<Ireland: Best Hikes and Culture>

Transcription

1 <Ireland: Best Hikes and Culture> < 22 October 6, > Leaders: <Cynthia Saer and Linda Ditchkus> Dear Fellow CMC Member: Thank you for your interest in the Adventure Travel outing Ireland: Best Hikes and Culture. Ireland is a country of emerald green landscapes, windswept peaks, and craggy seascapes. Its culture is filled with medieval heritage, political turmoil, preposterous myths, and enchanting dance. This 15 day trip includes 8 days of trekking. We will hike for three days along the Wicklow Way, with views of impressive waterfalls and lakes. Near the Ring of Kerry, we will hike for two days into the heart of the Black Valley and the magnificent Gap of Dunloe. On the Dingle Peninsula, a rugged peninsula famous for its remote, tribal heritage, we will walk for two days and finish up with a day of hiking between the villages of Tiduff to Cloghane, with incredible views of the Brandon Massif. We will also attempt (weather permitting) Ireland s highpoint Carranutuohill (3,406 ft). This trip is not just about the spectacular Irish hiking. In Dublin (Ireland s capitol) we will spend a day visiting several castles, cathedrals and Trinity College (i.e., to see the Book of Kells). After a pub lunch, we will tour the Kilmain Gaol (defunct prison that house many famous Irish dissidents). In Killarney, an enchanting area along the Ring of Kerry, we will tour Muckross House & Gardens. We will have a brewery tour and lunch at the Killarney Brewing Company. After dinner we will have a special ghost tour. In Dingle we will tour the Blasket Island Centre, which honors the unique community who lived on the remote Blasket Islands until their evacuation in We will also visit the sites of Dingle and the distillery. This trip includes two weeks of incredible hikes and the historic, mystical, and musical highlights of Ireland. To apply for a place on the outing, please complete the enclosed trip application and risk statement and return it to the Cynthia Saer. Please either scan and to cyncsaer@gmail.com or mail to: 6227 South Forest Court, Centennial, CO Please review the following items carefully as you consider applying for this trip: The group will have a maximum of 14 persons including the leaders. Accommodation is double occupancy. Once you apply, you will be notified if you are accepted for the outing. Once accepted, submit a $550 deposit to the CMC to reserve a place (see cancellation policy in the application). Please do not send money before it is requested. The remaining balance is payable by June 1,. The current in-country estimated trip costs are $4,200 for members. The price includes: 13 nights in hotels, All breakfasts (except 2 initial travel days), All lunches (except 2 initial travel days and the final travel day), All dinners (except first and last travel days). Hikes guided by CMC trip leaders. 10 cultural events including: guided walking tour of Dublin, castle visits, museum visits, ghost tour, music show, Irish Step Dancing show, brewery tour, and distillery tour. Baggage transportation between accommodations along the Wicklow Way

2 Transportation between Dublin, Killarney, Dingle, and return Airfare to/from Denver (or your city of departure) and Dublin, Ireland, and airport transfers are not included (you will need to arrive in Dublin, Ireland on or before 23, ). Also, expect to spend a few hundred dollars for trip insurance, souvenirs, bar tabs and the meals not included. Nonmembers will be required to pay an administrative fee equal to 3% of the trip costs. Consider becoming a member to avoid this fee. Prerequisites for the trip are a good attitude, tolerance, and good physical conditioning as we will be doing B and C hikes over a variety of terrains and elevations. Hikes will be approximately 8 to 12 miles. You should plan to bring a day pack that will carry equipment comparable to what you would bring on a typical Colorado day hike during the summer months. In addition to your day pack, you are allowed one piece of luggage (strongly recommend carry-on size as you will be carrying it on/off trains, buses, and along sidewalks that may be cobblestone). Before applying, you may want to check with your significant other, employer, etc. to make sure you have the available time to do a 2 week trip overseas. There is no guarantee of someone being on the wait list to take your place if you have to cancel. You will need a valid passport, but no visa is required to enter Ireland. Attendance at the pre-trip planning meeting is mandatory, as there will be much to discuss. Location will be the CMC office in Golden, and you will receive ample notice of the date and time. If you are unable to attend the meeting in person, we can set up a virtual meeting link for you. Topics will include suggested equipment, packing, training, cultural notes, and security precautions. A selection of handouts and guidebooks will be available for your review. Please let us know what questions you may have we are at your disposal! Itinerary summary (this itinerary may be adjusted slightly due to weather or other reasons): Travel to Dublin, Ireland 22, (Th) 23, (Fri) 24, (Sat) 25, (Sun) 26, (Mo) Arrival in Dublin, Ireland Walking tour of Dublin, including several castles, cathedrals and Trinity College (see the Book of Kells). After a pub lunch tour the of Kilmain Gaol (defunct prison that house many famous Irish dissidents). Enjoy a dinner show in the evening. Walk on the Wicklow Way, about 10 miles The Wicklow Way is nearly 80 miles long and starts south of Dublin in Eastern Ireland in the small town of Rathfarnham. The Way ends in Clonegal, Ireland. They Way crosses by mountains, upland lakes, steep-sided glacial valleys, fast flowing mountain streams, forests and farmland. We will walk nearly 30 of the most scenic miles on the Way. Walk on the Wicklow Way, about 10 miles Walk on the Wicklow Way, about 8 miles. Transportation to Killarney.

