HQ2008 - Travel & Accomodations
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The workshop will take place at Aspen Lodge, Estes Park in Colorado, USA. Apen Lodge easily accessible on the Peak-to-Peak Highway (Hwy 7) just 1.5 hours from Denver. It is also only seven miles south of Estes Park. Situated on 82 acres, the resort property includes mountain meadows, deep forests of evergreen, and a shimmering mountain lake that is used in the summer for fishing, boating and kayaking. (Click on map to enlarge) |
RoomsDue to the limited number of rooms at the Lodge, most participants will need to share rooms/cottages with 1 or 2 other participants. The pricing for the accommodation (which includes all meals, internet etc.) adjusts accordingly: $119/night double occupancy $99/night for triple occupancy Companion rate ( includes lodging and 3 meals) is just $49/night using the same room as the participant. What is the plan for food? All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are included in the workshop package. If you have any special dietary restrictions, please email the organizers (hqadmin@hq2008.bnl.gov) as soon as possible with these restrictions and will we do our best to accomodate them. The Lodge is in an isolated location, but there are regular grocery stores, coffee shops, etc. approximately 7 miles away in the center part of Estes Park. Also, on Sunday August 17, 2008 there will be a reception dinner (with appetizers starting at 6:00 pm and the buffer dinner at 8:00 pm). People should be aware that they should be careful drinking alcohol (for many reasons), but in particular at this high elevation. There is also a workshop banquet on the final evening Saturday August 23, 2008. Payment MethodsIn order to confirm your reservation, a non-refundable deposit of $100 is required from each participant by July 15th. The deposit, which will be applied toward your lodging bill, can be paid by credit card, check or purchase order. To arrange the deposit, you need to call Aspen Lodge at: ( toll free) 1-800-332-6867 and/or e-mail the sales manager Paula Foster ( agm@aspenlodge.net TravelDenver has an international airport (Denver International Airport, DIA) that most major airlines, from both Europe and within the USA, fly into. The airport is a hub for Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, and also has flights on Southwest and JetBlue. There are two options for getting from Denver International Airport to the Aspen Lodge in Estes Park. One option is to take the Estes Park Shuttle . They have regular shuttles that leave every couple of hours from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. You must make a reservation at least 24 hours in advance. This can be done via their web interface or by calling them on the phone. *** If you are scheduled to arrive at Denver International Airport after 8:00 p.m., you may miss the last shuttle (note that it takes time to get off the plane and get your bags at the airport). We can reserve a couple of additional shuttles to leave at much later times. If you are in this case, you MUST send an email to the organizers (hqadmin@hq2008.bnl.gov) by August 10 indicating that you want to have a late shuttle, and the exact flight information (including all connections) and arrival time in Denver. Without this information you may be stuck at the airport until the next morning! *** The second option is to rent a car at the airport. Make sure to make car reservations in advance. You can find a link to driving directions here. Note that there is a toll road at the start, and the last 26 miles on CO-07 is a winding road (so allow extra time at night). Do not use Google Maps to get directions yourself, as they have the Lodge address at the incorrect place. WeatherIn the summer you can expect high temperatures to be anywhere from the mid 60's to the low 90's. They typically stay in the low 80's. They have beautiful clear mornings with increasing clouds as afternoon approaches. They often get afternoon thundershowers. These produce lightning, so be aware! try to be back below tree line when the storms roll through. These storms usually do not last long and give way to fantastic evenings and clear nights. Lows at night can range from the mid 30's to low 50's. They tend to hover in the mid 40's range. Weather conditions differ around the mountain valleys and peaks of Estes park. Temperatures often vary by 10 degrees or more from one part of the Estes valley to another so bring a variety of layers. For more information go here. ActivitiesThe talks agenda is organised so that every afternoon is free. The lodge offers year-round activities program including fishing and boating in their lake, great hiking trails, scenic van tours, mountain biking (rentals are available), tennis, racquetball, fitness training or just relax in their sauna and outdoor heated swimming pool. There is also horseback riding (the Lodge has its own livery), Please remember to bring appropriate clothing for both the conference and whatever activities you would like to engage in each afternoon. There is also an extended excursion (with multiple options) on Thursday. As a preview, Alex Linden-Levy and Jamie Nagle felt obligated to check out the hike up Twin Sisters Peak (which can be started right behind the Lodge). It is ~ 7.5 miles round trip and 2300 feet elevation gain. Here are our findings: http://up.colorado.edu/~nagle/temp/P1010356.JPG http://up.colorado.edu/~nagle/temp/P1010359.JPG http://up.colorado.edu/~nagle/temp/P1010364.JPG In the first picture, you can see the lodge down below, and the view of Longs Peak in the distance is what the Lodge looks out at. We got caught in a nice thunderstorm on the way down, that turned to hail. /font> What to PackThe Apsen Lodge is located at ~2770 m (~9100 feet) above sea level, right at the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. During this time of year, the weather varies a great deal. It can be very warm (90 degrees Fahrenheit = 32 degrees Celsius) and the sun can be intense. Also, most afternoons there are thunderstorms and sometimes heavy rain and even hail (ice). In the evenings temperatures can cool off (40 degrees Fahrenheit = 4 degrees Celsius) Make sure to bring plenty of sun screen and a hat. You should pack a variety of clothing that can be worn in layers (e.g. shorts, shirts, sweater or fleece, light weight jacket, good socks), and some kind of rain coat (or slicker) for the frequent afternoon thunderstorms. For those interested in hiking, pack hiking boots or very good walking shoes. There is horseback riding (but no boot rental). You need to have sneakers or shoes that tie (not heavy hiking boots or high heels). There is a swimming pool and hot-tub, so bring a swim suit. It is a good idea to bring a water bottle. Drinking extra fluids at high elevation is important. Some people are bothered by the thinner air. What to Expect (communications with the outside world)The Lodge is in a remote location in the Rocky Mountains. There is very little (or no) cell phone coverage. You can get coverage about 5 miles up the road towards downtown Estes Park. You can call out from the Aspen Lodge phone (in each room). There is a small charge for getting an outside line, but using a calling card is optimal. There is NO INTERNET CONNECTION! There is a small possiblity of some connectivity, but none that can be counted on. Make sure your talks are finished or everything is on your laptop before leaving. Also, let people know you may be out of email contact for one week |
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