Some truly "final" information for participants: We look forward to an exciting workshop next week. HELP WITH ISSUES THAT COME UP AT WORKSHOP: Diane Miller from SwRI will be along for the entire meeting and can help with almost any issue associated with the hotel, reception, banquet, registration, etc. She can be reached by phone 303-746-0416. Dirk Terrell from SwRI will be along as a scientist, but also as our AV & computer support person. He can assist you with presentation or computer issues. Call Bill or Diane to get in contact with him. Bill Merline will be available by phone at 720-837-5514 or by asking to be connected to his Sheraton hotel room. He can help with issues regarding presentations, registration, or other issues. ABSTRACTS A complete abstact booklet .pdf file is now posted on the meeting web site under ABSTRACT BOOKLET as well as individual .pdf files of each abstract. Abstract booklets will also be in the packet at the meeting. PARKING All hotel guests should use the parking lot provided by the hotel. They will give you instructions. For those not staying at the hotel, you are instructed to use the free parking lot that is adjacent to the hotel, between the meeting hotel (Sheraton Steamboat) and the Grand. As you approach the front of the hotel, the hotel will be on the right, and this lot on the left. INTERNET ACCESS Unfortunately, we cannot afford to provide internet access for the meeting room or even an internet cafe near the meeting room. It would have been a 50% increase in registration fee. Instead, if attendees wish wireless access in some common areas of the hotel, the cost is about $10 per 24-hr period. This apparently DOES NOT provide access in the meeting room. NOR wireless access in the guest rooms. Access to fast internet in the guest rooms, via wired connection, can be ordered for $10 extra per day, and is completely separate from the wireless access in common areas. We recommend just getting the guest room access at $10 per day and then escaping to your room during the generous break and lunch periods if you need to access the internet. MEETING ROOM All meeting functions, except for reception and banquet, will be the in the Twilight room. Posters will be displayed within that room and coffee and snacks will be served also within that room. REGISTRATION All participants have already completed registration and are entirely paid-up for all of their guests or banquet selections. Receipts will be in the meeting packet, which we be distributed at the reception and again available Tuesday morning. Those arriving after Tuesday morning should just ask Diane for their packet when they arrive. RECEPTION Will be Monday Aug 20 from 20:00-22:00. It will be in the Aspen Room at the Sheraton. It includes a hosted full bar, soft drinks, juices, and light snacks (not a meal) for those who have registered as full, student, or guest participants. WE ARE ALREADY PAYING QUITE A GENEROUS TIP ON THE FOOD/BEVERAGES AND THE BARTENDER. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO NEED TO TIP FURTHER, ALTHOUGH THE HOTEL MAY MAKE IT LOOK THAT WAY. BANQUET OLD WEST STEAKHOUSE, 1104 S Lincoln Ave., 1.6 miles from meeting hotel We may gather for drinks at 18:30 at the restaurant (maps will be provided), one hour before dinner at 19:30. The shuttle bus may be used to get to/from the restaurant (Restaurant is Stop 43, Angler's Drive & Lincoln). The dinner will include an entree, side dish, dessert, wine, coffee, & soft drinks, and tip/tax. HAZARDS For those venturing in ... Nothing is perhaps more hazardous to a planetary scientist visiting (or living in) Colorado than the extremely strict laws on drinking and driving. Colorado has a blood alcohol limit of 0.08% for DUI, but has an even more stringent limit of 0.05% that it terms DWAI (driving while ability impaired, or driving while almost intoxicated, or driving while approximately intoxicated, or driving with artificial intelligence, I'm not sure). In any case, BE AWARE that this translates, for most people, into something like 2 drinks over an hour or two. Whatever it is, be careful. State motor vehicle departments, insurance companies, and the courts treat this as being just as serious as the full blown DUI. Steamboat free bus (see below) or taxi is better. For those venturing out ... Be aware of the usual problems at higher elevations (Steamboat is at 6700 ft, but elsewhere in the mountains it is of course more extreme): - be careful to protect skin, and especially eyes, from intense summer UV - watch for signs of altitude sickness above 9000 ft or so - the climate is very dry -- guard against dehydration - alternatively, the climate can support sudden thunderstorms that can bring dangerous lighting, the leading cause of death due to natural hazards in Colorado - flash floods in canyons and falls of large boulders onto roads are not uncommon GETTING THERE See this link if you are driving from Denver. The airport exit (Pena Blvd) leads directly to I-70 after about 10 miles, then follow directions at this URL. http://www.boulder.swri.edu/binary-mtg/sheraton-directions.pdf The above is the fastest route. But if you want a more scenic drive, but adding something like an hour or two to the drive, you could instead take US Highway 40 all the way from Denver to Steamboat Springs. You can access it by taking I-70 to the Empire exit some 30 or so miles west of Golden (watch for signs). Once you begin to enter town, the hotel is shown on this map: http://www.boulder.swri.edu/binary-mtg/binaries.map-to-hotel.pdf GETTING AROUND Our hotel is situated near the ski slope, some 2+ miles outside of the main town. The City of Steamboat Springs provides free shuttle service that runs continuously transportation about town. There is a bus stop adjacent to the hotel that you can use to travel about. It runs until about 11 pm. It can be found as stop 100 (Gondola Transit Center) near the bottom of the map and info included below (you'll need to expand the map). http://www.ci.steamboat.co.us/fileadmin/all_documents/transport_doc/bus_docs/Summer_07_for_web.pdf RESTAURANTS The hotel is located in the "mountain" section. There are several restaurants nearby, but most of them are "in town". A few can be found at the top of the fascinating gondola ride up the mountain, not far from hotel. Here is a web site with a complete dining guide, including menus: http://www.steamboat-dining.com/ THINGS TO DO Your packet will have some of the info below. You can also ask the hotel concierge for maps, points of interest, etc. Steamboat region map: http://www.colorado-directory.com/maps/steamboat.html Hotel: The hotel includes a Starbucks, complete health club, spa, and 7 roof-top hot tubs. Information on area HOT SPRINGS: People rave about the springs and they are only 7 miles out of town and have special (paid) shuttle access or you can drive. http://www.strawberryhotsprings.com/2005/ Historic Walking Tour: http://www.boulder.swri.edu/binary-mtg/walking-tour.pdf