Hiking and Music in the Swiss Alps Klosters, Switzerland AMC Adventure Travel Trip #1935 July 26 - August 3, 2019

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1 Hiking and Music in the Swiss Alps Klosters, Switzerland AMC Adventure Travel Trip #1935 July 26 - August 3, 2019 Thank you for your interest in our trip to Klosters, Switzerland! Perhaps best known for its skiing (and economic conferences), the Davos-Klosters area hosts 700km of footpaths and alpine walks. We ll be day-hiking in an area of Graubünden that Lonely Planet describes as one of the best summer sports towns in Switzerland. From our base camp at a classic Swiss chalet / 4* hotel in Klosters, we ll make use of local transportation to access walks of moderate difficulty through enchanting flower strewn meadows and along alpine plateaus and ridge lines surrounded by panoramic vistas. Our rambles will take us through hamlets founded in the 14 th century, along the shores of alpine lakes, through mountains formed by violent tectonic activity, and to an alpine glacier where we ll learn how climate change is affecting this crucial resource. Bonus--we ll be in Klosters for their annual classical music fest! This prospectus should answer most of your questions about our trip. Please read the information carefully and contact us with any questions or to request application materials. Our contact information is at the end of the prospectus. We look forward to you joining us on this fabulous adventure. Klosters 2019 Barsanti-Linehan

2 Trip Description Our trip will be based in Klosters (elv. 3,953 feet), an alpine village near Davos. We will stay at a single location for the full week. This will enable us to maximize our time for exploration and touring while minimizing packing / repacking. We ll use the regional transport system including buses, cable cars, and taxis to gain access to, or return from, our daily destinations. Breakfasts and dinners will be at our hotel. We ll pack food or stop in small hamlets or mountain huts for lunch, depending on each day s activities. The trip consists of 5-6 days of hiking in the Davos-Klosters area. This will be primarily a walking trip, but we ll visit small regional museums and cultural highlights as opportunity permits. The Swiss National Day, similar to our July 4th, will take place during the trip; we hope to participate in some of the local festivities. Evenings are unplanned; participants will be free to relax or to join the leaders for some creative exploration. Throughout our time together we will endeavor to enjoy and understand this wonderful region through the lens of AMC s tripart mission of Recreation, Education, and Conservation. Expectations of Participants This is a trip for experienced hikers who enjoy an active vacation. You should be fit enough to walk 4 to 10 miles per day, approximately 6 +/- hours per day, for several days in a row carrying a day pack with your personal gear (i.e., rain gear, pack lunch, extra layers, etc.) in all different weather conditions. Daily elevation gain/loss will range between 700 and While the majority of our walking will be on comfortable mountain footpaths, participants should expect to be on rougher trails as well. Participants who have a fear of heights should be aware that some of the trails we plan to walk are accessed via gondolas and cable cars and we will be subject to the attendant exposure involved in the use of such means of transport. Prior to your acceptance as a participant in this trip, you will be asked to discuss with us your capabilities and experiences. We may also request references to confirm your fitness level and suitability for participating in trip activities. While the leaders will make a reasonable attempt to ensure a good fit between the trip and participants, you are ultimately responsible for being aware Klosters 2019 Barsanti-Linehan 2 of 10

3 of the risks involved in the activities and for conducting yourself accordingly. You are ultimately responsible for your own safety. It may happen on any trip that a participant is or becomes unable to participate in one or more of the planned activities. Leaders in their sole judgment have the right and obligation to refuse participation in any activity to any group member for reasons of safety, whether it be of the group or of the individual. Illness, injury, or lack of proper gear or fitness are examples of some conditions that might result in an individual being unable to participate in one or more activities. Leaders may try to find a substitute activity for the trip member, but this may not always be possible. This is a group activity, we will be spending many, but not all, hours together. We expect that everyone will pitch in and contribute to helping each other have a great time. Detailed Itinerary Date Activity Details Friday, July 26 Depart your gateway city and travel by air to Switzerland. None Saturday, July 27 Arrive in Klosters. Check into our hotel. Free time to wander the town or rest after an international flight. Tonight we will gather for our first meal together and to review plans for the coming days. Group dinner None. Sunday, July 28 Monday, July 29 The hiking portion of our trip begins with an easy ish walk that should help us acclimatize to and become familiar with the area. We ll ride the Gotschna cable-car to mid-station and then walk up to Schwarzseealp. Our return path will lead through the village of Laret, past Schwartzee, and finally back to Klosters. Today we travel by taxi to the town of Schlappin. We ll walk an alpine path up to Schlappiner Joch, the border between Switzerland and Austria. This was once a major trade route over which wine and cattle were transported. There are several options for our descent route. Apx 5.6 miles; 3 hours Elevations gain: Apx 700ft Apx 3.7 miles; 3 hours Elevation gain: Apx 2,000ft Klosters 2019 Barsanti-Linehan 3 of 10

