Robert S. White/Robin Melavalin
Kayak and Whale Watch in Baja Sur, Mexico
SUMMARY OF TRIP INFORMATION
Kayak and Whale Watch in Baja Sur, Mexico
Leader Robert S. White
Co-leader Robin Melavalin
La Paz, Baja Peninsula, Mexico
February 9-19, 2012
Total # of days 10
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
Whale watching
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 14
Min 8
$ 1960
Does it include airfare? Yes
No
$ 700-900
Yes
No If yes, please list the approximate month (max is one year in
advance of trip)
Immediately
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?
If a participant fee increase of more than 15% is proposed, please explain
why?
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
Other related trip experience
Robert S. White
128 White Birch Dr. Guilford, CT 06437
robertswhite@comcast.net
Home 203-453-3727
Work 203-624-8503
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.
1137: National Parks and Slot Canyons in Southern Utah. Co-lead. September 23 to
October 2, 2011(upcoming)
Wilderness Canoeing Interchapter La Verendrye Park, Quebec, Canada Aug. 2-9, 2008
Wilderness Canoeing Interchaper Algonguin Park, Ontario, Canada August 29-Sept 3,
2007
Sea Kayak leader, Connecticut Chapter, numerous day and weekend trips.

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
Kayak and Whale Watch in Baja Sur, Mexico
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
Robert S. White/Robin Melavalin
Robin Melavalin
11 Cuthbert Road, West Roxbury, MA 02132
Rmelavalin@rcn.com
Home 617.323.3374
Work 617.735.9989
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: May 2012
CPR
BLS
Expiration: May 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.
Morocco Trek and Sights, Feb 2010, 2 weeks, hiking and culture, 10 participants
Morocco Trek and Sights, Feb 2009, 2 weeks, hiking and culture,10 participants
Hut to Hut in the Bavarian Alps 2008 and 2009, hiking, 10 days, 10 participants
In 2008 completed ACA Sea Kayak Leader Certification Training. Boston AMC Sea
Kayak co-leader, ex. Misery Islands.
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:
Robin camped throughout Baja, Mexico in the 1980s.
Executive summary
Please provide a brief
description of the trip and the
activities planned.
The first two days will be gray whale watching in the Pacific Lagoon of Lopez Mateos
using motor skiffs, 2 nights hotel. Then we will have a 7 day circumnavigation of
Espiritu Island by sea kayak. The outfitter will supply one guide for each 6 participants.
This will be a self-supported trip. We will carry our equipment and food in the kayaks.
The guides will plan and organized the food but participants will be expected to help
cook and clean. There will be one re-supply mid trip. Each day there will be 3-4 hours
of paddling. With 2 leaders, we can organize a slower beginners group and a faster
intermediate group. There will be plenty of time for snorkeling, hiking into arroyos,
observing nature and relaxing. There will be one layover day in which we motor to a sea
lion colony and can swim with the pups.
Hotel in La Paz first night and hotel in Lopez Mateos second night. Beach camping 7
nights and hotel in La Paz last night. Hotels and camping included in outfitter price.
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
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
All meals in La Paz and Lopez Mateos arranged by outfitter and included in cost. All
meal camping arranged by outfitter and prepared cooperatively. Last night meal in La
Paz not included.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will need to do to obtain them:
Obtained by outfitter
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 6
Kayak and Whale Watch in Baja Sur, Mexico
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
Robert S. White/Robin Melavalin
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of equipment and how you
will ensure that people know how to use it:
Single and double sea kayaks, paddles and floatation, camping equipment, to be provided
by outfitter (participants bring their own sleeping bags). Snorkling equipment and wet
suits can be rented extra.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of experience? Also describe
how you will ensure that the participant has this experience?
