Ralph Blumenthal/Pam Madigan
New Zealand and Milford Track Hiking Adventure
SUMMARY OF TRIP INFORMATION
New Zealand and Milford Track Hiking Adventure
Leader Ralph Blumenthal
Co-leader Pam Madigan
North and South Islands of New Zealand
February 8-22, 2014
Total # of days 15
Backpacking
Bicycling-Mountain
Bicycling-Road
Title of trip
Leadership
Location(s)
Dates
Type of trip
check all that apply
Camping
Cultural
Family
Hiking
Paddling-Canoeing
Paddling-Sea-Kayaking
Skiing-CrossCountry (Nordic)
Walks
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
Minimum 12
Skiing-Downhill
Snorkeling
(Alpine)
Other – please describe Trekking
Maximum 16
$
Does it include airfare? Yes
No
$ 1750 from Los Angeles
First Appearance: Month January
Year 2013
Last Appearance: Month January
Year 2014
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. November 2012
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
Ralph Blumenthal
41 Stoney Brook Road, Holmdel, NJ, 07733
rblumenthal@comcast.net
Home 732-264-8482
Work
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: 10/2014
CPR
BLS
Expiration: 10/2014
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.
St. John, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009,… 11-25 participants
Trinidad and Tobago 2010/11; 16 participants

To lead an Adventure Travel trip you must have current CPR and WFA certifications 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 and you
should describe your plans to do so in a note.
Form Revised March 2012
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 1 of 5
New Zealand and Milford Track Hiking Adventure
Ralph Blumenthal/Pam Madigan
Trip three
Other related trip experience
Ireland 2009 16 participants
Co-leader name
Co-leader address
Co-leader email
Co-leader phone
Wilderness first aid training*
CPR training*
Prior leading experience
Pam Madigan
12 School Street Medfield, MA 02052
pmadigan@verizon.net
Home 508-359-6789
Work
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: May 2014
CPR
BLS
Expiration: September 2012 will recertify
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.
St. John, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, etc, 20-28 participants
Trinidad and Tobago 2010/11; 16 participants
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:
Ralph participated in an AMC trip to New Zealand in 2002
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.
Accommodations
Please describe your plans for
accommodation(s)
Meals
Please describe your plans for
providing meals
Local Transportation
Please describe your plans for
local transportation
Permits or permissions
Does the trip require special
permits or permissions?
Form Revised March 2012
In this moderate hiking trip participants will experience some of the highlights of New
Zealand including Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown, a guided hike of the Milford Track
and the Mt. Cook area.
Huts on the Milford Track. Otherwise 2 and 3-star hotels.
All meals are included while on the Milford Track. We are including a few group
dinners. For other meals participants will be on their own. However, the leaders will
make suggestions to the participants.
Public transportation except for transport to and from the Milford Track which will be
arranged by Ultimate Hikes.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will need to do to obtain them:
Ultimate Hikes will obtain the Milford Track permits.
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 2 of 5
Ralph Blumenthal/Pam Madigan
New Zealand and Milford Track Hiking Adventure
(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?
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
If no, please describe the process you went through to find out that they were not
required:
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of equipment and how you
will ensure that people know how to use it:
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of experience? Also describe
how you will ensure that the participant has this experience?
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will do:
In Auckland we will visit the Auckland War Memorial Museum which has extensive
exhibits of the native Maoris. Another museum includes an aquarium about sea life. In
the Rotorua area we will be visiting a native Maori site and there will explanations of
their history and culture. We will also visit some thermal areas and learn about the
geology of New Zealand. Ultimatehikes.co.nz is the exclusive outfitter for the Milford
Track. The education the guides supply on the track is unsurpased in New Zealand. In
addition, we will have access to extensive resources at the Hermitage Mt. Cook
regarding hiking, history, and mountain conservation.there will be the opportunity to
learn about endangered species and invasive and non-indigenous flora and fauna that
have changed NZ over the years.
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:
We are only using a tour operator for the Milford Track. It is required that we use the
exclusive vendor Ultimate Hikes New Zealand for the guided hike and accommodations.
Ultimate Hikes New Zealand
This company was used by the 2012 AT trip.
www.ultimatehikes.co.nz
Excellent Safety record. Their guides are fully trained in first aid and are in radio contact
with each other and their Queenstown base at all times.
Liability? Yes
No
Maximum amt: $
Are they willing to list AMC as an
Yes
No
additional insured?