4 Tuesday, July 30 Wednesday, July 31 Thursday, August 1 Friday, August 2 Saturday, August 3 Today we take the Gotschna cable car to the top station and then ascend a narrow alpine path to Grüenhorn and Casanna. We ll watch for Ibex along the way. Hunted to extinction in Grisons by 1640, Ibex were reintroduced to the area in Our walk will descend to Grüensee (Green Lake) and Schifer (coffee stop!) before returning to Klosters. After another hearty breakfast we ll catch an early bus to the start of our day s destination, a walk to the turquoise glacier fed alpine lakes of Jöriseen. From there we ll continue on to Vereina where we ll enjoy a coffee or other refreshment before catching return transport to our hotel. Option to walk back to Klosters. Today s ramble could be billed out of Africa. We ll make use of a local bus and then a gondola to reach Madrisa where we ll begin our mountain walk by ascending an alpine meadow to Rätschenjoch. There we will view limestone created from a former seabed that existed between Europe and Africa. Our return path will take us past Madrisahorn - believed to be a remnant of the African tectonic plate heaved skyward during the Alpine orogeny. We ll descend via Schaffürgli returning to the valley and our ride back to Klosters. On this, our last day of hiking, we ll visit the Silvretta Glacier by way of the SAC Silvretta hut. A 1.5 hour circuit near the glacier features 15 information boards that detail the effects of climate change on the alpine environment. Longer option available for descent. After a last breakfast together, we ll sadly say good-bye to Klosters, and to new met friends, and catch a train to begin our respective trips home or to further travels on the continent. Mileage: Apx 10.1 miles; 7 hours Elevation gain: Apx 1,300ft Apx 6.2 miles; 5 hours Elevation gain: Apx 1,700ft Apx 10.6 miles; 7 hours Elevation gain: Apx 2,800ft Apx 8 miles; 6 hours Elevation gain: Apx 3,500 Breakfast Mileage: None Klosters 2019 Barsanti-Linehan 4 of 10

5 While the itinerary in this prospectus is what the leaders have planned at the time of writing, various factors may require changes for reasons of safety, transportation, and unforeseeable circumstances (such as weather considerations, natural disasters in the areas to be visited, or recommendations of governmental agencies). The leaders reserve the right to make such changes as necessary, both before and during the trip. What to Expect This trip is rated a difficulty of 3: moderate. Our pace will be moderate so that we may enjoy the scenery and take time to meet the local residents, both 2 and 4 footed, and socialize with each other. Our accommodations will be at a comfortable 4* hotel. Solo travelers will be paired with a same gender roommate. Some single rooms are available at extra cost. We will have breakfasts and dinners at our hotel. Lunch plans will be determined based on our days activities; we may pack food with us or stop to eat at local mountain huts along our route. Participants with specific dietary requirements should contact the leaders for additional information. Weather We can expect an even mix of sun and clouds during our trip. The average high/low temperatures in Klosters during July are 70/50 degrees, with about 12 days of rain during the month. Due to the higher elevation, the temperatures during our hikes will likely be 5-10 degrees cooler than in the village. As always, mountain weather can be unpredictable and below-freezing temperatures and snow, while not common in July / August, are possible. Suitable insulation layers will be required. A rain jacket and pants that will fit over other layers will also be required. A pack cover is recommended. See the gear list at end of this prospectus for more information. Cost of the Trip The trip will cost $2,495 for AMC members, $2,595 for non-members. Included is: seven (7) nights of lodging, seven (7) breakfasts, seven (7) group dinners, six (6) hikes, all hiking transfers, and emergency medical and evacuation insurance. A limited number of single rooms (single supplement) may be available at an additional cost of $350. The cost of lunches, drinks, and incidentals - essentially anything not specifically detailed Klosters 2019 Barsanti-Linehan 5 of 10

6 above, is not included in the price. We recommend budgeting $15 - $20 per day for these these expenses.. The trip fee includes an AMC overhead charge to cover the administrative expenses of offering AMC Adventure Travel excursions and, in accordance with AMC you are subsidizing some of the leaders cost. The trip fee also includes emergency medical and evacuation insurance coverage which is required by AMC. The price for this excursion is based on quotes or estimates obtained at the time the trip was submitted to the Adventure Travel Committee for approval. The final price will be adjusted in accordance with the best final arrangements we can make. As with all Adventure Travel Committee excursions, this trip is run on a non-profit basis; any savings we achieve, as well as any cost increases we incur, will be shared by trip participants. Our cost estimates are conservative, and so a refund is considerably more likely than a price increase. Your round-trip airfare and land travel to / from Klosters, which we currently estimate at $975 - $1,275, is not included. Leaders will be glad to provide information on suggested airlines and schedules and/or assist you in booking your flight Important notes: The price of the trip is subject to an increase should the value of the US dollar versus the Swiss Franc decline significantly from the estimated exchange rate of SFr1.04 to $1.00. Conversely, any unspent funds resulting from exchange rates being more favorable than our estimate will be refunded to the participants. While the trip cost does include insurance for medical emergencies and evacuations, it does not include insurance for travel delay, interruption or cancellation of the trip, or baggage loss. Purchasing such insurance is strongly suggested. The leaders will send you information to help you purchase this insurance through a preferred AMC vendor or you can purchase through your own preferred vendor. Please note that most of these types of travel insurance require you to purchase the insurance within a certain number of days after booking your trip once you have received a formal acceptance letter, please do not delay in purchasing your insurance if you choose to do so. Klosters 2019 Barsanti-Linehan 6 of 10

