NB: This is from a new series entitled "Copper Nickel's Guide to AWP Denver. Find out more here.
You've heard Denver called The Mile-High City, and you know that means we're a mile above sea-level, but you may not know yet what this means for you.
For one it means less protection from the sun. Even if you're not prone to burn, it's a good idea to bring some sunscreen with you and put it on even if you think you won't be outside. You can start to show signs of sun exposure in less than 10 minutes, even from exposure through cab windows...
It's very dry here. We're in the "rain shadow" of the Rockies, which means that the mountains lift up the air as it passes over and usually wring out the water, leaving us with very low humidity. Great, you might say, but if you're used to a wetter climate (Seattle, New York, Washington DC, Atlanta, Houston &c), you can very quickly get dehydrated and get an altitude headache. Altitude headaches are very sharp and persistent. The best remedy is lots of water and aspirin. Painkillers other than aspirin may treat the pain, but aspirin will help relieve the pressure that's causing the headache. So pack up your Bufferin and carry a bottle of water with you at all time.
Alcohol packs a stronger punch. There's less oxygen in the atmosphere here, which means less oxygen in your blood, which means alcohol works faster on you. Basic rule: first few days, 1 drink here = 2 drinks in most other parts of the United States. Take it easy.
Because of the oxygen-level, if you're coming from closer to sea level (pretty much everywhere in America), you may find that you can't walk as fast or that you're getting tired more quickly or that you can't easily lift as much weight as you're used to. This is especially going to be felt by those working the bookfair. If you're athletic, you may not notice much of this, but in a day or two, you'll be up to speed.
This is all a lot of warming, but if you get too down, there's always the oxygen bar...
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