FINLAND: BIKING THE TURKU ARCHIPELAGO
Janis Stahlhut/Dick Cable
SUMMARY OF TRIP INFORMATION
FINLAND: BIKING THE TURKU ARCHIPELAGO
Leader Janis Stahlhut
Co-leader Dick Cable
Finland
July 7-17, 2016
Total # of days 11 incuding overnight flight
to Buenos Aires
Backpacking
Bicycling-Mountain
Bicycling-Road
Title of trip
Leadership
Location(s)
Dates
Type of trip
check all that apply
Primary type of trip
Number of participants
(excluding leaders)
Advertised cost
Airfare range if not included
When should the trip notice be
published in AMC Outdoors?
Do you wish to have your trip
listed online before it is
published in AMC Outdoors?
Smaller trips and leader
subsidization
Camping
Cultural
Family
Hiking
Paddling-Canoeing
Paddling-Sea-Kayaking
Skiing-CrossCountry (Nordic)
Trekking (e.g., hutto-hut)
Bicycling-Road
Minimum 12
$ 2495
$ 1000
First Appearance:
Last Appearance:
Skiing-Downhill
Snorkeling
(Alpine)
Walking
Other – please describe optional
cooking school
Select one of those checked above.
Maximum 12
Does it include airfare? Yes
No
Will leaders assist participants with flights? Yes
Month asap
Year 2015
Month July
Year 2016
No
Note: AMC Outdoors is only published in Jan., March, May, July, Sept., Nov.
Yes
No If yes, please list the approximate month and year when it should
be posted on line. ASAP
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? Accomodation restrictions
If a participant fee increase of more than 15% is proposed, please explain why?
The leader's contribution, a 6:1 ratio, was split amongst the 12 participants,
increasing the trip price by $48pp. See financial sheet.
LEADER AND CO-LEADER INFORMATION
Leader name
Leader address
Leader email
Leader phone
Wilderness first aid
training
CPR training
Prior leading experience
Trip one
Form Revised July 2013
Janis Stahlhut
1465 E Putnam Ave #323, Old Greenwich, CT 06870
jstahlhut1@aol.com
Home 203-637-9275
Cell 203-820-9275
Work
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: 4/2016, will renew 4/2016
CPR
BLS
Expiration: 11/2015, will renew 11/2015
If this is your first Adventure Travel trip as a Leader you must be present at the AMCATC meeting at which the trip proposal is considered.
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.
see below
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 1 of 6
FINLAND: BIKING THE TURKU ARCHIPELAGO
Trip two
Trip three
Other related trip
experience
Janis Stahlhut/Dick Cable
I have co-led the following international trips with Dick Cable, and was approved
as an AMC-AT Leader in 2013: Biking Sicily (2010/14 pax), Biking MantovaVenice (2011/14pax), Biking Camino-de-Santiago (2012/14 pax), Biking Provence
(2012/14pax), Hiking Machu Picchu/Easter Island (2014/21 pax), Biking Puglia
(2014, 18pax). Upcoming co-leads: Biking Finland (2015/12 pax), Hiking Norway
(2015, 14 pax), New Zealand (2015, 11-14pax), Hiking Patagonia (2016/14pax),
Biking Innsbruk-Venice (2016 12-14 pax). Qualifying trips for AMC AT Leader
training: Biking Cape Cod (2009, 3 days, 9 pax), Hiking at Highland Center (2010,
3 days, 10 pax) I will co-lead this trip with Dick Cable in August 2015.
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
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?
Dick Cable
8 Heather Lane, Burlington, CT 06013
r.cable@sbcglobal.net
Cell 860-944-0594
Home 860-673-1940
Work
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: 4/2016, will renew in 2016
CPR
BLS
Expiration: 12/2015, will renew in 2015
If you are a new co-leader you must submit an application to be an Adventure Travel
leader or co-leader prior to submitting this application. Also, it is strongly
recommended that you be present at the AMC-ATC meeting at which the trip proposal
is considered.
