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Welcome to the Colorado Rockies. If you have come to experience these mountains from a lower altitude you may not be aware of the effects of our thinner air. Driving over Vail Pass (10,600 feet above sea level) and through the Eisenhower tunnel (over 11,000 feet above sea level), you might not feel the effects of the altitude for that brief amount of time. Sitting in a car is obviously not the same as the exercise required for skiing, hiking, or mountain biking.
The town of Vail is situated at an elevation of 8,200 feet, and the top of Vail Mountain is 11,250 feet. Even the locals, who are acclimated to Vail, may feel some of the effects of high altitude at the top of Vail Mountain.
Altitude sickness may vary in severity from person to person. It may affect as many as half the visitors from lower elevations in some form. Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath with minimal exercise, nausea, headaches, and possible sleep disturbances. Most of these symptoms should get better in two or three days. Some symptoms could increase the second day but should be slowly resolved as you get acclimated. The body needs to manufacture more red blood cells to compensate for the lower amount of available oxygen in the air.
To make the transition easier, moderate your food, alcohol, and activity levels. Consider spending the first day in Denver. The “Mile High City” has plenty of activities to keep you busy.
By not overdoing it during the first few days, you will become properly acclimated and can enjoy your entire vacation to the fullest.
Rest is the key to treating any mild forms of altitude illnesses. Avoid overexertion, eat lightly and drink plenty of fluids. Try to drink as much as two to three quarts of water a day. A good rule of thumb is; if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. As hard as it may be on vacation, refrain from alcohol for the first few days. If you just can’t resist, start with a glass of water, and then try to alternate with water in between drinks.
Continuing to drink water will help offset the drying effect alcohol has on the body.
In some cases altitude sickness can progress into High Altitude Pulmonary Edema which is similar to pneumonia. It is a build-up of fluid in the lungs caused by the lower air pressure. The single, most effective treatment for a severe case of high altitude pulmonary edema is a rapid descent to a lower altitude. If at any time you feel that you need emergency care, do not hesitate to call 911.
Another effect of the higher altitude is the increased exposure to ultraviolet rays. The thinner atmosphere combined with the reflection from the snow and water will increase the chances of sunburn. Cover your face, lips, and all exposed skin with a sunscreen of at least SPF 30. You can get sunburned in as little as 15 minutes at altitude. Also, don’t forget to protect your eyes with goggles or sunglasses that are rated for protection from UV rays.
The Rocky Mountain air up here is different from the air of lower altitudes also. The air is much dryer. The effects of the dryer air are often overlooked. You normal body fluid loss may easily be twice as great at altitude. The decrease in oxygen, combined with the extra exertion of physical activity causes you to breathe harder, making you become dehydrated faster. You may also notice your skin is dryer and slight nosebleeds are possible. A room humidifier should help alleviate this. There is no substitute for hydration, but a moisturizing lotion on your skin and a little petroleum jelly in your nose can’t hurt either.
The last bit of advice is on hypothermia and frostbite. Weather in the Rocky Mountains can change rapidly and it can catch the unprepared traveler unexpectedly. Overexposure to cold, wetness, or wind can cause a drop in internal body temperature known as hypothermia. Some of the warning signs are shivering, fatigue, and irritability followed by drowsiness, a slowed pulse, and a bluish lip color. Hypothermia IS life threatening. Victims should get to warmth and shelter, remove wet clothes, warm up in blankets, and drink warm, non-alcoholic beverages. Advanced cases should seek medical attention immediately. The best prevention is to dress for warmth, wind, and wetness in layers.
Frostbite, like hypothermia, can occur at any time the body is exposed to freezing temperatures. A complicating factor is the wind chill factor. It lowers the air temperature according to how hard the wind is blowing. Given enough wind, a 35-degree day can become, in reality, a minus 20-degree day producing rapid frostbite. Symptoms can range from numbness of a body part to deep freezing of the internal tissues. The most commonly affected areas are the extremities, including ears, nose, fingers and toes. Again the best cure is prevention.
If numbness begins to occur, stop and warm the affected area. In severe cases, if there is a chance of re-freezing, it is better to let the areas remain frozen and seek immediate medical attention rather than risk thawing and refreezing.
There is an abundance of activities available for all ages in the great Rocky Mountains, but the mountains can be unforgiving.
By being aware of the hazards, a person can avoid the pitfalls of a potential disaster and remember the time spent enjoying their visit to the mountains for a long time to come.
