SPAIN: Biking along the Camino de Santiago -Burgos to Santiago
Richard Cable/Janis Stahlhut
SUMMARY OF TRIP INFORMATION
SPAIN: Biking along the Camino de Santiago -Burgos to Santiago
Leader Richard Cable
Co-leader Janis Stahlhut
Spain
May 18-25, 2013
Total # of days 8
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
Do you wish to have your trip
listed online before it is
published in The Outdoors?
Smaller trips and leader
subsidization
Minimum 12
Skiing-Downhill
(Alpine)
Other – please describe
Snorkeling
Maximum 14
$ 2490
Does it include airfare? Yes
No
$ 800-900
Yes
No If yes, please list the approximate month and year when it should
be posted on line. PLease list immediately upon approval.
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
Trip one
Trip two
Trip three
Other related trip experience
Richard C Cable
8 Heather Lane, Burlington, CT 06013
r.cable@sbcglobal.net
Home 860-673-1940
Work same
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: 5/2012
CPR
BLS
Expiration: 1/1/2012
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.
Mongolia 2011. Horseback. 13 participants
Nepal 2011 Hiking. 14 participants
Sicily 2010 Biking 16 particpants
Mongolia 2009, Yosemite 2008 and many multi day trips in NE.
Co-leader name
Co-leader address
Janis Stahlhut
1465 E. Putnam Ave. #323, Old Greenwich, CT 06870
Leader name
Leader address
Leader email
Leader phone
Wilderness first aid training
CPR training
Prior leading experience

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 July 2011
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 1 of 6
SPAIN: Biking along the Camino de Santiago -Burgos to Santiago
Richard Cable/Janis Stahlhut
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?
jstahlhut1@aol.com
Home 203-820-9275
Work 203-820-9275
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: 5/2012
CPR
BLS
Expiration: 11/2013
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. 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.
Sicily 2010 - coleader
New Hampshire Weekend Hiking at Highland Center - leader
Weekend Hiking at Noble View - leader
Weekend Biking in Cape Cod - leader
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
Executive summary
Please provide a brief
description of the trip and the
activities planned.
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
Form Revised July 2011
This trip will commence in Madrid and end in Santiago, site of the legendary Fetiavl of
St. James. The first three days will be days of cultural activities centering on Madrid,
Burgos, and Leon. From Burgos to Leon and on to Santiago, we will be following the
pilgrimage route of the Camino de Santiago. From Leon, we will bike the Camino de
Santiago, ending our biking in Santiago. Biking segments will be 30-85 kms/day
with rolling hills and one day with a challenging climb. Participants should be fit
enough to bike these distances comfortably and experienced in road biking
principles of safe riding. Our pace will be leisurely with stops for lunch and sightseeing. Each day on the prospectus' itinerary includes a brief desription of the
day's ride, sites and towns.
Hotels: Our outfitter describes our accomodations as: “Our hotels are small, charming
and reflect the architecture and the history of the region. Many of our accommodations
are nestled in settings designed to inspire. We choose only authentic properties whose
service meets the highest standards of hospitality as well as capture the essence of the
region.”
The trip includes all breakfasts (7, in hotels), 4 dinners and 4 lunches which will be taken
together as a group. On days where lunch or dinner is not provided as a group,
participants (including leaders) will be free to dine at a location of their own choosing at
their own cost. Eateries will be recommended by the outfitter. It is often the case in
Europe that a “saddle bag lunch” can be constructed from the breakfast foods served at
the hotel — such as breads, cheese, meats and fruits.
Van supplied by outfitter: Opel Vivaro, nine-seater (including the driver) with bikes on
top. The vans are under 5 years old, and undergo a thorough maintenance and safety
check each year of service.
Yes
No
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 2 of 6
SPAIN: Biking along the Camino de Santiago -Burgos to Santiago
Richard Cable/Janis Stahlhut
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?
Conservation, education and
recreation
How will this major excursion
meet the mission of the AMC?
www.outdoors.org/about/
mission.cfm
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:
n/a, we will not be on "national" or private lands.
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?
Intermediate road biking skills.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will do:
Gathering with a bike ride planned.