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. Please indicate if you were
the leader or co-leader.
Biking Provence
Biking the Camino de Santiago
Biking Mantova to Venice
Hiking Yosemite, 2 trips to Mongolia, Hiking Nepal, Biking Sicily. Machu
Picchu/Easter Island, Biking Berlin to Prague, Biking Puglia, Upcoming trips:
Biking the Loire Valley, Biking Finland, Hiking Norway, New Zealand &
Patagonia, Biking Innsbruk-Venice, Walking Safari-Tanzania.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below:
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 materials
you send out.
LOGISTICAL DETAILS OF TRIP
Summary
Please provide a description
of the trip and the activities
planned. If available, please
include or attach an itinerary.
Form Revised July 2013
Day 0/1 Jul 7/8: Depart USA/overnight flight. Arrive Helsinki, Finland. Airport
transfer. Transfer from airport to hotel with coach only.
Day 2 Jul 9: Helsinki Sightseeing by bike with local cycling guide.
Day 3 Jul 10:Helsinki-Turku transfer, Turku City Sightseeing
Day 4 Jul 11: Turku-Taivassalo, depart for island cycling tour
Day 5 Jul 12: Taivassalo - Korppoo
Day 6 Jul 13: Korppoo - Nauvo
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 2 of 6
FINLAND: BIKING THE TURKU ARCHIPELAGO
Janis Stahlhut/Dick Cable
Day 7 Jul 14: Naovo, Kayak half day tour
Day 8 Jul 15: Nauvo - Naantali
Day 9 Jul 16: Return to Turke, return bikes, overnight in Turke.
Day 10 Jul 17: Turku - Helsinki transfer to airport, Depart for the US.
Accommodations
Please describe your plans for
accommodation(s)
Meals: Please describe your
plans for providing meals. If
the budget includes any funds
for leader meals not shared
with the group please justify.
Local Transportation
Please describe your plans for
local transportation
Will leaders or participants be
drivers of motor vehicles?
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?
All accommodations are double occupancy in 3* hotels and small inns with en
suite facilities. Each hotel serves a buffet style breakfast as part of its packaged
rate.
All breakfasts are included as well as three dinners. While biking, we will pool euros for
a picnic lunch or separate to find local restaurants or sandwich shops to enjoy, as
appropriate. Additional dinners will be on our own at local restaurants. An optional
cooking school with dinner is an add-on for those so chosing. Participants should plan
on approximately $200 dollars for dinners and lunch that are not provided in the trip
package.
All land transportation is provided by companies screened and hired by the tour
operator to ensure the use of well maintained vehicles and professional, licensed
drivers.
Will leaders be drivers?
Will volunteer participants be drivers?
If so, MVR checks will be needed. See Appendix S1.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will need to do to obtain them:
na
If no, please describe the process you went through to find out that they were not
required:
per our tour operator.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of equipment and how you
will ensure that people know how to use it:
A biking helmet is mandatory and will be carried by each participant. They will be
provided with the bikes.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of experience? Also describe
how you will ensure that the participant has this experience?
Participants should be able to bike on mostly flat, sometimes rolling terrain for
33-65 kl. over the course of 5 days. We will screen for this ability.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will do:
An optional bike ride of 37 miles in Northwest CT and the Berkshires will be held
prior to the trip.
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 AMC-AT trip meet the
mission of the AMC?
www.outdoors.org/about/mission.cfm
The very nature of this trip focuses on conversation, education, and
recreation. We will be learning about the history, artistry, and culture of
Finland including Helsinki and Turku as well as the archipelago.
TOUR OPERATOR AND GUIDE SERVICE INFORMATION
This section should be completed if the trip will be using a tour operator, outfitter, guide service, travel agency or
other such company or person(s) for a significant part of the trip or for the entire trip. Any person(s) or companies
that are handling a significant portion of trip funds or arrangements need to be vetted. If there is more than one
tour operator please provide this information about each such entity.
