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HR78 Pre-Reunion Gathering
Mt. Princeton Inn and Hot Springs Resort (Nathrop, Colorado)
and the ‘Class Climb’ of Mt. Harvard (Collegiate Peaks,
Sawatch Range)
1-6 August 2008
By now you should all have received via e-mail an announcement of this
unusual pre-Reunion event. What follows is a set of questions concerning what is
planned, and how you and yours can join in.
New Information (mostly): Where
and When to Go? and What to Do?
| Question |
Answer |
| Where are we gathering? |
We are converging on the Mt.
Princeton Inn and Hot Springs Resort (http://www.mtprinceton.com/; Nathrop,
CO., nearest airports: Denver and Colorado Springs, about 2 to 3 hours drive
away.) This is a spectacular location at an updated historic inn that has
good accommodations, restaurant, and bar. It also boasts natural hot
springs, swimming pools, sports facilities, spa, WiFi, and easy access to
lots of outdoor activities (see below). |
| When are we doing this? |
· We have reserved spaces at the Inn /
Resort during the period Friday 1 August through Wednesday 6 August,
inclusive. In terms of weather and safety, this period is optimal for
hiking Colorado’s peaks.
· You may join for all or some of this
period.
· In order to acclimatize to the
elevation, those contemplating the ‘Class Climb’ (see below) should plan
to arrive as early as feasible in this period.
· The ascent of Mt. Harvard is tentatively
planned for Tuesday 5 August. It will be guided by professionals, and
there will be a fee for this.
· Some may wish to break the ascent into two
days and spend the night of Monday 4 August on the trail. There are great
camping spots below the timberline. Camping gear would be required, but
most of it may be rented locally, given sufficient notice.
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| What kind of accommodations
are available? |
· We have reserved a total of 42 rooms and
cabins; the latter have full kitchens, the former have minifridges.
· Availability varies, but all rooms become
available by Sunday 3 August, and we must all depart no later than
Thursday
7 August.
· Rooms and cabins will accommodate from a
maximum of 2 to 10 persons. Larger accommodations may be shared by more
than one household group (if they are compatible).
· Daily rates vary from $119 to $400.
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| How do you reserve a spot? |
· Before 1 June 2008,
call 1-888-395-7799, ext. 200, or e-mail Zelma Warren
(zelmwarren@yahoo.com).
(Note: Zelma
Warren will be out of e-mail contact 10-23 April, inclusive)
· Specify that you are with the Harvard
Reunion group.
· Indicate the size of your party and your
preferences on dates and / or accommodations (see
attached
table).
· Reserve your spot with your credit card.
· Please contact Flip Koch
and Kristen Laine to let them know: 1) you plan to come, 2) how many in
your party are considering hiking Mt. Harvard or rockclimbing.
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| What is included in the
reservation? |
· Room
· Access to sports, swimming, and hot
springs facilities
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| What about food and drink? |
· The Mt. Princeton Inn and Hot Springs
Resort has a fine restaurant and bar.
· Those with kitchens in their
accommodations may cook on site.
· There are abundant restaurants in and
about Buena Vista and Salida, Colorado (the nearest towns).
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Review of Background Information:
Who Should Go? What Might They Do?
| Question |
Answer |
| Who should consider going? |
· Anyone interested in relaxing in
spectacular mountain surroundings.
· This location is very family friendly.
Think seriously of bringing along your whole crew. Some folks already plan
to bring their pre-schoolers to twenty-somethings. Not all of them will be
making the hike up Mt. Harvard.
· Anyone interested in seeing their HR78
Classmates away from Cambridge and who enjoy varying degrees of outdoor
adventure from none to extreme.
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| What sorts of activities are
possible? |
There is something for
everyone, from the vegetative to the hard-bodied:
· sitting in hot springs, going to the spa,
sun bathing, lounging, reading, conversing, touring historic areas...
· swimming, hiking, horseback riding,
white-water rafting, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, fishing, mountain
biking, basketball, tennis...
· hiking Mt. Harvard (peak elevation: 14,420
feet, third highest in Colorado, and highest of the Collegiate Peaks; the
most likely route is 12.6 miles round trip with 4550 feet of elevation
change from the trailhead).
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Please contact Flip Koch (pskoch@post.harvard.edu) and Kristen Laine (kristenlaine@earthlink.net)
with any questions. They would also appreciate as early an indication as
possible that you might be coming, of how many in your party may be making the
Mt. Harvard hike, and of how many are interested in rock climbing (another
potential activity that would be led by our professional guides and would
include lessons for those interested).
Click to see some photos of the Mt.
Harvard trail!
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