Elevation Concerns

[rames14]

Probably the biggest question about this year's Rocky Mountain Regional Rally concerns the elevation and the effects of altitude. The rally is at a campground about 8,300 feet above sea level. Our house is at 7,400 feet, so we don't think about it so much. But, we used to live in the Midwest and went from low altitude to 7,500 feet in less than 24 hours. If you have a medical condition, check with your doctor. Most anyone, given acclimation time, can adapt to the higher altitude. We have plenty of people in the mountains on respirators, so if you want to attend (barring doctor's orders) there are ways to get acclimated. First, don't see how fast you can get to Grand Lake. Stair step your way up there. Those climbing Mt. Everest spend time at different altitudes that assist in getting the body used to the physical changes. Cut back on exercise for a few days. And, start taking baby aspirin a week or so before heading up to altitude. The western slope and the front range start below 5,000 feet. Spend a few days there to get used to it. And, if you are coming from the west, stop in Grand Junction and pick up some Palisades peaches. If you have time, camp a few nights at 6-7,000 feet and you should be fine. Also, choose your route to Grand Lake to avoid the highest passes. It can be done, but if you can, avoid coming over Trail Ridge from the east. There are better ways to pull your Montana. Use common sense and altitude becomes much less of an issue.

[Fire5er]

Try going from Seattle (we live at 25' above sea level) and fly to Salt Lake, then go to Park City where nice lives at 7200 and Sister-in-law lives at 6300. Drank a lot of water that week. But we checked out the hwys for towing the Big Sky next year when we visit and shouldn't be a problem. We have just as bad if not worse passes in the Cascades...just not as high elevations.

[jpkelpe]

When we go to Winter Park which is 9000+ feet we just do very little the first day or so, drink plenty of water and we have no problems. Oh, we don't run any marathons either, of course we don't do that in Omaha either. Drinking alcohol can give you a real meaning of Rocky Mountain high too

[rames14]

Hydration with water, not alcohol is also important. We learned to drink a lot more H2O.

[pineranch]

We go from 9' to 7600' but do as Ron says. We stair step our way up taking about a week.
Mike

[scattershot]

One of the first signs of "altitude sickness" is a headache. This is caused by an acid imbalance in your system, and can be dealt with using antacids like Tums or something. You can chew the bark of an aspen tree, too, but that's a little more troublesome.

[randye]

You may also find, if you have soda on board and bags of chips and such. Elevation can cause them to swell and if opened to fast, contents can be under pressure. We left just above sea level and got to the North Rim of the Grand canyon, I had forgot to let air out of our sleep number bed. We normally sleep at #30-35 it was at 100. hard as a rock. So you need to watch the pressures. Also DW wants you to know that things cook slower at those elevations. If you have a pressure cooker it would help, beans take foreverrrr! without one. Breads don't raise well, takes extra baking powder and maybe Yeast. We spent Three seasons up at 8,300, five months at a time. Found out several things we never knew about high elevation's. Hope this helps.

[rames14]

Living at 7,500 feet teaches you different things about cooking, traveling, exercising and coping with less air. For instance, as Randye mentioned - bags "inflate". So does ice cream. We always have to get ours double bagged. For baking, more flour is called for - a few tablespoons. Maybe one of our events should be on baking at altitude?

[pineranch]

City Market handles all our baking needs.
Mike

[jpkelpe]

Baking at altitude , That sounds like a good thing. I know it takes forever to cook pasta

[CORattler]

quote:Originally posted by pineranch

City Market handles all our baking needs.
Mike

Ditto.
We shop well.

[teames27]

Bump