Will this trip require a tour
Yes
No
operator or guide service
Please describe their services. If you are using a tour operator for the entire trip,
during part of or for the
please describe why you will be using them rather than doing this trip on your own:
We will be using a tour operator for airport transfer, transfer from Helsinki to
entire trip?
Turku, Turku to Helsinki, guide maps, and transportation of our luggage, We will
use guides on our city bike tour of Helsinki, tour of Turku, and kayak guiding.
Otherwise, this will be self-guided.
Form Revised July 2013
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 6
FINLAND: BIKING THE TURKU ARCHIPELAGO
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.
Janis Stahlhut/Dick Cable
The Travel Experience, Helsinki, Finland, see Travel Company Questionaire
attachment. (This operator was vetted and approved for our 2015 Finland/Turku
bike trip.)
www.travel-experience.net
see Travel Company Questionaire attachment.
Liability? Yes
No
Maximum amt: $
Are they willing to list AMC as an
Yes
No
additional insured?
Since this is self-guided, we will rely on Finland's emergency response to provide
transport to hospitals or clinics as needed. If not of an emergency level. we will
rely on public transportation. Our tour operator will be available to us by cell
phone or land line. (see Travel Company Questionaire attachment.)
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
The inherent risk of road biking will exist
Response
Road biking carries an inherent risk of injury due to falls or collision. The roads
we will be using are paved and often shared with car traffic. The trip leaders are
WFA and CPR certified and will be carrying basic first aid kits and
communications gear (cell phones). Safety talks will precede each day’s ride
and a review of emergency procedures in accordance with the our established
protocol
Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism
Foreign Country
Potential hazards
language/translation. No other political concerns are anticipated
Response
IFinish is of course the language. Though neither leader speaks the language
fluently, ou tour guide,when used, will be capable of comunicating with the
"locals". Finland is a popular touring country, and it can be expected that many
local inhabitants, merchants, and especially emergency facilities, will be able to
communicate in English if necessary.
Road conditions, drivers, insurance
Transportation
Potential hazards
Response
We will not be driving. The coach and support vehicles used will be contracted or
employed by our tour operator.
Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity
Participants
Potential hazards
Appropriate level of fitness and riding experience for day ride biking
Response
The level of riding is low-intermediate and through trip description and screening,
we should be able to ascertain that the level of fitness is appropriate. It is more
important for us to ascertain that our applicants are experienced with riding on
roadways shared by motorists. Europeans, by and large, are more accustomed
to sharing the road with cyclists, as long as the cyclists are consciously following
the "rules of the road." We have chosen July/August as our time of year because
the temperatures are best so we do not anticipate any issues with heat or
unusual weather.
Conditions unique to this type of trip
Other
Potential hazards
This trip does not invoke any "high risk" activities and will take place in a populated
region of the country.
Response
Daily reviews of road safety and techniques (hand/voice signals, rules of the
road, etc.) will keep us mindful of riding safely to each destination while enjoying
the culture and beauty of the region.
Form Revised July 2013
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 6
FINLAND: BIKING THE TURKU ARCHIPELAGO
Janis Stahlhut/Dick Cable
EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
Please describe your plans for dealing with emergencies. Give 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 BLANK
The leader and co-leader will be carrying cell phones; additionally, we will have
Emergency communication
Phone contacts, language,
phone contact at each hotel. We are less than one to two hours to medical
services of hospital status. Both leaders use AT&T international service when
documentation, distance from
traveling abroad which offers a wide area of coverage in European countries.
emergency services
The area of Finland in which we will travel is not remote, so cell coverage is
expected to be fairly abundant. However, leaders will also be equipped with 2way radios based on point to point technology (e.g., "22 GMRS channels offer a
range of up to 35 miles (per manufacturer); range is based on an unobstructed
line of sight between you and another radio operator in good weather" with
additional "repeater" technology in the event that cell phones enter a "dead
zone". At no time will we be more than a few hours vehicle ride from at least an
"urgent care" medical facility or trauma center. Participants will be encouraged
to carry passports and emergency medical documents at all times. Leaders will
be equipped with waiver, emergency contact, and medical condition documents
required for submission by all participants. Also, see Travel Company
Questionaire attachment for their company procedures/resources.