3 27, (Tu) 28, (Wed) 29, (Thurs) 30, (Fri) October 1, (Sat) October 2, (Sun) October 3, (Mon) October 4, (Tues) October 5, (Wed) October 6, Touring day in Killarney. We will tour Muckross House & Gardens. We will have a brewery tour and lunch at the Killarney Brewing Company. After dinner we will have a special ghost tour of Killarney. Trek to the top of Carrauntuohill (highest point in Ireland) weather permitting Trekking near Killarney, about 8 miles (overnight in remote place need to carry what you need in your day pack) Walk from remote accommodations out to Kate Kerney s Cottage, and transfer back to Killarney. Travel from Killarney to Dingle. Dingle is a remote peninsula famous for its remote, tribal heritage. Dingle Distillery tour. Walk on the Dingle Peninsula from Dingle to Dunquin. Tour Blasket Island Centre, which honors the unique community who lived on the remote Blasket Islands. Walk from Tiduff to Cloghane, with incredible views of the Brandon Massif. Return to Dublin, with a possible stop in Limerick en route. Irish step dancing show and dinner is included. Home or onward travel

4 Adventure Travel Trip Application Participant: please print, sign and mail (or digitally sign and submit) to Trip Leader. Keep a copy for yourself. Ireland: Best Hikes and Culture 22 October 6, Leader: Cynthia Saer and Linda Ditchkus Address: 6227 South Forest Court, Centennial, CO cyncsaer@gmail.com Name: Address: Phone: (Day) (Evening) address: Gender: Male Female Age: (Birth date: / / ) Occupation: (For foreign trips only) Passport Number: Expiration Date: Passport must be valid for 6 months after departure of destination country. Place of Issue: Date of Issue: Emergency Contact: Name: Phone: Relationship: State of health (applicant must disclose all medical conditions which may affect the success of this trip): List of medications you are taking:

5 Allergies: Medical concerns: CMC Member? Yes No (If you are not a CMC Member you will need to sign the Guest Release of Liability Waiver and add 3% to the cost of the trip. Consider becoming a member to avoid this fee.) Member #: CMC Group affiliation (e.g. Denver, Boulder): Describe your background in outdoor activities as it relates to this trip (e.g. camping, hiking, backpacking, and mountaineering). Please focus on your activities in the past 18 months.: Your fitness level (select one): Excellent Good Fair Dietary restrictions, food allergies, dietary preference (note: dietary restrictions may not be able to be accommodated):

6 Personal Risk Statement The world can be a dangerous place. Participants are responsible for making their own travel decisions. Participants should keep themselves apprised of travel restrictions and warnings announced by the State Department and decide their own level of risk. The CMC goes to great lengths to provide safe, quality domestic and international cultural, educational and adventure trips. Before trips are sanctioned by the CMC, trip leaders are screened for their qualifications to lead the trip and their trip proposals are carefully considered. Every effort is made to assure the trip will go as announced. One risk is that sometimes trips must be canceled by the CMC or the trip leader for a variety of reasons. These may range from failure to meet the trip s minimum participation requirement to political unrest in the destination country. Payment and Cancelation Policy All requests for cancellation must be submitted in writing (letter or ) to the trip leaders. Cancellation up to 100 days (Date: 6/15/) or more prior to departure: If a qualified, wait listed, person is available to take a vacated slot and pays all money due, all payments made by the cancelling party will be refunded, less a $250 processing fee. If no one is available to take a vacated slot, and the cancelation is made before the participant s final payment is made, the full $550 deposit is non-refundable. If no one is available to take the vacated slot, and the cancelation is made after the participant has made the final payment, all money paid in will be refunded, less $730. Cancellation on Day 99 (Date: 6/16/) up to Day 45 (8/8/) prior to departure: If a qualified, wait listed, person is available to take a vacated slot and pays all money due, all payments made by the cancelling party will be refunded less a $250 processing fee. If no one is available to take a vacated slot, $1,800 will be refunded. Cancellation 44 (Date: 8/9/) or fewer days prior to departure: No refund will be made. Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase travel/cancellation/evacuation insurance. After you are accepted on the trip, don t wait to purchase your travel insurance! Please sign and date the application, and return it to the trip leader. You cannot sign up for the trip with CMC until the trip leader approves this application. I have read and agree to the Personal Risk Statement and the Payment and Cancelation Policy. I have completed this application truthfully. Signature Date