Hike the High Tatra Mountains in Poland & Slovakia + Cracow Culture!
Éva Borsody Das/Ron Janowitz
SUMMARY OF TRIP INFORMATION
Hike the High Tatra Mountains in Poland & Slovakia + Cracow Culture!
Leader Éva Borsody Das
Co-leader Ron Janowitz
Poland & Slovakia
June 22 - July 6, 2012
Total # of days 15
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 12
Min 10
$ 2495
Does it include airfare? Yes
No
$ 1400-1500
Yes
No If yes, please list the approximate month (max is one year in
advance of trip)
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? part of the trip is backcountry hiking with
overnights in mountain huts
If a participant fee increase of more than 15% is proposed, please explain
why? see above
LEADER AND CO-LEADER INFORMATION
Trip one
Trip two
Trip three
Other related trip experience
Éva Borsody Das
59 Gosnold Street, Hull, MA 02045
borsody@gmail
Home 781-925-9733
Work
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: March 2013
CPR
BLS
Expiration: March 2013
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.
Morocco, Trekking & Sightseeing, 10 participants, March 2011
Bulgaria, Hiking, August 2009, 16 participants
Glacier National Park, July 2009, 12 participants
Participated in a similar trip to the Tatra Mts and Cracow in 1993
Co-leader name
Ron Janowitz
Leader name
Leader address
Leader email
Leader phone
Wilderness first aid training
CPR training
Prior leading experience

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
Hike the High Tatra Mountains in Poland & Slovakia + Cracow Culture!
Éva Borsody Das/Ron Janowitz
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
88 W. Haven Road, Manchester, NH 03104
ron@ronjanowitz.com
Home 603-625-9848
Work
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: May 2013
CPR
BLS
Expiration: April 2012
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.
National Parks in Southern Utah; Sept. 2010; day hiking, 14 participants
Death Valley and Parks in NV; April 2011; day hiking, 14 participants
National Parks in Southern Utah; Sept. 2011; day hiking; 14 participants
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:
Éva was a participant in an AMC trip to this area in 1993. She hiked on many of the
same trails and stayed in some of the same mountain huts, with the same guide we are
working with this time. In addition, she has visited Cracow on her own more recently.
Co-leader: Yes
No
Leader: Yes
No
Not applicable:
Executive summary
Please provide a brief
description of the trip and the
activities planned.
The trip will begin and end in Cracow, Poland. Cracow is a cultural and artistic center,
with one of the oldest universities in Europe, a historic castle, and scenic old city. The
entire old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While in Cracow, we will make day
trips to Auschwitz and the Wieliczka Salt Mine, both of which are also UNESCO World
Heritage Sites. We will also spend nights in Zakopane, gateway to the Polish High
Tatras, as wll as in one of the resort towns in Slovakia, to access the Tatras from the
south. We plan to travel between Zakopane and Slovakia by hired coach in one
direction, and on foot in the other. The 7 hiking days will be a combination of resort
based day hikes, and overnight hikes using the hut system.
In Cracow we will stay in moderate level hotel or hostel accomodations (4-5 nights) , 24 people per room. In the resort areas we will stay in tourist lodgings (4-5 nights). In the
backcountry we will stay in huts or refuges with group sleeping arrangements and indoor
plumbing (4 nights).
All meals will be included in the mountain portion of the trip, both at the resort areas and
in the huts. In Cracow, breakfast will be included with hotels, group dinners will be
included at a restaurant on arrival and departure nights, other dinners and lunches will be
on ones own.
Yes
No
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
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)
Revised October 2009
If yes, please describe below what you will need to do to obtain them:
Our guide will obtain any necessary permits for group travel in the High Tatra NP.
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
Hike the High Tatra Mountains in Poland & Slovakia + Cracow Culture!
Éva Borsody Das/Ron Janowitz
Special equipment
Does the trip require special
equipment?
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 equipment and how you
will ensure that people know how to use it:
We may ask people to bring microspikes if crossing snow fields is anticipated. Use of
hiking poles will be encouraged. Participants will be screened for needed experience.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of experience? Also describe
how you will ensure that the participant has this experience?
Experience in mountain hiking and tolerance for group lodging in remote areas will be
required and assured through detailed screening process.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will do:
Day hike in greater Boston or southern NH area.
We will ask the guide to provide information about how conservation issues are
addressed in the High Tatra National Parks of both countries. During our hikes, we will
also focus on wildlfe, as well as mountain and forest ecology. During our entire trip we
will observe how sustainable living concepts are being implemented. Our time in and
around Cracow has strong historical and cultural educational value.
