Steve Cohen/John Lisker
Exotic Hiking Holiday in the Azores
SUMMARY OF TRIP INFORMATION
Exotic Hiking Holiday in the Azores
Leader Steve Cohen
Co-leader John Lisker
Azores, Portugal
Apr 22-May 3, 2016
Total # of days 12
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)
Hiking
Minimum 14
Skiing-Downhill
Snorkeling
(Alpine)
Walking
Other – please describe
Select one of those checked above.
Maximum 14
$ 3,300
Does it include airfare? Yes
No
$ 600-1,000
Will leaders assist participants with flights? Yes
No
First Appearance: Month July
Year 2015
Last Appearance: Month January
Year 2016
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.
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
Form Revised February 2014
Steve Cohen
2802 Arbor Drive #2 Madison, WI 53711
scohen1234@gmail.com
Home 617-997-6861
Work
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: 12/2016
Cell 617-997-6861
CPR
BLS
Expiration: 7/2016
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.
Austria Nordic XC Ski January 2015 10 participants
Patagonia March 2014 hiking 10 participants
Austria August 2014 hiking 10 participants
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 1 of 6
Steve Cohen/John Lisker
Exotic Hiking Holiday in the Azores
experience
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?
John Lisker
2390 Commonwealth Avenue, Auburndale, MA 02466
john.lisker@juno.com
Home 617-244-1636
Work
Cell
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: April 2017 pending
CPR
BLS
Expiration: May 2017 pending
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.
Tour de la Vanoise Hut-to-Hut, July-August 2014
Big Bend: Hiking & Art, February 2014
Under the Alpine Giants Hut-to-Hut, August 2013
New Zealand 2013, Hut-to-Hut in the Dolomites, Aug-Sept 2012, Tuscan Mountains
and Cinque Terre, May 2012, Patagonia Feb-Mar 2012, Yosemite backpack July 2011,
Canadian Rockies backpack Aug 2010, New Zealand Jan-Feb 2010, Morocco Feb
2009, Tour du Mont Blanc July-Aug 2008, New Zealand Feb 2007, Colorado San Juans
backpack 1999, Greece May 1999, Wyoming Wind River Range backpack 1998,
Colorado Elk Range backpack 1997, California High Sierras backpack 1996
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.
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
Form Revised February 2014
Fly to Ponta Delgada, the Azores capital city on Sao Miguel Island. This hiking tour
comprises 11 nights duration in 3 hotels rated 3 and 4 stars. Visits to Sao Miguel, Pico
and Faial Islands. Transfers via private and public bus, taxis, air and ferry boat. Guided
walking and cultural highlights program throughout. Special focus on authentic local
dishes. Opportunites to experience the lesser traveled regions of the Azores that the
average tourist do not generally visit. Optional opportunites for wine tastings, whale
watch tour, and summit hike to Mt Pico.
Staying in 4 star hotels with shared twin accommodation with ensuite bathroom,
telephones, cable TV, hair dryers and AC in two of the hotels.
Breakfast buffet will be provided at each hotel as part of the hotel accommodation
charge. The trip will pay for all but 3 lunches, and all but 2 dinners. Beverages are
included in the trip price only at breakfast.
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 2 of 6
Exotic Hiking Holiday in the Azores
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?
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?
Steve Cohen/John Lisker
Outfitter will make reservations for inter island flight, ferry between two islands. Use of
hired vehicles, local buses and taxis on island where appropriate. Neither volunteers no
leaders will be 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:
If no, please describe the process you went through to find out that they were not
required:
Outfitter has been to the area previously and verified that no special permits are 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:
The participants must be able to demonstrate that they can hike for 4-5 hours per day. A
guideline for hiking abilities will be supplied with the prospectus so participants can rate
themselves. Leader/coleader will follow up with AMC local chapter contacts to see if
participants will be a good fit for this trip. Phone calls will be used if uncertain about
abilities and being a good group player.
