Stephen Cohen/Bill Wheeler
Hut-to-Hut in Austria's Otztal and Stubai Alps
SUMMARY OF TRIP INFORMATION
Hut-to-Hut in Austria's Otztal and Stubai Alps
Leader Stephen Cohen
Co-leader Bill Wheeler
Otztal Alps and Stubai Alps, Austria
8/22/2014 through 9/6/2014
Total # of days 16
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 8
$ 2200
Does it include airfare? Yes
No
$ 1600
Yes
No If yes, please list the approximate month (max is one year in
advance of trip)
November, 2013
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 are better and safer in back
country adventures.
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
Other related trip experience
Stephen Cohen
104 Manet Road Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
scohen1234@gmail.com
Home 617 997-6861
Work 617 928-1221
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: 6/2013 will renew 5/2013
CPR
BLS
Expiration: 7/2014
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.
Hut to hut in the Swiss Alps August, 2013 10 participants two weeks
Hut to hut in the Dolomites August, 2012 10 participants two weeks
Organized and led Haute Route trip (private) in 2010 1 participant two weeks

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
Stephen Cohen/Bill Wheeler
Hut-to-Hut in Austria's Otztal and Stubai Alps
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
Bill Wheeler
2506 Mill Pond Dr, South Windsor, CT 06074
bwheelsjr@cox.net
Home 860-324-7374
Work
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: 9/2013 Will be renwed prior to this trip
CPR
BLS
Expiration: 2/2014 Will be renwed prior to this trip
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.
Yellowstone National Park; hiking, Sep. 7-18, 2013; 14 participants + 2 leaders
Crater Lake & Central Cascades; hiking, Aug. 4-15, 2012; 14 participants + 2 leaders
Guadalupe & Carlsbad Caverns; hiking, Apr. 21-29, 2012; 14 participants + 2 leaders
Bulgaria 2010 and Norway 2011, European hut stays
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 lived in Switzerland for three years, visited Interlaken several times including the
museum at Ballenberg. Neither have hiked these specific trails.
Executive summary
Please provide a brief
description of the trip and the
activities planned.
These treks will follow the routes laid out in recent guidebooks "Walking in Austria" by
Kev Reynold and "Trekking in the Stubai Alps" by Allan Hartley. Aside from the days
of arrival, departure and a sightseeing day in Innsbruck, there will be hiking every day
with an average altitude gain of ~850m(2800ft)/day, and distance covered of
~10km(6m)/day
Aside from the days of arrival and departure, all accommodations will be either
mountain huts or small mountain hotels.
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)
Our plan is to make hut reservations 4-6 months in advance. The experiences of myself
and others (TMB - 2008, Haute Route - 2010, TMB -2011, Dolomites - 2012) is that at
European mountain huts, when reservations are made well in advance, there is no
problem booking the huts. In addition, we have the advantage for the proposed hike of
going at the end of the hiking season so overall demand will be less.
Meals
Please describe your plan for
providing meals
Revised October 2009
There is always a possibility of a hut that can not be booked. In some cases we can
substitute a nearby hut and hike a little longer one day and a little shorter the next.
Depending on where the unexpected booking difficulty occurs, we could alternatively
stay in one of the mountains towns that we pass such as Grindelwald.
Starting August 23, 2014 all breakfasts and dinners will be provided. Lunches can be
purchased at the huts. Alternatively lunch supplies can be bought at local markets.
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 2 of 5
Stephen Cohen/Bill Wheeler
Hut-to-Hut in Austria's Otztal and Stubai Alps
Permits or permissions
Does the trip require special
permits or permissions?
(required on many U.S.
federal lands and national
parks)
Yes
No
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:
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:
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of experience? Also describe
how you will ensure that the participant has this experience?
Usual backpacking equipment will be used by participants except we will not need tents
or cooking gear.or sleeping bags.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will do:
We will have one pre-trip outdoor activity to get to know each other.
This trip will explore both the natural and cultural splendor of the Austrian Alps. We'll
interact with locals throughout the trip, learning about their customs, natural resource
management and environmental stewardship. Along the way, we'll enjoy the beautiful
mountain scenery. In addition, we'll have a guided walking tour of Innsbruck as a group,
including a visit to a palace or museum.
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
Revised October 2009
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 5
Stephen Cohen/Bill Wheeler
Hut-to-Hut in Austria's Otztal and Stubai Alps
Foreign Country
Potential hazards
Response
Transportation
Potential hazards
Response
Participants
Potential hazards
Response
Other
Potential hazards
Response
Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism
None
Austria is an economically and socially stable country.
Road conditions, drivers, insurance
Nothing more than would be encountered here using public transportation.
We will use public transportation
Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity
Experience level, health, social interactions
A full screening process will eliminate many potential problems. Those that arise will be
dealt with on an individual basis. Both leaders have extensive group leadership
experience and are practiced at handling uncomfortable situations. Potential health
threats will be aired during the screening process so leaders will be aware of participants'
risks. We will look for people with backcountry experience, tolerance for rustic
conditions, and experience in foreign countries.
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.). The hiking trails we will be on have significant traffic in August.
documentation, distance from
Steve can communicate in German, the primary language of Austria.
emergency services
We will be carrying first aid kits. Steve Cohen will buy or borrow a cell phone
Emergency equipment
What sort of emergency first
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?
Austria has first-world medical facilities. This area has mountain safety and rescue
Medical care
Please describe the medical
capability and appropriate facilities. Police - 133, Ambulance 144, Alpine rescue - 140
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
Austria uses the Euro. Currently the exchange rate is about $1.30/Euro; the budget is
figured at $1.45/Euro. Except for leader airfare and minor administrative expenses paid
in dollars here, everything will be paid in Euros.
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 5
Stephen Cohen/Bill Wheeler
Hut-to-Hut in Austria's Otztal and Stubai Alps
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
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.) Other reservations do not require deposits or are refundable on short notice.
The purchase of non-refundable airline tickets will be postponed until it seems clear that
the trip will go.
Initial deposit of $1000 are due with application. Second payment of $1200 due June
2014. 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: $100 before
February 2014, $250 in February 2014 through April 2014, $500 after April 2014. 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