Just a few days until our PREMIERE EVENT begins, and I wanted to keep you apprised of the environment you'll be coming to if you haven't been to the site before, and I'm including a few notes even if you have!
Camp Santa Maria is at 8200 feet above sea level. At that elevation, oxygen levels as a percentage of "air" are reduced from 21% (sea level) to 15.5% (us locals are used to 17.5%, so there's even a decrease for us). This means you might get tired easier, have to rest more frequently during exertion, etc. Take your time when moving around, don't go wild, take breaks. Sit down and breathe deep and slowly if you feel yourself wheezing. Canned oxygen is available at most stores like Wal Mart; we'll have a few cans at Public Works, but it's highly recommended you have your own if you're likely to use a lot.
If you have a collapsible cart, and can bring it, it is highly recommended. There may be a few other carts available for transporting your stuff between your car and your cabin. If you want to purchase a cart to use and then donate afterwards, keep your receipt for a CAPs reward and we will keep it for future use.
Friday: Pool time from 10 am to 12:30 pm, assuming no thunderstorms! Please bring a suit and a good towel if you want to participate, and be prepared to not wear your costuming, makeup and/or prosthetics. There are changing rooms near the pool. If it's been a while since you've swam or aren't usually comfortable swimming, I recommend going to a resale shop like ARC (of which there are many Colorado locations) to pick up something that fits well and covers everything you want to be covered.
As with all of our events, all other water areas (Danger River, Danger Lake, Danger Pond) are off limits—feel free to go by, just don’t go in. The river is higher this year than it has been in a while and is still running very fast, even this late in the year.
Weather forecasts are very typical for this time of year: sunny or partly sunny in the morning, “afternoon showers” usually means a few bouts of light rain lasting 5-15 minutes. While this could be during any time of the day, it’s usually between 3 pm and 7 pm. There could be lightning or wind; in the case of either, make sure your tents (if any) are well-staked down, and be inside a building if there’s lightning rather than inside a tent.
Even with rain, humidity is likely to be low throughout the event. Bring your genre canteens and bottles and remember to fill them anytime you’re near the saloon, as staying hydrated will help with temperature regulation and breathing regardless of the temperature.
It could be cool at night, particularly if there’s wind, so bring another layer just in case. Other things you can do to ensure your comfort throughout the weekend:
Take a shower
Change your shirt
Put on new socks
Eat something
Want more info? Check out our local expectations and additional tips for visitors.