ALASKA  
 OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

Caltech Faculty Leader | General Information
Itinerary | Optional Trip Extension

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS FASCINATING PROGRAM…

• Enjoy lectures by Caltech Professor Lee Silver
• Accommodations at carefully selected lodges provide an in-depth wilderness experience and local ambience
• Visit the enormous and seldom-visited Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and view incredible scenery close up
• Spend three nights in the heart of Denali National Park with beautiful views of Mt. McKinley and abundant wildlife
• Cruise Prince William Sound and see the majestic Columbia and Meares glaciers
• Two charter flights within Alaska are included

LAND PROGRAM COST:………………………..$5,795
Per person, based on double occupancy, and including all flights within Alaska.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:…………………..….…...$795
Subject to availability and includes single rooms at all hotels except North Face Lodge. Single rooms at North Face Lodge are very limited and subject to an additional charge.

AIRFARE FROM LOS ANGELES: ………..………$515
Airfare quote as of January 2003 and subject to change. There is a $30 service fee per person for all airline tickets.

LAND COST INCLUDES: Lectures and field commentary by Caltech Professor Lee Silver; twelve nights accommodations at carefully selected hotels and lodges; all meals including welcome and farewell dinners; two charter flights within Alaska; all sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary with local guides or naturalists; gratuities to drivers and guides; all transfers with luggage handling at the hotels for those traveling with the group; Siemer & Hand tour manager throughout the trip; and pre-trip service, suggested reading list and pre-departure information.

LAND COST EXCLUDES: Airfare to and from Alaska; transfers for those not traveling with the group; optional extension; charges for items of a personal nature including laundry, beverages and excess baggage charges; independent travel arrangements; and travel and accident insurance.

TOUR SIZE: The price of this program is based on a minimum of 20 participants. The airfare is based on a minimum of 10 participants using exactly the same air arrangements. If fewer than 10 participants accept the group air, an increase in airfare may result.

DEPOSITS AND FINAL PAYMENT: Reservations will be accepted in order of receipt if accompanied by a completed reservation form and a deposit of $500 per person. Final payment for all land and air costs is due by April 24, 2003, and must be paid by check.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Refunds, less a cancellation fee of $200 per person, will be made if we are notified on or before April 24, 2003. No refunds will be granted after that date. All cancellations must be in writing. Trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.

RESPONSIBILITY: A detailed statement of limitations and exclusions of liability of Siemer & Hand, Inc. and the Caltech Alumni Association for loss of property, injury, illness or death will be provided to passengers upon enrollment and is available to prospective travelers upon request.

SIEMER & HAND TRAVEL, INC: Seller of fine travel programs since 1959.
www.siemerhand.com.
CST 1004239-10

Leon T. Silver '55, W.M. Keck Professor for Resource Geology, Emeritus, has been involved in geological research from Anchorage to the North Slope. He has been a leader on numerous trips to Alaska, where geology, scenery, wildlife, and resources are scaled larger than anywhere else in North America. He believes the dynamic geologic history of the state illustrates all of the important continent-forming processes. It is an ideal travel/study subject especially in the magnificent areas targeted for this trip. There, many technical and esthetic dimensions bear directly on national policy issues of concern to the American public.

LOS ANGELES - ANCHORAGE: Wednesday, July 9
Fly non-stop on Alaska Airlines from Los Angeles to Anchorage. Join fellow alumni travelers for a trip briefing and welcome dinner. TWO NIGHTS, SHERATON HOTEL. (D)

ANCHORAGE: Thursday, July 10
Today we tour Anchorage, including the Museum of History and Art where we enjoy a docent-led tour of exhibits depicting native lifestyles, European exploration and the Russian-America period. Gather for dinner this evening. (B,L,D)

ANCHORAGE - DENALI NATIONAL PARK: Friday, July 11
Travel by motorcoach to Denali National Park headquarters where we will board a shuttle and continue 90 miles into the park to the North Face Lodge, our comfortable accommodations from which we actively explore Denali's awesome wilderness. Denali is a huge wildlife reserve and we'll make numerous stops for game viewing and a picnic dinner. THREE NIGHTS, NORTH FACE LODGE (B,L,D)

