We're looking for suggestions. Personally we bring our beater instruments that we are less concerned about in the rigors of heat/cold and then don't worry about it. This year we are bringing a friend who doesn't have a beater instrument and is worried about the elements and instrument safety. Any advice?
As far as the weather is concerned, when coming into a warmer campfire area from the blistering cold outside, leave the instrument closed up in its case for a while to let it slowly warm up. The same generally applies in the other direction as well. Rapid change in temperature is an instruments enemy... As is lack of moisture.
Keep in mind that it can be rather dry at Telluride, so its possible you might run into problems from that. If you have a humidifier for your instrument/case, might as well bring it. Otherwise, I've heard suggestions of leaving half a potato inside the case to naturally humidify it, however a damp sponge works equally well and won't stink up the case