We will be biking, so it applies to conservation and recreation both. Education is
covered in that we will bevisiting anf learning about four important Spanish cities and
three very important cathedrals. Additionally, we will be following the Camino de
Santiago, a thousand year old pilgrimage route to Santiago.
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.
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:
This trip requires a tour operator. We need van support, bike rentals, etc. This is best
accomplished through the use of an outfitter.
Bike Spain Tours
http://www.bikespain.info/en/inicio_en.asp
Answers provided by Tour Operator. See also, attached Travel Company Questionaire:
We don’t have a consumer protection agency that works with our type of companies, at
least not that I know of.
Pablo has been in the cycling tour business for 12 years, 7 years with Bike Spain Tours.
We have never experienced any serious accidents or death on tour (knock wood).
Sometimes of course someone falls of their bike so scratches and bruises have occurred,
but never so serious that we had to interrupt or end the tour.
We are always very careful choosing our routes (cross as little traffic as possible, and
warning traffic with the van(s) if necessary) and we don’t pass any ravines etc. The
van(s) is/are always at disposal of the clients in case they need a ride. If people are not
able to finish the rides because they are not fit enough, they can always ride in the van.
We always have enough place on board.
We cannot check before a tour if people are fit enough as that would require a test ride
with them (you can fly me in, if you’d like J) but we can give advice on how to prepare
for the tour (for the Camino we recommend getting used to cycling in undulating areas to
get used to climbing, some of the parts are quite hilly).
The guides know first aid and emergency procedures and the vans have a first aid kit on
board.
We work with some high end agencies in the USA and Australia that require the highest
Form Revised July 2011
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 6
SPAIN: Biking along the Camino de Santiago -Burgos to Santiago
Richard Cable/Janis Stahlhut
standards of quality and safety. Besides that, we work with the city hall of Madrid for
their weekly tours, with the area of Madrid for the tours outside of the city and with the
Spain Tourism board. We are registered by the Spanish association of cyclists. I have
asked some of last years’ clients if I can send you their email addresses so they can serve
as references.
Check our TripAdvisor page out as well:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187514-d1584354-ReviewsBike_Spain_Tours-Madrid.html
Additional information about Bike Spain Tours is available in our attached "Questions to
Ask Tour Operators" document.
Insurance
Do they have liability
insurance?
Emergency response
Please describe the outfitters’
response plan in the case of an
emergency.
Liability? Yes
No
Maximum amt: $ 190,505 per accident
per victim.
Are they willing to list AMC as an
Yes
No
additional insured?
(Note on Insuranc "additional insured" response: It is reported to us that this is not a
practice in Spain.)
The outfitters have a 24-hour on call operations staff and a guide is always present or
within a short distance of the group, equipped with cell phone or radio. There is no
medical policy supplied by the outfitter (AMC's procedures will ensure proper medical
screening for this type of road biking trip.) First aid kits and emergency trained guides
are present. As the trip does not entail backcountry or remote locations, emergency care
is always "at hand" (guides' training & basic first aid/cpr) or within a few hours drive to a
medical center in one of the towns/cities along our route. (The longest ride is 81 kms.)
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 usual hazards of road bking.
Response
Road biking carries an inherent risk of injury due to falls or collision. Some roads we
will be using are paved and shared with light car traffic, while others will be less
frequented by autos as the camino is best used by pedestrian pilgrims. The trip leaders
are WFA and CPR certified (both will be current at time of trip) and will be carrying
basic first aid kits and communications gear (cell phones, 2-way radios). In addition, our
outfitter will be near at hand with our van support to pick up anyone who becomes
seriously ill or injured for transport to a medical facility. Outfitters are also fully first aid
and CPR certified. Safety talks will precede each day’s ride, with the outfitters
describing fully the road conditions that can be anticipated for the day and a review of
emergency procedures in accordance with the outfitters’ established protocol. (See
description under Tour Operator/Safety Record.) .
Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism
Foreign Country
Potential hazards
none
Response
Spanish is of course the language. Though neither leader speaks the language, it is
common to find Spaniards who can understand basic English, especially in cities and
larger towns along the way. Our outfitters are fully fluent in English and will
accompany the group during all check in and out procedures, group meals, en route on
the bicycles, and during any emergencies. The Camino de Santiago is a designated by
the European Union as a "prime tourist route" and as a result, language barrier is not
Form Revised July 2011
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 6
SPAIN: Biking along the Camino de Santiago -Burgos to Santiago
Richard Cable/Janis Stahlhut
Transportation
Potential hazards
Response
Participants
Potential hazards
Response
Other
Potential hazards
Response
generally expected to be a problem.