We will carefully screen applicants for paddling experience in any kayak, and in sea
kayaks, degree of paddling skills and safety skills. All participants must know how to
swim and to paddle a kayak. We expect to accommodate both relative beginners and
active intermediate paddlers. We will take beginners with rec kayak experience but no
sea kayak experience and teach necessary skills. For those with minimal experience or
lack of experience with skirted sea-kayaks, we will require a pre-trip skill teaching day.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will do:
We will organize one or two pre-trip skills days, in which participants will practice
paddling a sea kayak, demonstrating a 'wet exit', learn a 2 -person rescue and a paddle
float re-entry. Those not having any experience in sea kayaks will be required to attend
and those with solid skills will be invited to attend. We will also demonstrate and
practice snorkeling techniques.
We will practice and learn about leave no trace camping. We will teach kayak skills
including rescue techniques and eskimo rolling to those interested (the guides and the
leaders can teach skills). We will learn about whale migrations and reproduction. The
leader is interested in bird-watching and will lead early morning birding hikes on the
island. The leader is interested in digital photography and can teach skills to those
interested. The co-leader is an anthropologist and will provide pre-trip and on-site
information about the cultures of the local people as well as the local economic issues
and current events. Participants will be encouraged to learn some Spanish phrases.
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
Revised October 2009
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:
Sea kayaking in a location with which we are not completely familiar with the water
charts nor the weather patterns is best led by professional and local guides who do this
every day. The guides are experienced kayakers and naturalists. Additionally, the
outfitter will provide all the equipment that is needed for this expedition (most
importantly kayaks and PFDs) that we will not be able to bring ourselves. Having
professional guides plus 2 experienced AMC leaders ensured extra safety on the water.
This particular trip is considered a private charter and is not one that an individual could
sign up for directly through the company on their own. An additional feature is the
expectation of shared meal preparation and shared equipment transfer, closer to AMC
ideals than a fully catered trip,
Baja Outdoor Activities
http://www.kayakactivities.com
In 17 years of operation, no fatalities and only one compound fracture owing to an
unusual incident when a client tripped over a rock on the beach while doing warm up
exercises. Most incidents are minor cuts and scrapes from snorkeling when people
allow themselves to get too shallow in rocky areas or where there is sharp coral.
Occassionally (a few times a season) people are injured by sting rays and treated with
first aid; this is easily avoided by shuffling the feet while wading in water.
Liability? Yes
No
Maximum amt: $ 500,000
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 6
Robert S. White/Robin Melavalin
Kayak and Whale Watch in Baja Sur, Mexico
Do they have liability
insurance?
Emergency response
Please describe the outfitters’
response plan in the case of an
emergency.
Are they willing to list AMC as an
Yes
No
additional insured?
Outfitter gave a copy of their written emergency plan to the leader. Emergency
communication possible by both cell phone and VHF radio. Guides have WFA training.
Evacuation is arranged by panda (motorboat) or helicoptor. There are two 24 hour
hospitals in La Paz (see below).
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
In any open water situation, weather plays the most significant factor for safety,
including wind, high waves and participants getting tired. A second potential hazard is
snorkling, becoming tired, not able to clear water from tube or mask. Rattlesnakes and
scorpions live in the region (non fatal) but they are rarely seen and have never
bitten/stung a client.
Response
Our trained guides will be familiar with the weather patterns and storms that might come
through. We will do most of our paddling in the mornings which is usually better
weather. There will be 2 professional guides and 2 experienced leaders to maintain eye
contact with all participants while on the water. Using double kayaks, we can switch
someone into a kayak with an experienced paddler if necessary. We will organize life
guards for all swimming times. Leaders and guides are familiar with in-water rescue
techniques. Alert participants to the presence of snakes and scorpions, shake out shoes
before putting them on, and watch our step walking on land.
Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism
Foreign Country
Potential hazards
There is currently a US Department of State travel warning for Mexico (as of April 22,
2011) due to drug and gang violence along the borders and specific regions of the
country, but Mexico is a large country and these are not particular concerns in La Paz
and Baja Sur (the southern region) where we will be. We plan to fly into Cabo. Mexico
has its regular issues of petty theft and women getting cat-calls but this shouldn't be any
major issue.
