Title of trip
Leadership
Location(s)
Dates
Type of trip check all that apply
Backcountry Skiing in Gothic, CO
Leader Len Weiss
4 miles north of Crested Butte, CO
March 12 to 19, 2011
Hiking
Co-leader Phil Mecagni
Total # of days 8
Downhill skiing Kayaking
Backpacking Cultural Road biking
Nordic ski Mountain biking Snorkeling
Other – please describe
A 4-mile Nordic ski in/out to/from two self-service huts that will accommodate a maximum of 12 people in beds (plus two guides). From the hut, activities will include guide-led general touring, and/or ascent of and descent from higher elevations (i.e., downhill). Backpack and technical equipment needed, but no special training required.
Also, Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, a local, world-renowned, environmental science research/education facility and owner of the huts, is enthusiastic about and exploring the possibility of providing a winter educational program during our stay.
They do not presently have such capability, but may have it by next year. Cost to be determined, if they can provide.
Max 10 Min 8 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
$ 1,400
$ 600.
Does it include airfare? Yes No
Yes No If yes, please list the approximate month (max is one year in advance of trip)
ASAP after 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? Backcountry trip; limited capacity of huts; and technical matters and conditions require low participant/leader/guide ratio.
If a participant fee increase of more than 15% is proposed, please explain why? Same as immediately above
Leader name Len Weiss
Leader address 46 Hawthorn Road, Brookline, MA 02445
Leader email lenweiss@rcn.com
Leader phone Home 617-277-8403 Work 617-320-7024 C
Wilderness first aid training

WFA AWFA WFR Expiration: 11/2010
CPR training

CPR BLS Expiration: Currently expired

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 6

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
Trip one
Trip two
Trip three
are proposing.
Co-led front-country skiing trip, St. Moritz, 2008
Co-lead of Glacier July 2010 (#1026) should be completed
Co-lead of Danube September 2010 (#1029) should be completed
Other related trip experience Lead of Patagonia January 2011 (#1105) would be completed, subject to selling. Two other ME co-leads did not sell. Considerable backpacking and wilderness experience.
Summer 2009 I was in the Wind River Range and Grand Teton National Park for 5 days, 4 nights each. My longest trek was nine days across the Sierra Nevadas. The remotest was a bush plane fly-in/fly-out in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
Co-leader name
Co-leader address
Phil Mecagni
157 Pond St Hopkinton MA 01748
Co-leader email
Co-leader phone pmecagni@hotmail.com
Home 508-435-5172 Work
Wilderness first aid training* WFA AWFA WFR Expiration: 2010
CPR training*
Prior leading experience
Trip one
Trip two
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.
Bike Prague and Bohemia, Sept 2008, 12 participants
Hiking the Bavarian Alps, June 2008, 10 participant
Trip three Bike Tuscany, Sept 2007, 10 participants
Other related trip experience Experienced backcountry skier. Lead Skoki 2006. Will be on the Danube and
Patagonia trips discussed under Len's information.
Scouting
Have either of you led this trip before or traveled to this
area?
Yes No If yes, please describe below:
Len did this trip March 15 to 18, 2010 with one of his sons and a nephew, staying at one of the huts.
Languages
Does either the co-leader or leader speak the local
language?
Couples
Do the leader and co-leader have a significant personal
relationship?
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!
Private trips
Do either of you lead trips that are private - not sponsored by
the AMC?
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.
Nordic backcountry ski touring and/or climbing/descending. A variety of risks call for two AMGA-certified guides. See attached itinerary on page 8.
Executive summary
Please provide a brief description of the trip and the activities planned.
Accommodations
Please describe your plan for accommodation(s)
Combination of front country hotels and backcounty facilities. See attached itinerary on page 8.
Revised October 2009 Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 2 of 6

