Hello Dear Friends and Family,

Welcome to a wonderful weekend celebrating Grace and Alex and launching them into a wonderful life filled with love together. If you have questions and you need answers, may I please suggest that you reach out to me, Angie Merriman (MOB), for most things wedding and Vail Valley. I am the one in town and organizing most aspects of the weekend. With over 60 horses, lots of new construction, and horse show season - it might take me a long minute to respond but I promise I will. Please text me or email me your questions or if you need me to call you back, I for sure will as soon as I can. We are so excited to host you at the ranch - please know that we are under construction in some areas, and the property is older and beautifully imperfect, so don't mind our messes when you do get here. It's going to be fun and free flowing - just like Grace and Alex - so please embrace everything Vintage and all things ranch! My email is angellamerriman@gmail.com and my phone is 415-990-7704.

Please know that the Merrimans and the Fortmanns realize what a trek it is for a destination wedding and while we are so excited to have those who can come, we do understand, love and appreciate those who are unable or have other obligations.

So see you soon under The Big Tree.

Love to Everyone!

Angie and Dwight

PREPARING FOR THE TRIP

Vail’s slogan is “VAIL - Like Nothing on Earth”, and believe us, we think that’s true. We want you to enjoy every second of your stay. Here are some recommendations when preparing for your trip.

High Altitude - HYDRATE BEFORE YOU COME!

Vail and many locations within the Vail Valley are more than 8,000 feet above sea level and guests may struggle with altitude sickness. The ranches are both at around 6,000 feet. Altitude sickness can hit anyone regardless of physical condition or age. The most common symptoms include: headache, dizziness and nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, disturbed sleep. Staying HYDRATED is essential! We also recommend enjoy some healthy sugars and carbohydrates during the first day or two of your stay. We promise this will help as well. If you can, consider arriving early to give yourself a little time to adjust. Most usually feel back to normal after 24 hours have passed. The wedding location are at about 6000 feet.

Also, please note that alcohol is way more potent at high altitudes. Don’t find out the hard way! When drinking, we recommend you alternate between a drink and a glass of water. One drink here equals two drinks at lower altitude.

Weather

Before your trip, we recommend checking the weather forecast for Gypsum, Colorado (zip code 81637) at www.weather.com. Colorado has more than 300 days of sunshine each year, so we are hopeful for a beautiful, sunny wedding weekend, but the weather is often unpredictable and can quickly change in the mountains. The temperature during the day may reach up to 80 degrees or even warmer, but nights on the mountain can get quite chilly (40-50 degrees).

At high altitude, exposure to the sun is 40% greater than it is at sea level. Sunscreen (at least SPF 30) is recommended for all exposed skin, particularly the face, lips and neck. Be certain to protect your eyes with sunglasses. You will find the Vail Valley to be an arid climate, so hand lotion and lip balm are essential. We will have some backup sprays and lotions on on hand in case you forget.

PACK YOUR BAGS

It is very important that you pack your suitcase with the appropriate apparel. Remember, you can always take off layers, so it’s better to “over pack.”

Suitcase Must-Haves If You Are Doing More Than Wedding Events:

Socks

Bathing suit

Shoes that are practical

Shorts and t-shirts

Comfortable pants

Sunscreen (at least SPF 30)

Sunglasses

Hand lotion - its dry here

Lip balm with SPF

A hat to screen the sun

We want you to have fun during your time in Colorado, and there are a variety of optional activities you can do on your vacation. Below are suggested apparel items for those of you who will be participating in outdoor activities.

Pieces to layer from light to heavy:

tank tops, t-shirts (short-sleeved and long)

Comfortable shoes

Jeans

Rain and/or Warm jacket

Hat for sun

Sunglasses

Water!

Remember, cotton stays wet when it gets wet. Therefore, it is not recommended you wear cotton for outdoor activities with water.

Cycling

Fly Fishing

Golfing

Public course in Vail and Eagle. Who do you know around here or reciprocal clubs?

- Country Club of the Rockies

- Eagle Springs

- Cordillera

- Eagle Vail Golf Club

Appropriate shirt and shorts/pants

Golf shoes

Waterproof, breathable jacket and pants

Synthetic or wool liner socks

Sunglasses

Sunscreen and Water!

Hiking

Backpack with snacks and plenty of water!

Medium weight synthetic jacket or pullover

Waterproof, breathable jacket and pants

Synthetic or wool liner socks

Hat

Sunglasses

Sunscreen

Vessel for water: large water bottle or hydration system

Hiking boots or appropriate shoes

Rafting

Wetsuit, helmet, paddles, life jacket and splash jacket are provided

Warm socks (wool works well)

Shoes that stay securely on your feet and that you don’t mind getting wet. Sport sandals (that strap on), tennis shoes or water shoes all work well.

FLIP FLOPS NOT RECOMMENDED.

Swimsuit to wear under wetsuit or to wear with personal nylon short or pant.

Sunglasses and strap to secure them

Sunscreen

Extra layers such as lightweight polypropylene or quick dry clothing.

Change of clothes and water

We recommend you NOT where cotton on the river as it stays WET and will make you cold.

Horseback Riding

Long pants, like jeans

Sunscreen

Hat

Appropriate shoes (no flip flops) like tennis shoes or hiking shoes

Cowboy boots are best

A long sleeve shirt

Layers