John Lisker/Steve Cohen Hut-to-Hut in the Dolomites SUMMARY OF TRIP INFORMATION Hut-to-Hut in the Dolomites Leader John Lisker Co-leader Steve Cohen Dolomites Region of Italy Friday August 24 - Sunday September Total # of days 17, including 2 days to 9, 2012. The first and last days are for accommodate direct travel. direct travel. 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 10 Min 10 $ 1,950 Does it include airfare? Yes No $ 1000-1300 Yes No If yes, please list the approximate month (max is one year in advance of trip) 1 December 2011 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? Small groups work best in remote settings during backpacks. If a participant fee increase of more than 15% is proposed, please explain why? This remote setting backpack is a technical trip, justifying 20% leader subsidization rate. 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 John Lisker 2390 Commonwealth Avenue, Auburndale, MA 02466 john.lisker@juno.com Home 617-244-1636 Work WFA AWFA WFR Expiration: 5/13 CPR BLS Expiration: 5/13 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. Yosemite July 2011 Canadian Rockies Aug 2010 New Zealand Feb 2010 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 John Lisker/Steve Cohen Hut-to-Hut in the Dolomites Other related trip experience Morocco 2009, Tour du Mont Blanc July-Aug 2008, New Zealand Feb 2007, Colorado San Juans 1999, Greece May 1999, Wyoming Wind River Range 1998, Colorado Elk Range 1997, California High Sierras 1996 Co-leader name Co-leader address Co-leader email Co-leader phone Wilderness first aid training* CPR training* Prior leading experience Steve Cohen 104 Manet Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 scohen1234@gmail.com Home 617 641-9954 Work 617 928-1221 WFA AWFA WFR Expiration: June, 2013 CPR BLS Expiration: CPR to be taken 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. Trip one Trip two Trip three Other related trip experience 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: Steve spent ten days hiking and rock climbing in the Dolomites in September 2011. 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 trek will follow the route of the Alta Via 2, a 160km trek through the Dolomites. Aside from the days of arrival and departure there will be hiking every day with an average altitude gain of ~900m/day, and distance covered of ~12km/day. Special equipment Does the trip require special Yes No If yes, please describe below what type of equipment and how you will ensure that people know how to use it: 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! 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 Aside from the day of arrival, all accommodations will be either mountain huts or small mountain hotels. On the trek itself all breakfasts and dinners will be provided. Beginning dinner and farewell lunch are included in the trip cost. 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: Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 2 of 5 John Lisker/Steve Cohen Hut-to-Hut in the Dolomites 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 Usual backpacking equipment will be used by participants except we will not need tents or cooking gear. 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 multi-day backpacking experience and exhibit good personal condition. The trip screening process will involve email and telephone interactions, augmented with personal background checks (i.e. speaking with leaders of past trips that included participants) as necessary. Yes No If yes, please describe below what you will do: We will have at least one pre-trip outdoor activity to get to know each other. We will likely have a second gathering, something primarily social around a meal. This trip will explore both the natural and cultural splendor of an Austrian-oriented part of the Italian Alps. We'll interact with locals throughout the trip, learning about their customs, natural resource management and environmental stewardsip. Along the way, we'll enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery that generations before us have enjoyed. 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 Rugged trails, unpredictable mountain weather, altitude. Response We will travel as a group and assess conditions as we meet them. There are lodging options along the route if the itinerary needs to be changed due to unsafe conditions. The route follows standard, safe trails. The maximum altitude of 9500 feet should not be a problem for a screened group of hikers qualified for the altitude changes. Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism Foreign Country Potential hazards None Response Italy is an economically and socially stable member of the European Union. Road conditions, drivers, insurance Transportation Potential hazards Nothing more than would be encountered here using public transportation. Revised October 2009 Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 5 John Lisker/Steve Cohen Hut-to-Hut in the Dolomites Response Participants Potential hazards Response Other Potential hazards Response We will use public transportation and will rely on trains and buses to get us to and fron the trailheads. Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity Experience level, health, social interactions A full screening process will eliminate many potential problems, and those that arise will be dealt with on an individual basis. Both leaders have extensive group leadersip experience and are practiced at handling uncomfortable sistuations. Potential health threats will be aired during the screening process so leaders will be aware of participants' risks. Conditions unique to this type of trip None None 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 Mountain huts all have wardens that have communication abilities (e.g. radios, Emergency communication Phone contacts, language, telephones, etc.). We request the use of unlocked quad band cell phone Mike Barry documentation, distance from donated to the AT program. The hiking trails we'll be on will have significant traffic in emergency services August. We will be carrying first aid kits. We request the use of unlocked quad band cell phone Emergency equipment What sort of emergency first Mike Barry donated to the AT program. aid or communication equipment (satellite phone, two-way radios) do you plan to use, if any? Mountain safety is taken seriously in the Alps and there are numerous rescue options Evacuation Please describe your plan for including helicopters. evacuation from the backcountry location if applicable? There are towns/cities in the Dolomites area that have first-world medical facilities. This Medical care Please describe the medical area specializes in mountain safety and rescue, and has appropriate facilities. 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? Deposits What deposits will be required by airlines, hotels, tour operators, etc., and when? Refunds Revised October 2009 Italy uses the Euro. At this time the exchange rate is about $1.40; the budget is figured at a rate 10% higher. Except for leader airfare and minor administrative expenses paid in dollars here, everything will have to be paid in Euros. Non-refundable airline tickets for the leaders will have to be purchased in advance, but not until it seems clear that the trip will go. (The cost of refundable tickets is prohibitive.) The purchase of non-refundable airline tickets will be postponed until it seems clear that Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 5 John Lisker/Steve Cohen Hut-to-Hut in the Dolomites 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 trip will go. Initial deposit of $500 will be due with application. Second payment of $500 will be due two weeks after acceptance. Final balance of $950 will be due May 2012. 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 before February 2012, $200 in February 2012 through April 2012, $400 after April 2012. If actual costs are higher, they will be included in the assessment. 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: 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