher, they will be assessed instead, unless they can be applied toward
another acceptable participant. If we cannot find an acceptable replacement, you may
forfeit most or all of the trip fee.
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