We are ready to start a new year and announce the information for Thunder in the Mountains 2010. There are rumors abound that Thunder is not going on or that this is the last year, and that Rich and Brian are moving to Fort Lauderdale, FL. Yes we are moving to Florida. However, Thunder will continue on in Denver as it has always has. So please spread the word and squash those rumors, there hasn't been any talk between us to discontinue the event now or in the near future. This year’s event will be hosted by the Crown Plaza Hotel DIA on the dates of Friday, July 16 through Sunday, July 18, 2009. Membership fees will continue exactly the same as in prior years. We have created a Facebook page out of demand for a place to meet people coming to the event and wanting to do pre-arranged play time, or just chat.

Standards of Behavior

Each year in the text of this website, I discuss the standards of public behavior that we expect of our attendees at Thunder. And each year some of the long time attendees tell me I sound like I am lecturing a bunch of kids. If you feel like I am lecturing you when reading my caveats, please understand that I reiterate these rules each year mostly for the newbies and inexperienced among us, but I also want everyone (new and old alike) to realize how important our good conduct remains to our ability to continue to host our event in Denver each summer. It takes only one incident (unintended or not) to create a firestorm that can get us closed down. So, please read through these rules and take no offense at their tone. I am only trying to keep us alive as an event.

Even though the Crown Plaza DIA is renting rooms only to Thunder members on the nights of Friday and Saturday (July 16 & 17) please be aware that there may be people in the hotel for various other reasons (staff, maintenance, non-scene guests, restaurant patrons, etc.). We would ask that you please be respectful of their sensitivities and their sense of morals. No matter how strongly we may believe in our own moral codes, it is not up to us to make these judgments for others. Our continuation in this hotel may depend upon how well we are received by all people in the hotel.... staff and others alike. So please be friendly and respectful to everyone.

As I said above, for many this sort of discussion about standards of behavior is no longer even necessary. Most of us have been to events all over the country, and we understand that our behavior in public venues reflects upon our entire community across the nation. But there are always those people, however, who feel it is proper and necessary to push the envelope and to try and shock those outside our community. So for those people, let me reiterate---at Thunder we maintain a basic, common sense approach to public behavior, dress, and decorum. That means specifically that there will be no exposed genitals or women’s breasts, no groping, no lewd behavior or scening in the public areas, and there will be no walking of slaves or subs through the public areas of the hotel on chains, ropes or other bondage equipment. This means that when you go to the restaurant to eat or when you decide to walk through the lobby area on your way to a demo, vendor space, or play party, PLEASE remember that you are in a public area and that non-scene staff and other citizens may be present. If you are wearing fetish wear that is risqué, cover up until you get into the secure membership-only areas. Your behavior in this regard, whether in Denver or elsewhere, reflects significantly upon our ability to continue booking these great hotels for our leather events. We ask your cooperation here not only because it helps to keep our event open, but because behaving in a civilized manner in a public area is the right thing to do.

I’d like to state the simple and time-tested behavioral standard we attempt to impose as permanent Thunder policy: “If you would not wear it or do it in front of your own grandmother, do not wear it or do it in the public areas of Thunder in the Mountains.”

There are members of the hotel staff who ARE offended and who do not think this sort of thing is either cute or funny. Please respect their sensibilities as we expect them to respect ours. Thunder staff members will assist you if you have any questions about what may or may not be proper, but I truly believe that all of you know on an intuitive level what is proper and what is not. A good rule of thumb to use is this: “If you have questions about whether something is proper or not, it probably isn’t.” Don’t do it! Use your head and follow its lead. You will usually not be wrong! At Thunder we remain proud that our event continues to have an absolute minimum of rules imposed by Thunder staff and administration. We can make this claim because Thunder is a gathering where we have some of the most experienced and mature players in the country attending. We want our event to be seen as the one event in the nation where all attendees (both novice and experienced) can feel at ease and feel relatively free to choose for themselves at any one time the proper course of action in public or scene behavior. Such freedom of choice, like all freedom, carries with it a great burden of responsibility, however, and we want to trust the real players who attend Thunder not only to step up to the plate in this regard but to encourage and set an example for the novices and less experienced players who may attend Thunder for the first time. We make or break our national leather events by the way we act as individuals, and we hope to prove ourselves capable as continuing as a part of this premiere event. This year we hope to have another GREAT gathering with the best presenters in the country coming together with the best players in the country, and we hope to see you here.

Airline Information

As per TSA regulations, no sharp or cutting instruments of any kind (knives, scissors, razors, needles, fingernail files, etc.) can be brought on board airlines in your carry-on luggage. However, wide latitude is given with your checked baggage. At this time there are no rules against toys and such being included in your checked luggage. But be sure that they are all clean and sealed in plastic bags as much as possible in case your luggage happens to be randomly searched. In most airports, the traveler will be present when the luggage is searched, and we would advise you that if this happens to you, you should be as up front and honest as possible about the contents of your bags. Some airlines do require you to notify them about weapons, and because swords, knives, daggers, and some whips are classified as weapons, these should be identified as collectors pieces and part of a special demonstration seminar. The bottom line is to simply be honest and tell the inspectors where you are going and what you are doing.

Membership Costs

$99 until May 1, 2010
$130 after May 1, 2010

You may register for membership online using your credit card (click on REGISTRATION and follow specific directions).

You may also register by copying the registration form from our website, signing it, attaching a check in the proper amount, and mailing it to:

Thunder in the Mountains, LLC
c/o Brian Conway, Director
258 Acoma St.
Denver, CO. 80223-1339

We are including a Free Lapel Pin in every packet this year. If you want to buy extras they are on the registration form for $4.00. Otherwise everyone gets one free.

Membership Cancellation & Refund Policy

Notification before May 1, 2010…………………………………..100% refund
Notification between May 1--June 15, 2010…………………………50% refund
Notification after June 15, 2010…………………………………………no refund

Hotel Information

In addition the guest room charges at the hotel will also remain the same:

$110 for single, double, triple, or quad.

Parking will be free. Please be aware that the hotel will sell out, and if you want to make sure you get a room, you should contact the hotel as soon as possible and make a reservation. (Click HOTEL on the side bar for specific details). You should also be aware, however, that if you do reserve a room and you decide you don’t want it, you MUST cancel your reservation before July 9, 2010, or you will be charged for one room night even if you do not attend. This policy is to prevent people who are not sure they really want to attend Thunder from reserving rooms and not canceling them until the last minute, thereby preventing others from getting rooms in the host hotel. So, reserve your rooms early, but if you don’t think you can attend, be sure and cancel them before July 9, 2010 to prevent an unwanted charge to your card.

Once again, we would encourage you to make plans early so you won’t be disappointed. We are expecting a big crowd again this year, and our presenters are always the best in the nation. Membership in Thunder in the Mountains includes entry into the event, entry into all yearly organizational planning and meetings, and invitations to any other social events which may be sponsored during the year. Once you purchase a membership in your name, it cannot be transferred to another person. Anyone wishing to register for Thunder 2010, or to volunteer, or to make a reservation at the Crowne Plaza DIA, or to apply as a vendor, or to enter the talent show should click on the corresponding heading on the side bar. I’d like to add that in our huge play space for 2010, we will still maintain our men’s, women’s, and pan areas like we did in prior years. If anyone has any questions about the website or the event, you can email me at MrLthrCO@aol.com. We look forward to seeing you again.