Yosemite High Country Backpack John Lisker / Joe Comuzzi
Title of trip
Leadership
Location(s)
Dates
Type of trip check all that apply
Yosemite High Country Backpack
Leader John Lisker
Yosemite National Park
Co-leader Joe Comuzzi
Sat 13 Aug - Sun 21 Aug, 2011
Hiking
Total # of days
Downhill skiing
9
Kayaking
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 10 Min 10
$ 750
$ 400-500
Does it include airfare? Yes No
Yes No If yes, please list the approximate month (max is one year in advance of trip)
December 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? Backpacks simply don't work for large groups. With only two non-camping meals and only one night under a roof, this particular one will be a lot of work for the leaders.
If a participant fee increase of more than 15% is proposed, please explain why? With only two non-camping meals and only one night under a roof, this particular one will be a lot of work for the leaders, and backpacks simply don't work for large groups.
Leader name
Leader address
John Lisker
2390 Commonwealth Avenue, Auburndale, MA 02466
Leader email john.lisker@juno.com
Leader phone Home 617-244-1636 Work
Wilderness first aid training

WFA AWFA WFR Expiration: Nov 2010
CPR training

CPR BLS Expiration: Dec 2010
Prior leading experience 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.
Canadian Rockies Aug 2010 Trip one
Trip two
Trip three
New Zealand Feb 2010
Morocco Feb 2009

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

Yosemite High Country Backpack John Lisker / Joe Comuzzi
Other related trip experience 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 Joe Comuzzi
Co-leader address 14 Bayberry Road, Groton, MA 01450
Co-leader email jcomuzzi@kateharper.com
Co-leader phone Home 978-448-9837 Work
Wilderness first aid training* WFA AWFA WFR Expiration:
CPR training*
Prior leading experience
CPR BLS Expiration:
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?
Yes No If yes, please describe below:
John has hiked in Yosemite several times, most recently in September of 2010.
Co-leader: Yes No
Leader: Yes No
Not applicable:
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 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.
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)
Special equipment
Does the trip require special equipment?
One day (16 th ) flying to San Francisco & driving to Tuolomne Meadows; one day (17 th ) hiking; a five day (18 th -22 nd ) backpack, driving to Yosemite Valley on the 5 th day; one day (23 rd ) hiking & driving part way back to San Francisco; and one day (24 th ) driving the rest of the way to San Francisco & returning home on early afternon flights.
National Park campgrounds (3 nights - 16 th , 17 th , 22 nd ), backcountry camping (4 nights -
18 th -21st), and inexpensive motel (1 night - 23 rd ).
The trip will include all meals from dinner on the first day through breakfast on the last day, excepting the final dinner on the next-to-last-day.
Yes No
If yes, please describe below what you will need to do to obtain them:
Colleen and/or Roger will have to get the nonprofit special use permit. I will have to get both the campground reservations and the backcountry camping permit for the backpack.
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:
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.
Revised July 2008 Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 2 of 5

Yosemite High Country Backpack John Lisker / Joe Comuzzi
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
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, unless the applicants are too dispersed geographically.
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. We will be having a blast while doing doing it!
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?
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
Emergency response
Please describe the outfitters’ response plan in the case of an emergency.
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.
Climate/terrain
Potential hazards
Response
Trail conditions, river crossings, weather, wildlife (bears, snakes, etc.)
Altitude, river crossings, weather, bears
A maximum altitude of 10,000 feet means that good screening about relevant physical condition and experience is important.
River water levels will have decreased well below their peak levels, and all nontrivial crossings will have bridges.
The Sierras are known for fine summer weather, but everyone will carry appropiate wind and rain protection, and we will watch the weather carefully, especially looking out for
Foreign Country
Potential hazards
Response
Transportation thunderstorms.
We will use bear cannisters, which can be rented if the leaders and participants don't already own enough between them..
Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism
Road conditions, drivers, insurance
Revised July 2008 Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 5

Yosemite High Country Backpack John Lisker / Joe Comuzzi
Potential hazards
Response
Participants
Potential hazards
Response
Curving mountain roads, occasional annoying cautious other drivers.
Drive carefully. We plan to rent 3 large sedans.
Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity
Participants need to be fit and able both to keep up with the group and to handle the maximum altitude; 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 Other
Potential hazards
Response
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
Emergency communication
Phone contacts, language, documentation, distance from emergency services
No point on our route is more than 20 miles from a trailhead on a major road. We plan to carry ordinary cell phones, but don't know how good reception will be.
Emergency equipment
What sort of emergency first aid or communication equipment (satellite phone, two-way radios) do you plan to use, if any?
We do not plan to USE anything of this sort.
We will bring a non-trivial first aid kit.
We will not bring any special communication gear, unless the Major Excursions program wants to provide a satellite phone.
Evacuation
Please describe your plan for evacuation from the backcountry location if applicable?
If possible, we will evacuate ourselves. If not, we will send two people out (maximum less than 20 miles) to a trailhead on a major road to contact the relevant National Park
Dispatch Center to summon assistance.
There is a clinic in Yosemite Valley. The closest hospital is in Modesto. 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.
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?
Campground reservations will be made as early as possible, and payments are due at that time. For July 16 & 17 in Tuolumne Meadows, and July 22 &23 in Yosemite Valley, that's March 15. Fortunately the amounts (total of $120, assuming we have only one senior pass and use only 2 campsites) are small.
Revised July 2008 Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 5

Yosemite High Country Backpack John Lisker / Joe Comuzzi
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?
I haven't been able to establish how much money can be refunded if paid campground reservations (which total only $120) are cancelled.
Initial deposit of $150 will be due with application. Second payment of $200 will be due two weeks after acceptance. Final balance of $400 will be 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.
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
2011, $100 in April or May 2011, $200 after May 2011. 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: 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: 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
Revised July 2008 Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 5 of 5