Road conditions, drivers, insurance
none anticipated
Our outfitter’s drivers are licensed and insured in accordance with the laws of the
country. Vehicles are 9 passenger vans which receive full safety inspections and
maintenance on at least an annual basis. The fleet is less than 5 years old. The roads we
will be using are used by other car traffic and by pedestrian pilgrims. They are generally
free of hazards other than an occasional pothole or ditch. All riding will be on pavement
or packed dirt roads. Our rental bikes are "hybrid" sport bikes designed for touring and
road use . We will not be riding off road.
Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity
Fatigue on most challenging day of cycling.
Through trip description and screening, we should be able to ascertain level of fitness.
Van support available for those who might have issues on day 3 climb or on longer
riding days. We have chosen May as our time of year because the temperatures are mild
so we do not anticipate any issues with heat or heavy weather.
Conditions unique to this type of trip
This trip does not invoke any "high risk" activities and will take place in a populated
region of the country.
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.
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 and two way radios; additionally,
Emergency communication
Phone contacts, language,
we will have phone contact at each hotel. Our guide will speak both English and
documentation, distance from
Spanish. We are less than one to two hours to medical services of hospital status. Both
emergency services
leaders use AT&T international service when traveling abroad which offers a
wide area of coverage in European countries. Leaders will also be equipped with
2-way 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". In addition, our outfitter is equipped with communications gear that is
specific to Spain as that is their home country and base of operation. Their van
support will often be within "site" of the riders, especially in the more remote or
challenging parts of the ride. At no time will we be more than a few hours van
ride from a medical facility. Spain is a country where finding an English speaking
person is never an extreme difficulty. Participants will 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.
Both the leader and co-leader will be carrying first aid kits and two way radios as well as
Emergency equipment
What sort of emergency first
cell phones. Outfitters carry first aid kits and will be 'tailing' the group with vans
aid or communication
that can be used as transport in emergencies.
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, our
Evacuation
Please describe your plan for
outfitters' vehicles will be used to carry participants to safety. We will always be in radio
evacuation from the
contact with them and we will not be in backcountry.
backcountry location if
applicable?
Form Revised July 2011
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 5 of 6
SPAIN: Biking along the Camino de Santiago -Burgos to Santiago
Richard Cable/Janis Stahlhut
Medical care
Please describe the medical
care available in the area(s)
where you will be traveling
and list names and telephone
numbers for these facilities.
Hospital de Madrid - Plaza Conde del Valle de Suchil, 16
Madrid 914 476 600.
Hospital general yague [Burgos] - AVENIDA CID CAMPEADOR, 96 Burgos
947 28 18 00
Hospital Angeles de Leon - Cerro gordo 311, Predio Cerro Gordo, León de Los Aldama
01 477 788 5600
Amas Hospital de Fauna Salvaje - C/ Virgen del Pilar, S/N, Villafranca de los Barros
647 719 117
Hospital de Conxo - RUA RAMÓN BALTAR, S/N, Santiago de Compostela
981 95 15 00
COST AND BUDGET DETAILS
Current exchange rate is 1.3 Euro to dollar exchange. I have used a rate
Foreign currencies
For int’l trips list each foreign currency, the
of 1.45. In the event that is is too low, there will be an explanation in
current $US dollar exchange rate and what
our prospectus explaining a surcharge which we think is very unlikely.
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?
100 Euros per participant due 90 days before trip date. Balance due 30 days prior.
Deposits
What deposits will be required
by airlines, hotels, tour
operators, etc., and when?
90 days prior
Refunds
What is the latest date you can
cancel and still receive a full
refund of any deposits?
$1000.00 due with application; $750 due January 15, 2013; balance due March 15,
Participant deposit
What are the initial deposit and
2013.
your schedule of payments by
participants to you?
90 days prior with no penalty if it does not interrupt the trip status
Cancellation policy
What will your cancellation
policy be for the participants?
Minimum numbers
Yes
No
If yes, please describe conditions:
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 2011
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 6 of 6