Advice on Adjusting to High Altitude

Avoiding Altitude Sickness On Vacation

Winter Park is one of the highest towns in Colorado, at 9,100 feet in town, 10,700 at the top of Winter Park ski area and a literally breathtaking 12,060 feet at the top of the Panoramic.

WHAT IS HIGH ALTITUDE?

High altitude is defined as:

>> High Altitude: 5000 - 11,500 ft (500 - 3500 m)

>> Very High Altitude: 11,500 - 18,000 ft (3500 - 5500 m)

>> Extreme Altitude: above 18,000 ft (above 5500 m)

To learn more about the symptoms of Altitude Sickness, CLICK HERE.

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The Classic Scenario

You fly from New York City to Denver at 5,000 feet (1,525 meters). That afternoon you rent a car and drive up to Winter Park at 9,120 feet (2,780 meters). You go out to dinner, have 3 or 4 drinks, go to bed, wake up early and hit the slopes. You on the chairlift and go all the way up to the top of the Panoramic Express Chairlift at 12,060 feet (3,676 meters), ski all day, then celebrate your achievements with an apres drink or two. You begin to have a severe headache and feel nauseous and weak. If your condition worsens, you may begin to have difficulty skiing or hiking.

Scenarios like this are not uncommon, so it's essential that you understand the physiological effects of high altitude on your body.

What Can You Do To Prevent Altitude Sickness?

TAKE YOUR TIME

Consider spending a day in Denver or another town in the Front Range before heading up to Winter Park. Just one day at 5,000 feet can help tremendously in adjusting a bit before you go up to 10,000 feet in Winter Park. If you don't have time to do that, you could spend a day doing something relatively easy on the first day in Winter Park, or at the very least you can avoid alcohol and follow the rest of the tips below so you don't experience Acute Altitude Sickness.

WATER IS YOUR FRIEND

Be sure to drink a lot of water when you are at our high altitude. If you don't drink enough water, you may bring on a headache which is associated with altitude sickness. By drinking lots of water, even though you may not be thirsty, you will push that headache away. Make sure that you do not drink alcohol instead of water, as alcohol can also bring on altitude sickness. Remember, water is your friend.

OXYGEN RENTALS

The more oxygen you breathe, the better you feel, right? Then prep ahead of time and get a premium oxygen concentrator delivered directly to your vacation home before or during your stay. To help avoid altitude sickness, start using the oxygen as soon as you arrive and throughout your stay as needed. Bluebird Oxygen will help you through the booking process, delivery, set up, and pickup. Plus, save 10% on your oxygen rental when booking with us (discount code delivered after booking).

EAT RIGHT

It is important to eat to avoid altitude sickness and that means consuming complex carbs. Complex carbs actually require less oxygen to metabolize and help you burn off a better ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide, allowing you to use oxygen more efficiently. Plus carbohydrates will help maintain your energy level and the protein will help rebuild muscle. You'll appreciate that plate of pasta a little bit more the next day on the mountain.

DRY CLIMATE = DRY SKIN

When you come to Colorado, you'll notice that your skin may seem drier than at home. The high altitude sun and low humidity are to blame. Be sure to bring lotion and lip balm for a more comfortable and itch free vacation.

BLOCK THE SUN

Along with the high altitude comes intense sun beams and those damaging UV rays. Be sure to use 30+ SPF sunscreen lavishly and reapply often.

BREAK OUT THOSE SHADES

Shades or sunglasses are not just for looking cool in the mountains. Sunglasses actually offer very important protection for your eyes from the damaging UV radiation. The UV radiation in the mountains is 36% higher than found at sea level. Wear your shades to protect your eyes from the glaring sun as it reflects off the snow. And don't forget, goggles can offer the same type of protection even though you think they might not look as cool.

DRESS SMART

Bring layers of clothing as the temperatures will vary greatly from morning to evening and from day to day in Winter Park. It's not unusual to have a cool morning of 35 degrees and later in the day have it warm up to 80 degrees. A lightweight coat, sweater, and t-shirts are all a must. Long pants and shorts will serve you well to have some of each. We all enjoy that tremendous view from a high summits and skiing down from them, but there are risks in going to high altitude, and it's important to understand these risks.