How to have fun and stay safe at altitude.

 This section is primarily intended for first time visitors to the conference to inform you of what to expect when you arrive at Keystone.  It includes suggestions for what to pack in order to be comfortable and safe at 9,000 feet, as well as additional things to bring should you be interested in joining other students for outdoor excursions on Sunday morning.

 Summer weather in the Colorado mountains is generally beautiful and sunny, but it can be very unpredictable, with conditions changing in a matter of minutes.  Night time temperatures can drop as low as the 40’s, so be sure to pack a warm sweater or jacket for the evenings.  Afternoon thunderstorms can move in rapidly, so it is important that you bring a water repellent jacket as well. 

 The air is incredibly dry, and the UV index is very high in the mountains.  Therefore, it is very important to drink more than a normal amount of water, and wear sunscreen outside at all times, even if there is some cloud cover.  Therefore, please pack sunscreen, a water bottle, and anything else you might find necessary to live in an ultra-dry climate.  The altitude will have a noticeable effect on your cardiovascular and respiratory function, so please be aware of your body.  If you have asthma, it is important to bring your bronchodilator, even if you are not planning on participating in any strenuous activity.  Finally, as many of our friends from the flatlands have discovered in the past, the effects of alcohol are exacerbated at altitude, so take it a bit easy.

 Sunday morning allows a large block of time to pursue the numerous activities available in the areas surrounding Keystone.  The mountain passport/activities link will take you to the organized opportunities provided by guest services at Keystone.  Additionally, a number of students often organize less formal trips for hiking and mountain biking.  If you think that you might be interested in taking advantage of these opportunities, it is important that you bring along the correct clothes and gear. 

 If you are interested in hiking, it is important that you bring the following:  a pair of  rugged, supportive shoes or boots; sunscreen; water bottle; loose fitting clothes, preferably NOT made of cotton; a warm sweatshirt or fleece jacket; and finally a good nylon jacket capable of repelling rain and wind.  It is a good idea to bring a small pack to carry these things with you on the hike.

 If you are interested in mountain biking, please bring the following: a pair of athletic shoes; a pair of shorts, preferably nylon; both short and long sleeve athletic shirts, again preferably NOT made of cotton; sunscreen; and a water bottle.  You may want to have a nylon jacket as well, but most people try to cut down on the amount of gear they carry while mountain biking.

 If you have any further questions about what to expect, please send the organizing committee an email.  If we haven’t gone insane with all of the planning, we’ll get back to you.