Skiing and Altitude Sickness

[MarzNC]

I've always been told that it's more about personal DNA than all of the other characteristics listed.

Makes sense to me. What is frustrating is when the sensitivity changes for no apparent reason for the same individual.

 

[raisingarizona]

There was a chapter on it in the patrol textbook. It said it doesn’t correlate with fitness.

That's been my overall impression with it. I worked with a guy that was a super fit rock climber. He was much more athletic than I am but he couldn't go over 10k without his vision and seemingly overall health rapidly falling apart.

 

[MarzNC]

I have heard that some have to be driven down to Denver immediately to survive.

Yep, have heard stories like that.

One reason I didn't have much interest in skiing in Colorado was the high altitude until I could take longer trips. I gather that sleeping over 9000 ft is a threshold that can make a difference. In comparison, the Town of Alta is about 8000 ft. When I started skiing in Utah more, I would usually stay in SLC at around 4500 ft for one night before heading to Alta Lodge. Still prefer to stay in town for a couple nights when going to Taos Ski Valley where the base village is around 9000 ft.

One of my primary ski buddies is a family physician. He had an experience as part of an organized group trip that involved hiking at high altitude with an official role as a physician. There was a woman who didn't do well. He and a guide had to walk her down ASAP when her symptoms went beyond a certain point. Scary.

 

[JTG]

I've always been told that it's more about personal DNA than all of the other characteristics listed.

DNA must play a part, maybe also whether high aerobic activity is a part of one’s every week life???

I read this thread and generally scratch my head. I’m a East Coast flat lander, like most of us here, two/three left coast trips a year, not all high altitude…..and hiking 30+ minutes to the East Wall at 13k less than 12 hours after getting off a flight from JFK, luckily for me, ain’t no thang. No pre-trip routines or medicating. I’m no genetic freak, that’s for sure.

So, you never know. If you haven’t put yourself there don’t let the web/literature dissuade you. Try it and if you don’t feel well don’t try again, but as they say……you wanna know you gotta go. Not like HAPE/HACE is happening at 13k, right? Any view from 13,000 feet is probably worth the headache you might get!

 

[Woodski12]

I would estimate that if a group of 8 skiers goes from the east coast to Breckenridge, approx 1 will get some kind of altitude sickness beyond just mild symptoms. There is an oxygen bar there that has saved many vacations for many people.

 

[Country Gun]

I would estimate that if a group of 8 skiers goes from the east coast to Breckenridge, approx 1 will get some kind of altitude sickness beyond just mild symptoms. There is an oxygen bar there that has saved many vacations for many people.

My nephew ,while in College rented a house in Fairplay CO. Cheap rent, Owner’s family moved back to Denver, children were alway ill, because of the Altitude almost 10’000. I stayed there all week .
When we arrived ,we got right off the plane and headed to the Loveland Pass for a couple laps. That first day I was in a foggy haze. Rest of the week at Breck and Vail and Monark,felt fine.
My brother in law was sucking down Oxy in a can all week long. The last day at Breck I got an Instagram alert about the Oxygen bar. Too late as we had no time left. Plane in Denver was waiting.

 

[jasonwx]

It's more then just 02 when it comes to AMS...There is a pressure component too.. That's why High Alt guiding groups usually have a Gamo bag...I have been to altitude a fair amount.. Past experience doesn't mean the future will be the same...I have only had one bad night , Snowbird after skiing hard , too hard.. The next day was fine...

 

[MarzNC]

It's more then just 02 when it comes to AMS...There is a pressure component too.. That's why High Alt guiding groups usually have a Gamo bag...I have been to altitude a fair amount.. Past experience doesn't mean the future will be the same...I have only had one bad night , Snowbird after skiing hard , too hard.. The next day was fine...

Had to look that up . . . Gamow Bag invented by Prof. Igor Gamow, who was a professor in Colorado.

http://www.peakfreaks.com/gamowbag.htm

1990 in Journal of Wilderness Medicine
Successful use of the Gamow Hyperbaric Bag in the treatment of altitude illness at Mount Everest

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0953985990713319

 

[Ripitz]

I’ve climbed to 15,777 and spent a night at just over 14,000, but nothing ever crushed me like Breckenridge. I was bedridden for a couple days when I first got there.

 

[Andy_ROC]

My

I’ve climbed to 15,777 and spent a night at just over 14,000, but nothing ever crushed me like Breckenridge. I was bedridden for a couple days when I first got there.

What was different? Were you boozing in Breck? Dehydrated? Much older?