Conservation, education and
recreation
How will this AMC-AT trip meet the
mission of the AMC?
www.outdoors.org/about/mission.cfm
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:
Because neither leader speaks the local language. We feel very confident with the
entire trip?
outfitter and his experience as well as his safety record. Outfitter will be able to provide
a superior trip experience in the Azores due to his intimate knowledge of the islands as
well as his fluency with the Portugese language. This will allow for a seamless and
pleasurable experience for the participants. His familiarity with the islands will allow for
an enhanced experience by being able to explore regions of the Azores few travelers
visit. The outfitter and guide have conducted numerous trips to the area and are well
acquainted with the local customs, flora, fauna, trails, transportation etc. Hopping
between islands using different transportation mediums (plane, ferry) will require a good
knowledge of timing (of hikes and travel to the departure points) and routes to meet the
transports on time. Guides who are familiar with the region can provide that comfort to
the group. The Azores archipelago is not as readily accessible to tourism as other parts of
the world (e.g. Yosemite Valley, Neustift, Austria, Switzerland, Tuscany, etc) and the
use of a well organized outfitter will maximize participants' trip enjoyment. AMC
leaders will augment guide's services by educating participants in "Leave No Trace"
policies, trail safety, history and culture of the Azores. AMC leaders will assist in
Form Revised February 2014
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 6
Steve Cohen/John Lisker
Exotic Hiking Holiday in the Azores
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.
leading hikes, assist in hike selection based on condition of trails, participant abilities
and weather conditions.
Matt Butler, Adventure Bug
Adventurebug (based in Spain) has operated worldwide since 2000. They have put
thousands of participants (from children to corporate groups to pensioners) through
countless expeditions and tours that involve travel in the form of hiking, biking, kayak,
horse travel, 4x4, camel treks, rafts, mountaineering and more. Adventurebug has NO
single claim on its liability insurance nor has it had any liability suits or charges against
it in its entire company history.
Liability? Yes
No
Maximum amt: $ 1,200,000 euros
Are they willing to list AMC as an
Yes
No
additional insured?
Adventurebug employs a detailed emergency evacuation plan for all group events, tours
and expeditions (see copy attached). This program starts with "on location" first aid
procedures followed by "evacuation" planning that involves accessing nearest medical
support and finally, "care facility" listing such as hospital or surgery nearest the locations
of the tour / expedition. This is all contained in one document that is carried by all
leaders for easy access.
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
Slipping on/off trail, rock fall, exposure on cliffs, rain, and cold exposure.
Response
Stay on marked trails, observe slopes and weather changes, instruct hikers on trail safety
and etiquette. Carry rain gear, extra layers, hats, gloves, polypro and wool layers, first
aid kit.
Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism
Foreign Country
Potential hazards
Azores is a part of Portugal. Crime is minimal, language is Portugese with a limited
amount of English spoken by a few residents of the islands. No past history of terrorism.
Response
Employ Portugese guides! Know some Portugese, carry small dictionary and phrase
book. Warn participants in advance of thieves in airports and ferry terminals.
Road conditions, drivers, insurance
Transportation
Potential hazards
Commercial airlines to and within Azores. Shuttle bus from/to airport. Private and local
buses, local ferry service, and regional airline intra/inter island while in Azores
archhipelago.
Response
All have proven safety records.
Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity
Participants
Potential hazards
Intermediate hiking skills required of all participants. Health conditions will dictate what
level participant will be allowed to hike. Must be a group player and not to much of an
individualist.
Response
Careful screening: application response, phone calls, chapter feedback, recent
excursions, list of hikes done in past 2 years. Participants will need to be up front and
accurate with all health conditions and medications. Participant must be a group player,
if not they will put the group's safety in jeopardy, and this would not be acceptable.
Conditions unique to this type of trip
Other
Potential hazards
Response
EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
Please describe your plans for dealing with emergencies. Give as much detail as possible and list any special
Form Revised February 2014
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 6
Steve Cohen/John Lisker
Exotic Hiking Holiday in the Azores
communications equipment you may need to ensure the safety of your participants. DO NOT LEAVE THIS BLANK
Outfitter has emergency procedures in place (see separate paperwork). Pan European
Emergency communication
Phone contacts, language,
phone number is 112. Calls to 112 are free from any phone (mobile, cellular or land
documentation, distance from
line). The operator will put us in contact with the medical emergency service in
emergency services
ENGLISH.