7 How to Proceed To apply to the trip, the leaders letting them know that you are interested in receiving the trip application forms. We will send you the application, risk release, and medical forms which you will need to print, complete, sign and return along with the required deposit check of $500 made payable to the Appalachian Mountain Club. Send the completed paperwork and deposit to leader Karen Barsanti at the address on the application. Your official acceptance onto the trip will not happen until the leaders have determined by a telephone conversation with you that you and the trip are a good match. Once you have been officially accepted and the trip has the required number of qualified participants to make the trip a go, your check will be deposited and the trip s cancellation policy will take effect (see below). The rest of the trip fee ($1,995 or $2,095 - if a non-amc member, plus single supplement, if any) will be due as follows: - February 10, 2019: $750 - April 10, 2019: $1,245 Member / $1,345 non-member Please note : Airfare, if booked by leaders, is due at time of booking Cancellation Policy Our cancellation policy is based on several considerations. First, a cancellation shall not raise the cost to the other participants or to the leaders Second, we will charge a canceling participant for the expenses already incurred on his/her behalf and any unavoidable future expenses that will be incurred as a result of his/her registration, unless they can be applied toward another acceptable participant Third, to discourage uncommitted people from applying for the trip, we have a schedule of minimum cancellation penalties, applicable once you have been accepted: Cancellation Penalty: $0 penalty if canceled (in writing) before February 20, 2019, less any funds that fall into the category of the second bullet above $200 penalty if cancelled (in writing) from February 20, 2019 through April 20, 2019, plus any funds that fall into the category of the second bullet above. $500 penalty if cancelled (in writing) after April 20, 2019 through May 20, 2019, plus any funds that fall into the category of the second bullet above. No refund if cancelled after May 20, 2019 Contact for More Information Karen Barsanti 4 Vineyard Drive Stratham, NH karenthurstonbarsanti@gmail.com Klosters 2019 Barsanti-Linehan 7 of 10

8 Tim Linehan 166 Georgetown Drive Glastonbury, CT The Leaders Karen Thurstan Barsanti, Leader: Karen is a member of the NH Chapter and has led trips for over 15 years for NH Excursions, NH Family Group, August Camp, and Adventure Travel. She is past Chair of the NH Chapter and currently serves as Secretary for Adventure Travel. Recently, Karen has co-led trips to Sedona, Ireland, and the Dolomites. This will be Karen s seventh trip to the Swiss Alps and she looks forward to exploring this special region with fellow Adventure Travelers. Tim Linehan, Co-Leader: Tim is a member and a Past Chair of the CT chapter and leads rock and ice climbing trips for CT Mountaineering. He is also a ski leader for the NH Chapter and a Program Volunteer at Highland Center and Pinkham Notch. Tim has led ski trips at the AMC Maine camps and in Yellowstone, and climbing trips in the Western US. This will be his sixth trip to Switzerland; on previous Swiss adventures he trekked the haute route from Chamonix to Zermatt and climbed the Eiger. A sometimes chocoholic, he is ecstatic at the opportunity to join with fellow Adventure Travelers in search of a Migros (local version of Whole Foods) in Davos-Klosters to lay in another stash of Swiss chocolate bars. Klosters 2019 Barsanti-Linehan 8 of 10

9 Required Gear Passport Medical Insurance Card Backpack (25-40 liters) Personal first aid kit Rain gear (both jacket and pants; should fit over other layers) 2 one-liter water bottles, minimum, or hydration system Wool or pile hat Wool or pile gloves Extra pile or wool layer for warmth Light / mid-weight down or polyester puffy jacket Waterproof hiking boots Wool socks Hiking shorts Hiking long pants Synthetic T-shirts Long sleeve synthetic shirt Synthetic long underwear Sunglasses Sun hat Sun protection lotion Lip protection balm Insect repellent Leisure clothes for travel and restaurants (moderate amount) Personal toiletries Toilet paper and baggie for used paper Hand sanitizer Head lamp with extra batteries Optional Recommendations Hiking poles (must be in checked bag) Pack cover Glove or mitten shells Gaiters (for pebbles and dust, not for snow) Camera Binoculars Ear plugs Small knife (must be in checked bag) Compass Extra shoelaces Zipper closure plastic bags for packing lunches and snacks Reading material for breaks in the action Klosters 2019 Barsanti-Linehan 9 of 10

10 Luggage locks Klosters 2019 Barsanti-Linehan 10 of 10