John Lisker/Frances Scullin Italy's Tuscan Mountains and Cinque Terre SUMMARY OF TRIP INFORMATION Italy's Tuscan Mountains and Cinque Terre Leader John Lisker Co-leader Frances Scullin Tuscan Region of Italy including Lucca, Levanto, Pisa and Castlenuovo di Garfagnana May 2-13, 2012 Total # of days 12 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 14 Min 14 $ 2295 Does it include airfare? Yes No $ 1300 Yes No If yes, please list the approximate month (max is one year in advance of trip) August 2011 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 experience John Lisker 2390 Commonwealth Avenue, Auburndale, MA 02466 john.lisker@juno.com Home 617-244-1636 Work WFA AWFA WFR Expiration: 5/13 CPR BLS Expiration: 5/13 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. Canadian Rockies Aug 2010 New Zealand Feb 2010 Morocco Feb 2009 Tour du Mont Blanc July-Aug 2008, New Zealand Feb 2007, Colorado San Juans summer 1999, Greece May 1999, Wyoming Wind River Range summer 1998, Colorado Elk Range summer 1997, California High Sierras summer 1996 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 John Lisker/Frances Scullin Italy's Tuscan Mountains and Cinque Terre 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 Frances Scullin 4A Strawberry Lane, Johnston, RI hikerfran@cox.net Home 401-233-2163 Work WFA AWFA WFR Expiration: 4/13 CPR BLS Expiration: 4/13 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. Italy's Tuscan Mountains and Cinque Terre 10/2010 Cotswolds and London 06/2009 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: Fran co-led this trip in Oct 2010 and John has traveled to this region previously. Executive summary Please provide a brief description of the trip and the activities planned. This trip will give participants the ability to experience and explore Tuscan culture. We will stay at a restored farm and sample the local cuisine. We will visit Cinque Terre which is a unique area in that it is sheltered and we will be able to walk from village to village and sample local olive oil and wines. We will begin our trip in Lucca which is a walled town and pristine. There is very little traffic because cars are not allowed into many of these villages. While in Castlenuovo di Garfagnana we will hike in the Apenines and Apuan Alps and have time to explore some the remote villages. From there we will go to Cinque Terre and end the trip with a night in Pisa. In Lucca , Levanto, and Pisa we will stay in hotels. In Castlenuovo di Garfagnana, we will stay in apartments in a restored farm. Here we will eat local cuisine. 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) Meals Please describe your plan for providing meals Permits or permissions Does the trip require special permits or permissions? (required on many U.S. federal lands and national parks) Revised October 2009 Breakfast will be provided in Pisa, Levanto, and Garfagnana. In Lucca, the participants will be on their own for breakfast, but can order at the hotel or from numerous coffee shops in the area. In Garfagnana, we will have dinner together in the farm dining room. In both Lucca and Pisa, there will be a single group dinner. The group will be on its own for four dinners, but leaders will be available to take the group or individuals to restaurants. Lunches will be either taken with us or eaten in a café in one of the villages. 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: Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 2 of 5 John Lisker/Frances Scullin Italy's Tuscan Mountains and Cinque Terre 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: 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 this area of Italy, life is much as it has been for hundreds of years. They grow their crops on small tracts of land. Land is very important as is the enviroment. Cars are not allowed to most of the smaller villages. This maintains the integrity of the village as well as halting pollution. Hiking will be a key element on the trip. We will hike in the Alps as well as along the coast in Cinque Terre. In Cinque Terre we will be able to see how the land is farmed while walking the trails between villages. We will be able to take ferries to visit old monastaries and forts. In Italy as in most of Europe, people are very concerned with conservation. Gasoline is expensive as is electricity. We will use public transportation for most of the trip: buses, trains and ferries. 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 Hiking in this area is relatively easy. The trails are good and well marked. Risks would be the same as with any hiking trip; a fall, twisted ankle, etc. Response We will have transportation at the trail head and not be far from villages on our hikes. We will also have first aid kits and be able to deal with minor injuries on the trail. Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism Foreign Country Potential hazards Language could be a barrier but was not a problem on the last trip. Revised October 2009 Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 5 John Lisker/Frances Scullin Italy's Tuscan Mountains and Cinque Terre Response Transportation Potential hazards Response Participants Potential hazards Response Other Potential hazards Response We will have dictionaries and there are English speaking people in each place that we are staying. All of our tour guides and hiking guides speak English. Coleader has been there before; leader has been only to Cinque Terre and Pisa. Road conditions, drivers, insurance Nothing more than would be encountered here using public transportation. We will use public transportation and will rely on trains to get us to each of our destinations. We will use a bus service to transport us to and from our hikes each day. Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity Participants will have to be screened for physical conditioning and will have to have hiking experience. Hiking boots, day packs, rain gear are the essentials. There is always the possibility of not doing a hike and staying at the farm or in the village if the partipant feels that they are not up to the hike. Conditions unique to this type of trip 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 This is not a remote trip. We will not be far from telephones and English speaking Emergency communication Phone contacts, language, people. In Castlenuovo di Garfagnana, the owner will supply us with all emergency documentation, distance from contacts, and the hiking guides speak English and are native to the area. emergency services We will be carrying first aid kits. We request the use of unlocked quad band cell phone Emergency equipment What sort of emergency first Mike Barry donated to the AT program. aid or communication equipment (satellite phone, two-way radios) do you plan to use, if any? This trip is not in the backcountry. Evacuation Please describe your plan for evacuation from the backcountry location if applicable? Because we will be staying near cities, there are hospitals and medical clinics. In Medical care Please describe the medical Castlenuovo di Garfagnana, the owner will supply us with medical contacts. 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? Deposits What deposits will be required Revised October 2009 Italy uses the Euro. At this time the exchange rate is about $1.42; the budget is figured at a rate 10% higher. Except for leader airfare and minor administrative expenses paid in dollars here, everything will have to be paid in Euros. Non-refundable airline tickets 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.) The Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 5 John Lisker/Frances Scullin Italy's Tuscan Mountains and Cinque Terre 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 hotels do not require any deposits to hold reservations. The purchase of non-refundable airline tickets will be postponed until it seems clear that the trip will go. This go/no go decision will have to be made before the Garfagnana hotel advance payments are due 60 days before arrival. Initial deposit of $500 will be due with application. Second payment of $500 will be due two weeks after acceptance. Final balance of $1,295 will be due February 1, 2012. 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: zero before before November 2011, $200 in November 2011 through January 2012, $400 after January 2012. 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: Would go with only 13 participants, and maybe with as few as 12. 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