Q: Is Understory ADA accessible?

Yes, all workshop and event venues are ADA accessible.

Q: What should I pack?

• Lightweight, comfortable summer clothes and sensible footwear for daytime (80º and sunny most days); a couple of layers (sweater and light jacket) for air-conditioned environments and after sunset (~8:45 p.m. MT)

• Closed-toe shoes and hiking clothes if you are planning to hike

• 32 oz. water bottle or CamelBak

• Tote bag or backpack for personal possessions

• Note pad and pen (if you like to take notes by hand)

• One fun, slightly dressier outfit for the keynote dinner (optional dress code: literary festive—come as your favorite book character, wear an outfit from a different era, or dress for a particular genre)

• Sunscreen and/or UV-protective clothing if you are sensitive to strong sun

• Sunglasses

• Sun hat

• Advil, Tylenol, aspirin, or your OTC pain reliever of choice for possible altitude headaches and any muscle soreness

• Optional: portable phone/laptop charger

Q: How should I prepare for a high-altitude environment?

The conference sites are located at ~7,000 feet. If you are coming from sea level, you may find yourself feeling the effects of high altitude. Four days is not enough time for you to fully acclimate, but you can take certain helpful measures to ensure that you feel as well as possible:

• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Drink as much water as possible. Utah is in the high desert, and you will feel especially dry and thirsty here.

• Limit alcohol and caffeine consumption: You will feel the effects of both in Park City more than you do at sea level.

• Purchase a portable oxygen canister like this, widely available at Park City grocery stores, drug stores, and Walmart. (FAA regulations prohibit flying with these.)

Q: Where can I store my valuables during the conference?

Understory is not responsible for any loss or theft of your personal property during the conference. Anything valuable that you carry with you for workshops or events (laptop, smartphone, wallet, etc.) should fit into a bag that you can carry comfortably while you are out and about. If you are not comfortable carrying valuable personal possessions, please leave them in the hotel or house where you are staying. All that said, Park City is extremely safe, and theft rates are negligible.

Q: Will I have access to other attendees’ phone numbers and email addresses?

To protect everyone’s privacy, Understory will not make this information public. With that said, we encourage you to share your contact details individually with new friends you make throughout the weekend!

Q: Where should I stay during Understory?

Please visit the Accommodations section on our Resources page for more detail.

Q: What is the best way to get around during the conference?

Nearly all events and workshops are within close walking distance of Old Town accommodations. Please visit the Getting Around section on our Resources page for more detail. The only event that is a little farther away is the welcome reception at Park City Gardens on Thursday, 7/24. A free bus line runs from the Old Town Transit Center to a stop close to the nursery (please consult Google Maps for exact bus departure/arrival times and directions). You can also take a short Uber or Lyft ride or ask your hotel if it offers a shuttle service.

Q: What is the best way to get from the airport to Park City?

Uber or Lyft. You do not need a rental car for Understory unless you are planning to spend extra time in Park City before/after the conference and/or want the flexibility to drive to neighboring towns. FlixBus and Salt Lake Express are more affordable airport-transit options.

Q: Are Understory tickets refundable?

All ticket purchases for Understory are nonrefundable and final, unless otherwise stated below.

• Medical emergency: In the event that a ticket holder is unable to attend due to a documented medical emergency, a request for a refund may be submitted for consideration. Acceptable documentation (e.g., doctor's note or hospital record) will be required. The decision to grant a refund in such cases is at the sole discretion of the event organizer.

• Natural disasters: If Understory is canceled or postponed due to a natural disaster (e.g., severe weather, earthquake, wildfire), rendering the venue unsafe or attendance impossible, ticket holders may be offered a full refund, a partial refund, or the option to transfer their tickets to a rescheduled date or future event. The specific actions taken in such situations will be determined by the event organizer and communicated to ticket holders.

Q: Am I allowed to bring a guest to the workshops and events?

You may bring a guest to Green-Light Your Book on Friday, 7/25, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at no extra charge. Otherwise, unless you have purchased a separate conference ticket for your travel companion, seating capacity at our workshop and event sites does not allow for plus-ones.

Q: How will I access my conference schedule on the go during Understory?

On Thursday, July 24, you will receive a text invitation from an app called Concierge welcoming you to Understory. Starting on Friday morning, the same number will send you personalized reminders all of the workshops and events you are enrolled in, as well as locations, event reminders, and a dedicated phone number that you can text at any point during the conference if you have specific questions.

Q: What level of fitness is required to participate in the guided hikes?

All of the hikes are low to moderate difficulty, which means that you should be able to walk at a comfortable pace without too much elevation gain. However, remember that you will be hiking at a higher altitude than most of you are used to, so be sure to stretch, hydrate, and know your physical limits before you proceed with any physical activity like this in Park City. If you have no hiking experience, we do not recommend that you participate in the guided hikes.

Q: Can I sign up for individual workshops and evening events?

Understory is not offering à la carte pricing this year. However, a small number of tickets to the keynote dinner on Saturday are available for purchase at $200 apiece (first come, first served), via the Tickets page of the conference website, for attendees who would like to bring a non-registered guest to that event.

Q: How will I access my Understory schedule during the conference?

All Understory participants will receive a personalized schedule—complete with workshop names, locations, and times; event reminders; and a phone number that you can text anytime with individual questions—texted to their phones via an app called Concierge. You don’t need to sign up for it; you are automatically enrolled when you register for the conference.