Skiing and Altitude Sickness

[jasonwx]

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.

just proves..past performance does not guarantee future results...

 

[Sbob]

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.

My son and daughter in-law lived in Wichita ( - + 1,400’ ) They took a vacation in Breck . After two days they had to leave , she spent a few days in the hospital.

The next year we met them in Denver and did high day trips and she had no issues.

 

[raisingarizona]

My son and daughter in-law lived in Wichita ( - + 1,400’ ) They took a vacation in Breck . After two days they had to leave , she spent a few days in the hospital.

The next year we met them in Denver and did high day trips and she had no issues.

So maybe the duration of stay could be the main factor for her? Or there could be other factors that differ between the two vacations. This is actually pretty interesting.

 

[Brownski]

It is definitely a progressive thing. “Sleep low - climb/ski high” is a pretty well established tactic I think. Not based on personal experience- just lots of reading.

 

[Ripitz]

It is definitely a progressive thing. “Sleep low - climb/ski high” is a pretty well established tactic I think.

No doubt. The town of Chamonix is at 3,402 and the highest lift served skiing is at 12,605. Unless you stay at one of the high mountain huts like Cosmiques or bivouac you are always coming back down. When I went to 15,777, from the valley, I spent four nights at progressive elevations.

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

I was living clean in Breckenridge, no booze. I lived there for a month and skinned up the mountain every day. I don’t think it was the first night, maybe it was the second and third when I got sick. Absolutely crushed, couldn’t do anything. Also, slept like shit the whole time I was there.

While I was there, my ski buddies from NY went to Telluride so I drove from Breck to meet them. We got seriously hammered, I remember it very well because it was the Super Bowl when the guy caught the ball on his head for the win. Apparently there’s lots of beanheads that go there because the bar we were in had a huge green wall. People were not happy, but we were. Almost had to fight our way out of there. Went to Silverton after that all hung over and hiked at altitude with no problems but my buddies who had just flown in were hurtin’ for certain.

Feeling the effects of altitude and getting altitude sickness are two very different things.

 

[tirolski]

We got seriously hammered, I remember it very well because it was the Super Bowl when the guy caught the ball on his head for the win.

Yup, Ole Miss QB to the Cuse end for the NY football Giants.

 

[MarzNC]

My son and daughter in-law lived in Wichita ( - + 1,400’ ) They took a vacation in Breck . After two days they had to leave , she spent a few days in the hospital.

The next year we met them in Denver and did high day trips and she had no issues.

It is definitely a progressive thing. “Sleep low - climb/ski high” is a pretty well established tactic I think. Not based on personal experience- just lots of reading.

Sleeping in Denver at about 5000 ft makes a big difference compared to sleeping at Breck at around 9000 ft. One season I spent a week in Denver with my husband who had a professional conference. My primary ski buddy, Bill, picked me up in Denver. We headed to ABasin for a few hours of skiing before we headed to Aspen. I was out of breath at ABasin, base elevation almost 11,000 ft. We stayed in Carbondale for a few days, which is around 6100 ft. I was fine at Snowmass, Ajax, and Highlands. Went to Alta after that. Needless to say, I was fine there.

I've read that somewhere between 8000 and 9000 is a significant difference for people who don't adjust well to high altitude. When I fly to SLC and go directly to Alta Lodge, I can deal with the adjustment period of 2-3 days. I avoid going straight to Taos Ski Valley to stay slopeside because that's around 9000 ft. A few nights in town at 7500 ft helps. I'd just as soon not take Diamox.

CDC tips for high altitude use 9000 ft for taking more precautions. The tips are for people traveling to places like the Himalayas. I've seen different definitions of "high altitude" but generally 8000-9500 ft is pretty high if that's where lodging is located.

 

[raisingarizona]

That lines up with my experience MarzNC. I don’t notice much until I’m living above 8k.

 

[Andy_ROC]

This year we're going directly to Taos from home. 560ft to 9000ft. We've jumped that much alt only once before when we went to Breck, and had no issues. Last year we stopped in Santa Fe for 2 days prior to Taos. My wife and I have had no previous alt issues anytime we travel to elevation so hoping that continues.

We always start prep 1 wk before we leave by taking 180-200mg of Ginkgo Biloba daily then start extra hydration 2 days before leaving and then keep hydrating for the duration. I shared this strategy with my neighbors and they followed our prep. They went straight to Breck and skied hard for 4 straight days without issue.

My daughter is joining us this year at TSV. She has an issue trying to swallow pills. Last time she went to ski with us in Utah she didn't take the Gingko and was tired and had headaches for days. I might have to get one of those pill shooters that you use for cats

No doubt. The town of Chamonix is at 3,402 and the highest lift served skiing is at 12,605. Unless you stay at one of the high mountain huts like Cosmiques or bivouac you are always coming back down. When I went to 15,777, from the valley, I spent four nights at progressive elevations.


I was living clean in Breckenridge, no booze. I lived there for a month and skinned up the mountain every day. I don’t think it was the first night, maybe it was the second and third when I got sick. Absolutely crushed, couldn’t do anything. Also, slept like shit the whole time I was there.

While I was there, my ski buddies from NY went to Telluride so I drove from Breck to meet them. We got seriously hammered, I remember it very well because it was the Super Bowl when the guy caught the ball on his head for the win. Apparently there’s lots of beanheads that go there because the bar we were in had a huge green wall. People were not happy, but we were. Almost had to fight our way out of there. Went to Silverton after that all hung over and hiked at altitude with no problems but my buddies who had just flown in were hurtin’ for certain.

Feeling the effects of altitude and getting altitude sickness are two very different things.

Maybe you had some kind of virus or something that weakened your body?

I remember that Super Bowl vividly. It's really the only detail of any Super Bowl I remember given the catch and ruining the Patriots perfect season.

 

[Milo Maltbie]

I remember that Super Bowl vividly. It's really the only detail of any Super Bowl I remember given the catch and ruining the Patriots perfect season.

Perfect season? WTF? Wasn't that the year they cheated to beat the Jets? That must have been the most embarrassing and unnecessary cheating scandal ever. Thankfully, the Giants, Eli Manning and David Fucking Tyree restored the moral order of the universe.

mm