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?
Special experience
Does the trip require special skills on the part of the participant?
Front country meals will be taken at restaurants, two dinners as part of the trip cost, the remainder as an additional participant cost. Backcountry meals will be prepared in the huts from food bought in frontcountry and transported in by sled. See attached preliminary itinerary on page 8. More information on the huts can be found at
.
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:
Len's recent experience.
Yes No If yes, please describe below what type of equipment and how you will ensure that people know how to use it:
The clothing and equipment required spans winter camping, skiing and avalanche recovery. There will be a required list in the prospectus, and there will be a shakedown on the day before we enter the backcountry. Participants will have to own or rent.
Crested Butte has outdoor stores with sufficient scale to meet our equipment needs.
Rentals will be required to be reserved by participants before arrival.
Yes No If yes, please describe below what type of experience? Also describe how you will ensure that the participant has this experience?
The overall trip is physically and technically challenging: cold weather exposure will be encountered; avalanche risk will be present; skiing under the burden of a pack will be required; the huts are rustic, with electricity and only outdoor facilities (one has systemheat and running water, the other a wood-burning stove and no running water).
Conservatism suggests that an intermediate level of fitness, skills and experience will be required, including experience in cold and inclement weather conditions, living in a hut environment, and with skiing under burden. Our AMGA-guides will provide orientation and introductory training to avalanche awareness, safety and recovery. Phil and Len have completed the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE)
Level I Avalanche Course. It is likely that some participants may also have similar training. Participants will be heavily screened to ascertain that they possess the necessary experience, skills, equipment and fitness.
Yes No If yes, please describe below what you will do:
Day trip to a local mountain to ascertain fitness, skills, experience and equipment are as represented during the screening process.
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
See Type of Trip-Other re Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL)
. Also, participants will benefit from avalanche safety information provided by guides.
Will this trip require a tour operator or guide service during part, or the entire trip?
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:
Given the presence of avalanche risk, guides are required throughout. Len's recent experience was that avalanche conditions are easily avoidable, and warming conditions at this time of year solidify snow layers, reducing slide potential. He saw a goodly number of skilled, responsible day-tourers without avalanche recovery equipment.
Regardless, guides are a must, and they will provide sufficient training to the group before and during the backcountry portion.
Name of tour operator/guide Crested Butte Nordic Center
Revised October 2009 Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 6

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.
To be received. The CNBC is a major resource for the area, similar to the Jackson Ski
Touring Center in NH. We have confidence that their saftey record is outstanding.
Liability? Yes No
Participants will be asked to sign a liability release by CBNC.
Maximum amt: $ To be provided.
Are they willing to list AMC as an additional insured?
Yes No Being determined.
Formal plan to be established at a later date. Resources similar to those found in the
White Mountains are available, including search and rescue and an avalanche center.
Communications equipment will be carried by leaders and guides. RMBL caretakers maintain the huts in Gothic, where both internet and land-line telephone access are available. Regardless, this is a remote wilderness trip and response time is always a factor in the effective execution of any emergency response plan.
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
Trail conditions, river crossings, weather, wildlife (bears, snakes, etc.)
Trails - Nothing unusual expected considering nature of the activity.
Wildlife - No winter presence.
Climate - Cold and inclement weather and avalanches.
Response
Foreign Country
Potential hazards
Response
Transportation
Potential hazards
Response
Participants
Potential hazards
Response
Other
Potential hazards
Response
See preceding sections. Diligent screening and training are the means to manage and lessen these risks.
Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism
N/A
N/A
Road conditions, drivers, insurance
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity
See preceding sections
See preceding sections. Adjustment of itinerary due to safety and/or fitness issues.
Conditions unique to this type of trip
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,
See above under Emergency Response and below re Medical Care. documentation, distance from emergency services
Emergency equipment
What sort of emergency first aid or communication equipment (satellite phone,
Guides and/or leaders will have first-aid kits and hand radios and/or satellite phones;
Internet and land-line telephone access available in Gothic. All participants will carry avalanche recovery equipment.
Revised October 2009 Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 6

two-way radios) do you plan to use, if any?
Evacuation
Please describe your plan for evacuation from the backcountry location if applicable?
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.
See Emergency Response above.
There is medial assistance available in Crested Butte, and a hospital with trauma facility in Gunnison, approximately 30 miles away.
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?
N/A
No unreasonable or early deposit requirements. Huts have a $5/day cancelation fee before 14 days of the trip - maximum $40. Hotels don't require prepayment, and reservations are cancelable w/o penalty if done so within 14 days of arrival.
Airlines - Standard terms and conditions.
Financial risk will be offset to greatest extent possible through travel insurance coverage.
See Deposits above. 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:
$500 with application; $900 October 1, 2011.
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 a full refund.
Yes No If yes, please describe conditions:
Possibly. 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 October 2009 Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 5 of 6

Revised October 2009 Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 6 of 6