We need to get this and the insurance info from them.
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
Wet weather and terrain - Potential fall on the track.
Response
Participants will be screened for their abilities and advised to be prepared for all weather
conditions. Except for the Milford Track we will not be in any remote areas. On the
Form Revised March 2012
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 5
New Zealand and Milford Track Hiking Adventure
Foreign Country
Potential hazards
Response
Transportation
Potential hazards
Response
Participants
Potential hazards
Response
Other
Potential hazards
Response
Ralph Blumenthal/Pam Madigan
Milford Track the guides are fully trained in first aid and and have radio contact.
Helicopter off the track if needed. The outfitter provides participants appropriate rain
gear.
Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism
Not of concern
Road conditions, drivers, insurance
Not of concern - We have professional transport service and it's summertime there.
Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity
Participants must be able to easily handle up to 13 miles of moderate hiking in order to
complete the Milford Track successfully.
Participants will be screened regarding their fitness level. Confirmation with a letter
from their doctor if leaders deem necessary.
Conditions unique to this type of trip
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
Leaders will purchase a local NZ phone with a card on arrival. Leaders have a list of
Emergency communication
Phone contacts, language,
local hospitals in all locations being visited. Milford Track guides have radios.
documentation, distance from
emergency services
Guides are fully trained in first aid and have radio contact with base. Helicopter off the
Emergency equipment
What sort of emergency first
track if needed. The leaders will also carry first aid kits.
aid or communication
equipment (satellite phone,
two-way radios) do you plan
to use, if any?
Milford Track guides have radio access and will arrange for Helicopter transport if
Evacuation
Please describe your plan for
necessary. All other locations we have access to motor vechicle transport.
evacuation from the
backcountry location if
applicable?
Country-wide emergency services phone number is 111. Leader and CL will carry full
Medical care
Please describe the medical
first aid kits and the rangers in the huts are also trained in wilderness first aid.
care available in the area(s)
Auckland City Hospital:(09) 367 0000
where you will be traveling
Queenstown Lakes District Hospital 3 441 0015
and list names and telephone
numbers for these facilities.
COST AND BUDGET DETAILS
As of 9/27/2012, $1 New Zealand dollar is worth about $.83 US. This
has ranged from 0.74-0.86 over the past year. Our budget
conservatively uses 0.88. All accommodations, food, and ground
transportation will be paid in NZD, sometimes in advance from the US.
Air New Zealand is paid in U.S. dollars. We expect to be able to use
charge cards and ATM machines for everything we need to pay there,
rather than having to carry cash into the country. Our budget allows a
reasonable contingency, to be refunded (of course) if not needed.
Air New Zealand requires a deposit of $100 per seat at the time we make our
reservation. Ultimate Hikes requires payment in full for the Milford Track when we
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
Form Revised March 2012
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 5
Ralph Blumenthal/Pam Madigan
New Zealand and Milford Track Hiking Adventure
by airlines, hotels, tour
operators, etc., and when?
Refunds
What is the latest date you can
cancel and still receive a full
refund of any deposits?
Participant deposit
What are the initial deposit and
your schedule of payments by
participants to you?
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:
AMC-ATC Home Page:
Forms:
Deadlines:
E-Mail Addresses:
Club House:
AMC-ATC Chair:
Form Revised March 2012
make the reservations in July 2013. Hotels reservations are fully refundable up to 30
days before the trip and rooms are held by leaders via credit card and not charged until
the trip is underway.
Air New Zealand is refundable up until 60 days prior to departurre. Milford Track
Refund: outside 90 days from date of walk departure: Refund less NZ$100 per person
between 89-60 days from date of walk departure: NZ$200 per person, between 59-21
days from date of walk departure: 50% of full fare
Within 21 days of date of walk departure:100% of full fare
Hotels: 100% refund available up to 30 days prior to departure.
Initial deposit $1000 US with trip application. Second payment of $1800 to cover the
Milford Track fee due by June 15, 2013. After 6/15/2013, any new particpant deposit
must include both payments. Final trip balance and airfare payments are due
12/1/2013.
Cancellation is subject to a minimum $200 cancellation fee. Cancellations should not
raise the trip cost to other participants. Late cancellations may forfeit all funds..
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/committee/proposals/
cyout@outdoors.org
amcatchair@comcast.net
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 5 of 5