Outfitter will have emergency first aid equipment on hand. Communication in the back
Emergency equipment
What sort of emergency first
country will be via cell phone (excellent coverage on the small islands), and the cell
aid or communication
phones have Portuguese SIM cards for direct connection. Some GPS navigational points
equipment (satellite phone,
can be used in the event of emergency response reporting. Two way radios are available
two-way radios) do you plan
and will be brought by the local outfitter so the front and back of the walking group can
to use, if any?
be in touch.
Nearly all hiking routes are accessible by small motor vehicle (quad bike or 4x4), and in
Evacuation
Please describe your plan for
most cases ambulance access is very good, with the exception of walks in the Caldeira
evacuation from the
region of Sao Miguel Island where we descend 900 feet on official park walking paths to
backcountry location if
a lake walk. Evacuation from this area requires either helicopter evacuation (available)
applicable?
or on foot via emergency stretcher device (carried by Adventurebug leader). Walks on
the Islands of Picos and Faial are within 100 and 500 meters to road networks in which
case evacuation can be human assisted to a vehicle or ambulance service. 112 is the
European number (in all languages) to report an emergency.
There are numerous modern medical facilities on the Azores. Major examples:
Medical care
Please describe the medical
care available in the area(s)
SAO MIGUEL ISLAND - Hospital Divine Spirit of Espirito Santo - Address: Rua
where you will be traveling
Grotinha 9500-370 PONTA DELGADA / Tel. +351 296 203 300
and list names and telephone
http://divinoespirito.pai.pt/
numbers for these facilities.
PICO ISLAND - Hospital Santa Casa de Misericordia - Address: Praça Dr. Caetano
Mendonça 9950-027 Bandeiras, Madalena PICO / Tel. +351 292 622 480
FAIAL ISLAND - Hospital General of Horta - Address: Estrada Príncipe Alberto do
Mónaco 9900-038 Horta Tel. +351 292 201 000
COST AND BUDGET DETAILS
The euro is used in Azores as they are part of Portugal. We have
Foreign currencies
For int’l trips list each foreign currency, the
budgeted an exchange rate of $1.35 per euro. Current exchange rate as
current $US dollar exchange rate and what
of 3/13/2015 is $1.05.
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?
Outfitter requires 10% of outfitter fee per participant by November 23, 2015.
Group Trip Deposits
What deposits will be required
from you by airlines, hotels, tour
operators, etc., and when?
Period before trip:
Cancellation Charge:
Group Trip Refunds
What is the latest date you can
More than 90 days (13 weeks)
100 Euros
cancel and still receive a full
Between 23 January and 22 February
10% of outfitter fee
refund of any deposits?
Between 23 February and March 22
50% of outfitter fee
Between 29 and 15 days
75% of outfitter fee
Less than 14 days
100% of outfitter fee
Cancellations can be transferred at no additional expense to another participant.
$1,000 with application
Participant deposits
What are the initial deposit and
Payment #2 $2,300 due on January 15, 2016
your schedule of payments by
participants to you?
Minimum cancellation penalty is $50 until you are informed that the trip has a
Cancellation policy
What will be your cancellation
sufficient number of participants to run. After that notification, the minimum
Form Revised February 2014
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 5 of 6
Steve Cohen/John Lisker
Exotic Hiking Holiday in the Azores
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 February 2014
cancellation fee is $200. If actual costs (expenses already incurred on your behalf, and
any unavoidable future expenses that will be incurred as a result of your registration
and cancellation) are higher, they will be assessed instead, unless they can be applied
toward another acceptable participant. In the unlikely event that the trip is cancelled
because not enough acceptable participants apply, everything you have paid will be
refunded in full.
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/
nholland@outdoors.org
mikebarry657@mac.com
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 6 of 6