DENALI NATIONAL PARK: Saturday, July 12
Located in the Moose Creek Valley, our rambling lodge boasts unparalleled views of majestic Mt. McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America, as well as six other peaks of the Alaska Range. During our three-night stay, there is a choice of naturalist-led daily excursions, ranging from strenuous hikes to leisurely botanizing and bird watching. Evening slide presentations and discussions focus on wildflowers, tundra ecology, geology and natural resource management. (B,L,D)

DENALI NATIONAL PARK: Sunday, July 13
Today we continue our unhurried exploration of this enormous park. Miniature tundra plants form the base of the food chain in Denali and support large populations of moose, caribou, Dall sheep, bald eagle and brown bear. The beauty of these diminutive plants contrast sharply with the grandeur of the Alaska Range. (B,L,D)

DENALI NATIONAL PARK - FAIRBANKS: Monday, July 14
After an early breakfast, return to the park entrance by shuttle and then travel by motorcoach to Fairbanks. Later, visit the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. TWO NIGHTS, MARRIOT SPRINGHILL SUITES (B,L,D)

FAIRBANKS: Tuesday, July 15
This morning visit the home and kennels of Mary Shield, the first woman to complete the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Meet with Mary and visit her team of sled dogs. Enjoy lunch, and then tour the University of Alaska Museum, an experimental cold-climate farm, and a musk ox research station. Other interesting Fairbanks locals will join us for dinner at a popular restaurant. (B,L,D)

FAIRBANKS - WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NATIONAL PARK: Wednesday, July 16
This morning we travel south along the Richardson Highway to Glennallen. Then board a scenic flight to McCarthy and continue to the cozy Kennicott Glacier Lodge, located in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The park's rugged mountains and remote valleys are home to bear, Dall sheep, mountain goat and a vast array of birds. The cozy lodge, with its delicious family-style meals, overlooks the Root Glacier. This evening gather for dinner and a talk by a local resident. THREE NIGHTS, KENNICOTT GLACIER LODGE (B,L,D)

WRANGELL - ST. ELIAS NATIONAL PARK: Thursday, July 17
Walk onto the Root Glacier and learn the complex dynamics of this ageless ice. Explore the world's largest ghost town, Kennicott, once a booming copper mining town. Visit its museum, filled with old mining artifacts. Optional white-water river rafting and flightseeing excursions are available. (B,L,D)

WRANGELL - ST. ELIAS NATIONAL PARK: Friday, July 18
Leisurely walks from the lodge introduce the local flora and fauna. Continue exploring the area or relax on the porch of the lodge and enjoy the panoramic views of the mountains and glacier. (B,L,D)

WRANGELL - ST. ELIAS NATIONAL PARK - VALDEZ: Saturday, July 19
Fly to Valdez on Prince William Sound and enjoy a brief tour of the area. Later, gather for dinner. TWO NIGHTS, VALDEZ HARBOR INN (B,L,D)

VALDEZ: Sunday, July 20
This morning board the M/V Tanaina. Cruise the tranquil waters of Prince William Sound beneath the rugged Chugach Mountains, the highest coastal mountains in the U.S. Spend the day searching for whales and other wildlife and stop along the faces of the majestic Columbia and Meares glaciers. Gather this evening for a festive farewell dinner. (B,L,D)

VALDEZ - ANCHORAGE - LOS ANGELES: Monday, July 21
Transfer to the airport this morning for the flight home via Anchorage. (B)

Join an optional extension to see Alaska's brown bears, also known as grizzlies or Kodiak bears. Travel by float plane into a pristine area to observe at close range these impressive animals feeding on spawning salmon at river's edge. Further details will be sent upon enrollment.

New Zealand  
 NATURAL SPLENDORS & CULTURAL HERITAGE

Caltech Faculty Leader | General Information

Join Caltech planetary scientist, David Stevenson as he leads this fascinating tour to explore the magnificent splendor of New Zealand. This land is a place of wild and unforgettable beauty-rocky coastlines, primeval forests, snow-capped mountains, boiling volcanoes, fast-flowing rivers and glacier-fed lakes. Its warm and friendly people are bound in traditions that meld European culture with Maori ancestry.