Both the leader and co-leader will be carrying first aid and tool kits and two way
Emergency equipment
radios as well as cell phones. The luggage transport vehicle will also be
What sort of emergency first
available to us for use in emergencies, as well as hotel operators and public
aid or communication
transportation.
equipment (satellite phone,
two-way radios) do you plan
to use, if any?
We do not anticipate the need to evaculate, but in such an extreme situation,
Evacuation
we will always be in contact with our tour operator and support vehicle, and we
Please describe your plan for
will not be in backcountry.
evacuation from the
backcountry location if
applicable?
Helsinki University Central Hospital. Stenbäckinkatu 9 00290 Helsinki Finland
Medical care
Phone: + 358 04711 2010; TKYS. Kinakvarngatan 4-8.Turku +358 2 3130000/
Please describe the medical
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?
The base land cost from our tour agency in 2015 is 1234 euros/pp
(based on 2015 invoice of 17 276,00 euro @5% realized inflation). We
have been advised to add 5% inflation rate for 2016 rates = E1,296.
The current euro exchange is 1.08, far lower than it has been over the
last several years. We expect the euro to remain around here or weaken
further against the dollar; but have conservatively estimated a 1.2
exchange for this trip, bringing the base pp cost to US $1,555. We have
added to this the 1.5% wire transfer fee of TD Bank to arrive at a pp
land cost of $1,578. We have kept a 4% contingency for the event that
the euro climbs more than expected in the next year. We anticipate no
other use for this contingeny fund. We will be paying in euros by
transfer.
The price of this trip based on these assumptions (with leader costs
adjusted based on a maximum capacity of 12+2:see spreadsheet) is
$2,495 - less than the price of the 2015 trip ($2,790, based on 7%
inflation and 1.4 conversion rate). We received enough interest in the
Form Revised July 2013
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 5 of 6
FINLAND: BIKING THE TURKU ARCHIPELAGO
Group Trip Deposits
What deposits will be required
from you by airlines, hotels, tour
operators, etc., and when?
Group Trip Refunds
What is the latest date you can
cancel and still receive a full
refund of any deposits?
Participant deposits
What are the initial deposit and
your schedule of payments by
participants to you?
Cancellation policy
What will be your cancellation
policy for the participants?
Minimum numbers
Will you still run the trip if you
do not get the minimum number?
Reference web links:
AMC-ATC Home Page:
Forms:
Deadlines:
E-Mail Addresses:
Club House:
AMC-ATC Chair:
Form Revised July 2013
Janis Stahlhut/Dick Cable
2015 trip, beyond its capacity, to give us confidence that we can fill this
trip a second year, at a competitive price such as this.
20% 10 months prior
6 weeks prior
$850 with application; $850 on Jan. 1, 2015; balance of $795 due April 1, 2016
Full refund if the trip does not run. Once a trip has been confirmed to run with
a sufficient number of partcipants, no refund will be available unless another
suitable participant can be confirmed. Once that participant is confirmed and
monies deposited, a refund will be issued. Refunds will only be refunded to the
extent that the cost of the trip for other participants is not affected. Participants
are responsible for their own airline tickets. Most domestic airlines no longer
give refunds for cancellations; instead, they issue coupons for a future trip with
an administrative charge of $100.00 and an expiration date. Trip cancellation
insurance is advised and policy information is supplied to all participants.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe conditions:
If we are very near the minimum, leaders will assess their willingness to pay a
portion of expenses out of pocket.
http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/
http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/application/
http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/committee/proposals/
nholland@outdoors.org
amcatchair@comcast.net
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 6 of 6