light red bar
medium red bar

ATA Logo

Allegheny Trail Alliance
Yockatomac Trek 2005 - Registration information

medium red bar
light red bar
 

YOCKATOMAC TREK  2005

 

 

We’re glad you’ve decided to join us on our trip!  The registration process is really quite straightforward when you keep in mind that the Yockatomac Trek is a mutually-supported, cooperative, non-profit trip.  That means you’ll contribute to mutually shared costs for group expenses of the trip, arrange and pay for your own lodging at the establishments designated in the Itinerary, and provide for most of your own meals.  It also means that you’ll be responsible for your own reservations, cancellations (if it comes to that), along with transportation to and from the beginning and ending points of the trip.

 

And one more thing…. we presume that everyone on the trip will be able to pretty much take care of themselves, that you’re all adults and won’t need a lot of hand-holding.  This is not a full-service, commercially operated trip!  High-maintenance riders might want to consider another trip.  That’s not to say, however, that we won’t be there, willing and able to help you all we possibly can when the unexpected comes up.  We want you to have fun and relax, but it’s our vacation too! 

 

The Registration Fee

 

Your registration fee will cover mutually shared group expenses and also some pre-paid individual costs (as indicated on the fees listed on the Registration Forms) such as group meals in places where availability of restaurants may be limited.  Mutually shared expenses include the baggage support van and driver, his lodging and meals, administrative expenses of running the trip, shared supplies, limited snacks and drinks, and maybe even a few surprises.  Please bear in mind, however, that this is a cooperative trip, and it is possible, although unlikely, that other expenses could arise.  The shared costs estimate is based on sharing expenses equally among all participants proportional to the number of days each participant plans to ride.  The daily fee is conservatively established based on an estimated 20 riders.  Final costs may be equitably adjusted if there are significantly more or less than 20 people participating.

 

Cancellations

 

We recognize that changes in plans are sometimes unavoidable, and we do have a cancellation policy.  It’s a liberal one….if you sign up and later find you can’t go for some reason, you get your money back.  It’s that simple.  Just tell me, as soon as you can.  It’s a cooperative trip, remember??  Keep in mind, however, that cancellations regarding your lodging are between you and the lodging proprietor, so be sure you understand their policy.

 

There is a Rider Limit!!

 

You also need to know that there is a practical logistical limit to the number of riders who can make the trip, due to limited availability of lodging on some nights.  There is not a hard and fast limit to the number of riders that we can accommodate.  It’s influenced by several factors, especially everyone's willingness to share rooms when lodging is scarce. Realistically, the limit is in the range of 20 – 25 participants.  Just be advised, however, that we may have to close registration when that limit is reached.

 

 

A Few More Things….

 

A limited number of seats will be available on our support van as it leaves McKeesport for Washington DC to begin the ride.  There is a nominal charge of $20 for those who utilize this service, and it of course includes you, your bike, and your luggage.  It’s likely these seats will fill up fast, and you can contact the coordinator for a reservation.  Prior confirmation of seat availability must be made with the coordinator before registering for this service!!

 

If you just need your bike transported to DC while you take another mode of transportation, we offer that service free of charge.  You can drop off your bike at our support van’s base of operations in Ohiopyle, PA by noon Friday, June 10, or alternatively, have someone bring it to the McKeesport meeting point for the van shuttle on Saturday morning, June 11.  If you would like to utilize this service, check the blank on the Registration Forms and you will be provided details later.

 

  We will again this year offer optional polo shirts and cycling jerseys with this year's logo on them, for additional cost. Information on those will be forthcoming.

 

Need a roommate?  We can facilitate that.  Contact the coordinator and indicate your preferences on the Registration Forms.  We’ll match you up best we can.  However, there are no guarantees expressed or implied on the snoring situation!!  Don’t ask, don’t tell……

 

Finally, participants under the age of 21 are welcome on our trip, but we would like you to be accompanied by a responsible adult.  Please provide that information on the Registration Forms.

 

Sign Up!!

 

To join the trip, you need to generally follow the steps below.  Registration Forms are provided in Acrobat Reader PDF formats.  If you don’t have Acrobat Reader, you can get it free here.

 

1.      Make your reservations by calling the designated lodging places shown in the Itinerary.  Since lodging is limited on some nights, the coordinator needs to be assured that you have a place to stay each night before accepting you on the trip.  If it’s late in the registration period, say after May 1st, you might want to contact the coordinator prior to investing time in your calls to be certain there is still room on the trip.

 

2.      Fill out the Registration Fee Form in the Registration Forms.  If you’re going the entire trip, just check the appropriate blank for the full trip fee.  If you’re a partial trip rider, check the days that you will ride and add up the costs for those days.  ALL riders must indicate their confirmed lodging for each day by entering their confirmation number (or date you called the lodging place, for smaller B&Bs).  Include costs for any optional items you will need in the appropriate spaces, add all your entries, and enter the total at the bottom of the form. (Hey, this has to be easier than IRS Form 1040…!!)

 

3.      Fill out the Registration and Release Form in the Registration Forms.  Be sure to sign the release.

 

4.      Send both forms and a check for your registration fee no later than May 20, 2005 to:

 

Don Sullivan

2503 Caspian Drive

Knoxville, TN  37932-1817

 

I will confirm receipt of your registration package by email, and you can start anticipating having a great time on the 7th Wander of Our Trail World!!  Additional information will be flowing to those registered as we get closer to the trip.

 

Follow the Leader??

 

Lastly, before they register, all participants should recognize that the Yockatomac Trek does not have a leader.  The trip has a coordinator, who sets up the itinerary, arranges logistics, manages the shared expenses, and handles registration and collection of fees.  There is no leader, guide, or similar person with direct responsibility, authority, or obligation for any other participant’s safety, security, or well-being.  We expect all participants to be independent, self-sufficient, and willing to support other participants (or be accompanied by someone who will assume this responsibility).  It’s the essence of our mutually-supported, cooperative trip!

 

Questions, Comments, Concerns, Complaints, Gripes…

 

I take the former; all of the latter should be directed to the trip leader…..  Seriously, contact me for anything you need additional information on or if I can help you in any way.  I’m here to help you get set for a great time!

 

Don Sullivan

Yocktrek 2005 Coordinator

yocktrek@atatrail.org

 


We will use email for most communication about the trip.  Join our email list to receive more information as it becomes available and be notified of future postings by sending an email to:

join-yocktrek@listserver.atatrail.org .

For specific questions about the trip, feel free to contact the Yocktrek 2005 Coordinator, Don Sullivan, at yocktrek@atatrail.org .

[ Yockatomac Trek Intro ] [ Yockatomac FAQ ] [ Itinerary ] [ Registration Information ] [ Registration Forms] [ Pictures from previous trips ]
 
medium red bar
light red bar
You are visiting The Yockatomac Trek, copyright © 2006 by Mary Shaw and Roy Weil. We encourage you to link to these pages or print copies for personal use. However, if you want to copy the material for any other use, you must ask us first. Other outdoor publications by the authors.