Logistics
Hotel Accommodations
Millennium Harvest House - Single rate: $114/night
The hotel room block has expired. You may contact the hotel directly to check availability.
E-Mail: Guests may e-mail their reservation request to boulder.reservations@millenniumhotels.com. Please refer to group code: 1508MODESW
Fax: Guests may fax their reservation request to (303) 442-3821. Please refer to group code: 1508MODESW
Telephone: Guests may call the hotel toll free at (800) 545-6285. Please refer to group code: 1508MODESW
Ground Transportation
Travel to Boulder via Denver International Airport (DIA)
Participants will fly into DIA.
Ground Transportation from/to Denver International Airport
Travel to Boulder via DIA
Participants will fly into Denver International Airport.
Ground Transportaton from/to DIA
There are two commercial shuttle companies that take passengers from DIA to Boulder. Upon arrival please proceed to the ground transportation area and look for the desk for these companies.
GreenRide Boulder: http://greenrideboulder.com/
Boulder Supershuttle: http://www.supershuttle.com/Locations/BoulderDEN/
Additional information regarding ground transportation options may be found at the following web sites.
https://www2.ucar.edu/transportation
Local Information
Boulder
Boulder is nestled in the foothills, where the rolling plains meet the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Centrally located near Denver, Denver International Airport, Eldora Ski Resort and Rocky Mountain National Park. Downtown Denver is just 35 minutes away.
Weather
Four distinct seasons and over 300 sunny days a year.
Average temperature highs/lows:
- Spring (March-May) — 63/35 F
- Summer (June-August) — 83/55 F
- Fall (September-October — 72/45 F
- Winter (November-February) — 45/23 F
Timezone
Boulder's timezone in May is in Mountain Daylight Time (MDT).
Elevation/Altitude
The Denver-Boulder metropolitan area for rests at about 5,300 feet to 5,600 feet above sea level. The NCAR Mesa Laboratory rests at about 6,100 feet above sea level. This is not extreme in terms of altitude, but for lifelong sea-level dwellers visiting the area, being even a mile above the oceans can pose some physical challenges—and there are plenty of nearby mountains rising far higher than the local cities and towns.
Nosebleeds, headaches, and general fatigue—while generally mild compared to what many people experience at truly high elevations do occur in Boulder itself, and these symptoms can be subtle enough to keep newcomers from connecting them to the comparatively rarefied air. Here are some tips to make your trip or transition to the Rockies a smooth one.
- Drink lots of water. The higher you are above sea level, the lower the air pressure and the more quickly water evaporates from your body. Be in the habit of carrying a bottle of water with you.
- Eat a carbohydrate-rich diet. To keep your body and its revved-up metabolism from burning muscle protein as fuel, be sure to keep your stores of glycogen (the storage form of sugar and other carbs) topped off. You may experience a decrease in appetite, so frequent small meals may be your best bet.
- Consume ample iron. Your body needs to produce additional red blood cells in order to confront the lower atmospheric oxygen content, and this process requires iron. Either a dietary supplement or iron-packed foods (e.g., red meats) should do the trick.
- Take it easy. You’ll see plenty of runners, hikers, and cyclists in the region, but they have all had a chance to acclimate their bodies to the environment. Until you’ve done the same, avoid strenuous exercise.
- Avoid depressant medications. Alcohol, sedatives, and certain antihistamines may hit you like a ton of bricks until you become fully acclimated to high altitude, so use these sparingly. Caffeine can also have exaggerated effects.
- Protect your skin. You should find yourself going through lots and lots of sunscreen and lip balm—the thinner atmosphere here implies that ultraviolet sun rays penetrate to a greater degree, posing a hazard to tender exposed skin.
Venue
2015 MODES Workshop will be held at the NCAR Mesa Laboratory in the Main Seminar Room.
This location has two buildings: our flagship Mesa Lab (ML) and the Fleishmann Building (FB); FB is located to the north of the parking lot (on the left when driving in).
Mesa Lab Address:
1850 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder, CO 80305
Phone: 303-497-1000
NCAR'S Visitor Center
The Mesa Lab Visitor Center is open to the public 363 days a year and offers free exhibits about weather and climate, guided and self-guided tours, a gallery featuring local artists, an outdoor weather trail, and more.