Al Bosworth has been a member of Vail fire and emergency services for more than 25 years. He can be reached at abosworth@vailgov.com. E-mail your guest column to valleyvoices@vaildaily.com.
The town of Vail is situated at an elevation of 8,200 feet, and the top of Vail Mountain is 11,250 feet. Even the locals, who are acclimated to Vail, may feel some of the effects of high altitude at the top of Vail Mountain.
Altitude sickness may vary in severity from person to person. It may affect as many as half the visitors from lower elevations in some form. Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath with minimal exercise, nausea, headaches, and possible sleep disturbances. Most of these symptoms should get better in two or three days. Some symptoms could increase the second day but should be slowly resolved as you get acclimated. The body needs to manufacture more red blood cells to compensate for the lower amount of available oxygen in the air.
To make the transition easier, moderate your food, alcohol, and activity levels. Consider spending the first day in Denver. The “Mile High City” has plenty of activities to keep you busy.
By not overdoing it during the first few days, you will become properly acclimated and can enjoy your entire vacation to the fullest.
Rest is the key to treating any mild forms of altitude illnesses. Avoid overexertion, eat lightly and drink plenty of fluids. Try to drink as much as two to three quarts of water a day. A good rule of thumb is; if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. As hard as it may be on vacation, refrain from alcohol for the first few days. If you just can’t resist, start with a glass of water, and then try to alternate with water in between drinks.
Continuing to drink water will help offset the drying effect alcohol has on the body.
In some cases altitude sickness can progress into High Altitude Pulmonary Edema which is similar to pneumonia. It is a build-up of fluid in the lungs caused by the lower air pressure. The single, most effective treatment for a severe case of high altitude pulmonary edema is a rapid descent to a lower altitude. If at any time you feel that you need emergency care, do not hesitate to call 911.
Another effect of the higher altitude is the increased exposure to ultraviolet rays. The thinner atmosphere combined with the reflection from the snow and water will increase the chances of sunburn. Cover your face, lips, and all exposed skin with a sunscreen of at least SPF 30. You can get sunburned in as little as 15 minutes at altitude. Also, don’t forget to protect your eyes with goggles or sunglasses that are rated for protection from UV rays.
The Rocky Mountain air up here is different from the air of lower altitudes also. The air is much dryer. The effects of the dryer air are often overlooked. You normal body fluid loss may easily be twice as great at altitude. The decrease in oxygen, combined with the extra exertion of physical activity causes you to breathe harder, making you become dehydrated faster. You may also notice your skin is dryer and slight nosebleeds are possible. A room humidifier should help alleviate this. There is no substitute for hydration, but a moisturizing lotion on your skin and a little petroleum jelly in your nose can’t hurt either.
The last bit of advice is on hypothermia and frostbite. Weather in the Rocky Mountains can change rapidly and it can catch the unprepared traveler unexpectedly. Overexposure to cold, wetness, or wind can cause a drop in internal body temperature known as hypothermia. Some of the warning signs are shivering, fatigue, and irritability followed by drowsiness, a slowed pulse, and a bluish lip color. Hypothermia IS life threatening. Victims should get to warmth and shelter, remove wet clothes, warm up in blankets, and drink warm, non-alcoholic beverages. Advanced cases should seek medical attention immediately. The best prevention is to dress for warmth, wind, and wetness in layers.
Frostbite, like hypothermia, can occur at any time the body is exposed to freezing temperatures. A complicating factor is the wind chill factor. It lowers the air temperature according to how hard the wind is blowing. Given enough wind, a 35-degree day can become, in reality, a minus 20-degree day producing rapid frostbite. Symptoms can range from numbness of a body part to deep freezing of the internal tissues. The most commonly affected areas are the extremities, including ears, nose, fingers and toes. Again the best cure is prevention.
If numbness begins to occur, stop and warm the affected area. In severe cases, if there is a chance of re-freezing, it is better to let the areas remain frozen and seek immediate medical attention rather than risk thawing and refreezing.
There is an abundance of activities available for all ages in the great Rocky Mountains, but the mountains can be unforgiving.
By being aware of the hazards, a person can avoid the pitfalls of a potential disaster and remember the time spent enjoying their visit to the mountains for a long time to come.
Al Bosworth has been a member of Vail fire and emergency services for more than 25 years. He can be reached at abosworth@vailgov.com. E-mail your guest column to valleyvoices@vaildaily.com.