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:
Our guide will make arrangements for our hut stays and choose routes that are suitable
given the conditions on the ground at the time of our trip. In some parts of the Tatra
National Park, groups are required to use guide serivces. In addition, the language
barrier would make logistics difficult and arrangments less reliable.
Piotr Konopka
http://www.k2.zakopane.pl/en/o_mnie.html
Piotr has over 20 years' experience as a professional mountain guide, and is certified by
the Polish Mountain Guide Association (of which he was president for 10 years), which
is affiliated with the principal international mountain guide organization. He also has
over 30 years's experience as part of the Tatra Rescue Service, for which he receives
medical training every 3 years. As a guide, he has had no serious accidents in the past 5
year (the period I asked him about).
Liability? Yes
No
Maximum amt: $ not known
Are they willing to list AMC as an
Yes
No
additional insured?
Piotr carries a mobile phone which can be used in most parts of the High Tatras to call
the mountain rescue service in case of emergency. Rescues are provided by whatever
means are appropriate for the location: helicopter, land vehicle or rescue personnel.
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
Typical mountain terrain, with steep rocky sections and possible snow field crossings.
Usual mountain weather hazards. No significant wildlife dangers.
Response
Particpants will be cautioned to exercise usual mountain safety practices regarding
attention to footing, use of poles, appropriate clothing, electric storm precautions,.
Revised October 2009
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 5
Hike the High Tatra Mountains in Poland & Slovakia + Cracow Culture!
Éva Borsody Das/Ron Janowitz
Foreign Country
Potential hazards
Response
Transportation
Potential hazards
Response
Participants
Potential hazards
Response
Other
Potential hazards
Response
Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism
No political unrest foreseen in either country, no terrorism activity in this area. Neither
leader speaks the local languages. In the toursit locations where we will be, we
anticipate that English will be known.
We will use English speaking guides in all our activities.
Road conditions, drivers, insurance
Travel in mountain areas can be hazardous.
We will use local public transportation (buses, trains), and professionally driven hired
coach.
Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity
Importance of skill & experience in backcountry mountain areas; ability to function well
in close small group dynamics.
Participants will be carefully screened for physical fitness, experience, compatibility.
Conditions unique to this type of trip
n/a
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
Websites of the rescue services of the two countries are /www.topr.pl/ ; /www.hzs.sk/.
Emergency communication
Phone contacts, language,
Communication with them will be by our guide in local language. The Tatras do not
documentation, distance from
cover a wide area, and most locations are less than a day's hike to a mountain road.
emergency services
Our mountain guide will carry a local mobile phone to contact the emergency rescue
Emergency equipment
What sort of emergency first
service if needed. According to his experience, satellite phones are not needed in this
aid or communication
area.
equipment (satellite phone,
two-way radios) do you plan
to use, if any?
Evacuation if needed will be provided by the Tatra Rescue Service, which is staffed by
Evacuation
Please describe your plan for
highly trained moutain rescuers, who have many decades of experience in these
evacuation from the
mountains. Means of transport are determined by the location and needs.
backcountry location if
applicable?
There are hospitals experienced with mountaineering accident victims in Zakopane on
Medical care
Please describe the medical
the Polish side, and in Poprad on the Slovak side.
care available in the area(s)
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?
Revised October 2009
In Poland, the Polish zloty (PLN)
In Slovakia, the Euro (EUR)
As of May 26, 2011, exchange rates:
1 PLN = .357 USD
1 USD = 2.8 PLN
1 EUR = 1.416 USD
1 USD = .706 EUR
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 5
Hike the High Tatra Mountains in Poland & Slovakia + Cracow Culture!
Éva Borsody Das/Ron Janowitz
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
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
Payments will be in Euros and Zlotys. Some payments in Cracow will be via TD bank
debit or credit card, to the extent this means of payment is accepted.
Mountain guide will need a deposit for the accomodations by January 2012. the
remainder of his payment will be due a month before the trip.
After deposits are made with mountain huts in January 2012 , those payments may be
subject to penalty.
Initial deposit of $500 due with application. Final payment of $1995 will be due (4
months before trip?)
No one's cancellation may raise the cost of the trip for the other participants.
Cancellation after acceptance for the trip forfeits $200 of the deposit. Cancellation after
payments are made to guide will be subject to nonrecoverable costs. Cancellation within
4 months of the trip will forfeit whatever costs cannot be covered by replacements.
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