This unique program encompasses both the North and South Islands, taking in the country's rich cultural heritage and stunning natural attractions. We begin in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, where we visit local art galleries, meet with local artists, and learn about the culture of the indigenous Maori people, who play a significant role in New Zealand life. Auckland's impressive harbor attracts yachting enthusiasts from around the world, and we have the opportunity to experience the sport on spectacular Hauraki Gulf. Traveling south through the lush Waikato region, with a Maori guide we explore by boat a unique natural wonder, the Waitomo Caves, and then continue to the Rotorua Lake District to observe its spectacular geothermal areas. Our next stop is Wellington, the country's capital perched on the edge of Cook Straight, where we tour the premier Te Papa Museum and attend a theater performance. The next day we fly to Christchurch where we tour the city's botanical gardens, museum and art gallery. From here, we traverse the Canterbury Plains and cross over to the western side of the island where we spend the next few days exploring the magnificent Fox and Franz Joseph Glaciers. En route to our charming alpine resort hotel in Queenstown we make several stops to take in spectacular scenery and to visit the historic village of Arrowtown. The final days of the program are spent in spectacular Fiordland National Park, a vast region of unspoiled wilderness with a heavily serrated coastline. Highlights in the park include an overnight cruise aboard the 70-passenger Fiordland Navigator to Doubtful Sound, where we drop anchor to kayak along the shoreline and to walk on deserted beaches.

David Stevenson is the George Van Osdol Professor of Planetary Science at Caltech. As a "kiwi" (the colloquial name for a New Zealander), he is familiar with the culture and spectacular natural environment of our destination. His primary expertise is planetary evolution and structure, but this includes planet earth and an understanding of the remarkable geological processes and environmental issues that are so well displayed in New Zealand: volcanism, geothermal activity, mountain building, fjords, glaciers, precious mineral deposits, the adaptation of flora and fauna, and the challenges posed by human use of the environment. He has previously visited most of the places on this trip. In addition to a distinguished research career, Dr. Stevenson is devoted to teaching and played a major role in the recent dramatic increase in the number of Caltech undergraduates who take earth science courses or major in the GPS Division.

LAND PROGRAM COST:………………....................$4,795
Per person, based on double occupancy.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:…………………...............…...$995
Subject to availability.

AIRFARE FROM LOS ANGELES: …...............………$1,535
(Including flights within New Zealand). Airfare quote as of March 2003 and subject to change. There is a $30 service fee per person for all airline tickets.

LAND COST INCLUDES: Lectures and field commentary by Caltech Professor David Stevenson; eleven nights accommodations; breakfast daily, nine lunches and eight dinners, including festive welcome and farewell dinners; overnight cruise in Doubtful Sound aboard the Fiordland Navigator; all sightseeing, including gratuities to drivers and guides, admission fees and excursions as outlined in the itinerary; motor coach and ferry transportation and luggage handling at the hotels, lodges, and ship; local sightseeing guides, special guest lecturers and a Siemer & Hand tour manager throughout the trip; pre-trip service, suggested reading list and pre-departure information.

LAND COST EXCLUDES: Airfare to, from and within New Zealand; airport taxes; optional activities; meals not specified in the itinerary; transfers for those not traveling with the group; charges for items of a personal nature including laundry, beverages and excess baggage charges; independent travel arrangements; and travel and accident insurance; and passport fees.

TOUR SIZE: The program is based on a minimum of 20 participants and a maximum of 30 participants. The airfare is based on a minimum of 10 participants using exactly the same air arrangements. If fewer than 10 participants accept the group air, an increase in airfare may result.

DEPOSITS AND FINAL PAYMENT: Reservations will be accepted in order of receipt if accompanied by a completed reservation form and a deposit of $500 per person. Final payment for all land and air costs is due by August 19, 2003, and must be paid by check.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Refunds, less a cancellation fee of $200 per person, will be made if we are notified on or before August 19, 2003. No refunds will be granted after that date. All cancellations must be in writing. Trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.

RESPONSIBILITY: A detailed statement of limitations and exclusions of liability of Siemer & Hand, Inc. and the Caltech Alumni Association for loss of property, injury, illness or death will be provided to passengers upon enrollment and is available to prospective travelers upon request.

SIEMER & HAND TRAVEL, INC: Seller of fine travel programs since 1959.
www.siemerhand.com.
CST 1004239-10