Response
Our group will be registered with the US Dept of State in their Smart Traveler
Enrollment Program (STEP). There is a US Consular Agency in Cabo San Lucas at
Blvd. Marina local c-4, Plaza Nautica, col. Centro, telephone (011)(52)(624) 143-3566.
The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in Mexico is “066”. Participants will
be told to keep their valuables in safe places on their bodies and to not bring any items of
high value (ie jewelry) that would attract attention. Participants will be encouraged not to
go out alone.
Road conditions, drivers, insurance
Transportation
Potential hazards
Although we will not be doing much driving, there is a short drive from the airport to the
hotel and the hotel to the coastal put-in. There is also a drive to the whale watching area.
Any driving has some level of risk associated with it.
Response
The drivers will be from the kayak outfitting company and used to driving vans and
groups of people. They are experienced local Mexicans who are familiar with the roads
and traffic rules. We will try not to travel at night. The outfitter uses 14 person vans.
Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity
Participants
Potential hazards
Not being able to paddle to keep the pace of the group or being able to manage high
winds/ bigger waves.
Response
There will be a minimum of 4 leaders on the water with our group. We can switch
participants to a double kayak with an experienced paddler. The leaders can swiftly
organize an in-water 2 boat rescue if someone capsizes. No one will be permitted to
paddle alone. We will organize a buddy system for added safety.
Revised October 2009
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 6
Kayak and Whale Watch in Baja Sur, Mexico
Other
Potential hazards
Response
Robert S. White/Robin Melavalin
Conditions unique to this type of trip
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
All of the guides speak English. The leaders know some Spanish but are not fluent. The
Emergency communication
Phone contacts, language,
guides will carry cell phones and VHF radio to contact headquarters in La Paz. The
documentation, distance from
island is a 30 minute motor boat ride from the city. Since this is a self-supported trip, a
emergency services
boat would either be borrowed from another outfitter or sent from the mainland. The
guides have WFA training. Full medical services are available in La Paz.
Cell phone and VHF radio. We will carry first aid equipment on the trip.
Emergency equipment
What sort of emergency first
aid or communication
equipment (satellite phone,
two-way radios) do you plan
to use, if any?
Motor boat for less serious emergencies and helicopter for more serious emergencies.
Evacuation
Please describe your plan for
evacuation from the
backcountry location if
applicable?
The two hospitals in the area are Hospital Especialidades Médicas, at Km 4.5 on the
Medical care
Please describe the medical
highway toward the airport (tel. 612/124-0400), and Hospital Juan María de Salvatierra
care available in the area(s)
(tel. 612/122-1497), Nicolás Bravo 1010, Col. Centro. Both are open 24 hours and the
where you will be traveling
former offers access to emergency air evacuation.
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
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?
The exchange rate does not have too much impact on this trip because the trip fees are
being paid in US dollars. While in Mexico, tourists typically purchase items using US
dollars, which are widely accepted, therefore reducing the need to exchange foreign
currency.
50 % due to outfitter November 30, 2011. Balance due 2 months before trip.
November 30, 2011
$500 deposit at time of application.
November 15th, 2011: balance of 50% deposit of trip fee.
3 months before trip: Final payment due.
Outfitter policy: More than 2 month's notice: full refund (less $450US admin fee).
Revised October 2009
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 5 of 6
Kayak and Whale Watch in Baja Sur, Mexico
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
Robert S. White/Robin Melavalin
Less than 2 month's notice but more than one month: forfeit deposit of 50% of trip fee.
Less than 1 month forfeit full trip fee.
After November 30, 2011, full refund minus portion of administrative fee. 2 months
before trip, 50 % refund unless a replacement is found. Less than one month, no refund
unless replacement is found.
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 6 of 6