Crazy story @Crudmaster ... glad you're still here. Do you still know the joke about heaven, hell, Italian lovers and English cooks?
Wow, that was a gnarly story @Crudmaster, have you had any other altitude problems since then? Also do you still stroll around naked in shared hotel rooms? You could be great entertainment at the next Gathering.
Now it's been over twenty years since I've been in the Rockies. In regards to time to acclimate to altitude, would it be dumb to plan a short trip to Colorado - where I would fly to Denver on a Thursday or Friday - ski the next day, maybe two, then fly back home? I'm talking strictly on piste stuff.
Nah, that's fine. Just remember a few things:I went to Lake City, Colorado (8,661 feet) a few times growing up (only in the summer) where my grandparents had a cabin. I never got sick and the only negative effect from altitude that I can remember was getting out of breath a lot faster compared to my flatland home (at that time) in Texas.
Now it's been over twenty years since I've been in the Rockies. In regards to time to acclimate to altitude, would it be dumb to plan a short trip to Colorado - where I would fly to Denver on a Thursday or Friday - ski the next day, maybe two, then fly back home? I'm talking strictly on piste stuff.
You are absolutely right that altitude and dry climate exacerbate dehydration. But tjat dehydration is not the same as altitude sickness. Alcohol also exacerbates dehydration, hence the no alcohol advice.Firstly let me clarify the following is what Ive come to learn so Im only repeating what Ive collectively gathered from reading a lot about the topic and how I am to understand it..
Hydration helps fix dehydration and is often confused with altitude issues but is not the same. Its not uncommon to hear how everything was fine the first day but then the second day I/we felt sick.
Its a dry climate and not only does perspiration allow moisture to leave the body via evaporation but every breath exhales moisture all day and while we sleep. If there is no humidifier in the bedroom/hotelroom/etc...and you also don't drink a lot (lots) of water many often feel badly the second day but that's really only after spending a day and then a night becoming too dehydrated. Symptoms can be similar to altitude symptoms and if one has both its even worse but not the same.
I normally go to the bathroom to urinate a lot of times per day as I tend to normally drink a lot of water. When I was in CO (sleeping at 8k and skiing up to 12K) I was drinking much more than my usual normal large consumption of water and yet didn't have to urinate but only about half as much if that. The first thing I did was make sure we had working humidifiers in both rooms running 24/7 and bought gallons of water (in addition to using tap water) . Pushed my family hard to drink water the day before we even lleft the east coast and all the way throughout the trip. I did a lot of investigating and eliminating the possible dehydration issues is the one thing that can be done so that it doesn't become its own issue nor be confused or added to any altitude problems.
Other than that we all had a small O2 spray can but honestly I was the only one truly out of breath at times. So I tended to use most all of them up..lol. Thankfully none of us suffered anything other than a little shortness of breath (me being the worst). But no one (including myself) with headaches or anything at all to ruin a great time and vacation. One can drink alot of water , stay hydrated and still have altitude sicknesses. But its two different things and dehydration is often enough something that many people suffer from thinking its altitude sickness. Either way they both would outright suck to have of course. But making great efforts to eliminate dehydration is what we can actually help to control and eliminate that from the scenario. The other there isn't too much we can do about.
Funny I said almost the same thing 4 years ago LOLHey you know me, I stand on a chair and I have trouble breathing. Anything above 5000 and I start to feel it ,just a bit but I know. When we go higher it is hard to inflate the lungs ,the air just cant fill them and it actually hurts. After a few days I seem to be OK but those first few are nasty.
I get head aches sometimes and im gunna say dizzy but its not like spinning when your a kid its more an inability to focus visually and mentally.
Anyway glad most don't feel it this bad
Here is a random thing to try. May not work for everybody, but helps me. If you increase the electrolytes in the blood stream, it pulls interstitial fluids into the bloodstream (osmotic pressure). This serves to keep you more hydrated and the electrolytes may also support mitochondrial function. Lots of ways to do this. Magnesium glycinate, electrolyte drinks, even just consuming extra salt several times throughout the day.Hey you know me, I stand on a chair and I have trouble breathing. Anything above 5000 and I start to feel it ,just a bit but I know. When we go higher it is hard to inflate the lungs ,the air just cant fill them and it actually hurts. After a few days I seem to be OK but those first few are nasty.
I get head aches sometimes and im gunna say dizzy but its not like spinning when your a kid its more an inability to focus visually and mentally.
Anyway glad most don't feel it this bad
Also, consider Ibuprofen for altitude sickness (along with its side effects):
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23098412
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5478153/
I spend a lot of nights at 9600 feet and still occasionally get a minor headache from the altitude. Between a headache and the aches and pains of getting old, a little ibuprofen helps me sleep better. I try to take as little as possible because of the potential GI and cardiac issues with NSAIDS:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog...ase-heart-attack-and-stroke-risk-201507138138