My husband and I live at sea level on the East Coast, and are planning our first ski trip out west.

From what I have read about altitude sickness, it appears not to discriminate, striking the healthy and fit along with others less so.

Is there anything we can do to lessen our chances of getting this? I have read various things such as no alcohol (all week??), no skiing first day, aclimate slowly to the altitude (which we won't be able to do, as we fly right into Denver from Boston), taking an aspirin a day, etc.

We will be staying at Beaver Creek. I am wondering if we would be better off skiing Arrowhead, which is smaller our 2nd day there, and not skiing Beaver Creek until the following day.

My husband has asthma (well-controlled), so I am doubly concerned, and told him he must check with his doctor before we go and get "clearance".

Any hints anyone has would be appreciated. We don't want to be sick our one vacation of the year!

Here's hoping your husband will consult with his physician! Here's a rather thorough article: http://www.tripprep.com/travinfo/tra...sick_trav.html and there are others if you do a web search. There are also websites where you can find the altitudes of your destinations. Having traveled through Switzerland, I would recommend that you prepare to be vigilant for the various symptoms, which do not necessarily subside on their own with time, but could quickly worsen into a real medical emergency. The most healthy and rapid way for the symptoms to diminish is to DESCEND and stay there for a while before attempting to resume your activities at a slightly higher altitude. If my husband had asthma, I wouldn't be going anywhere with him higher than 4,000-5,000 feet.

Definitely check with a doctor. You are right to be concerned - altitude sickness is no fun. A few years ago I flew from the East Coast to Denver, then immediately drove to Copper Mountain and got hit with a classic case - pure misery. It subsided in a couple days for me, but apparently it's not that simple for everyone - my niece had a similar experience (different trip) and was out of action for the entire week, and others on our trip were not affected at all.

The threshold elevation is going to be different for everyone, but I believe 4 to 5K ft is unlikely to be a problem. I have never had any trouble in several trips to Austria and Switzerland, where the skiing is mostly a few thousand feet lower than Colorado.

The best way to avoid problems is to acclimate slowly, which I recognize is not much of an option for a short vacation. There is at least one drug that can help, though that's something for your doctor to advise you on.

Dick, I live as close to sea level as one can get...yds off the water in FL, and Monday will fly to Denver then drive to Copper for a week of skiing, so your note set off alarm bells! What are the symptoms and would you recommend not skiing on Tuesday as we had planned?

Olive - Hoping you won't find out for yourself, but here's what I had for symptoms: I felt fine until I got out of the car at Copper and walked about 100 ft to the condo. Felt dizzy, lightheaded and out of breath. Headache started shortly thereafter and continued for about 24 hrs. Was unable to sleep that night - kept feeling like I couldn't catch my breath, overheated, and disoriented. The splitting headache continued through most of the next day, accompanied by mild nausea and the continuing out-of-breath feeling. Felt somewhat better that evening and was pretty much OK by the next day.

I don't know if this will happen to you - others in our group felt fine but, as I mentioned, my niece got hit the year prior and was unable to function until she was brought down to a lower altitude (Denver). Apparently it's difficult to predict who will be susceptible and conditioning is not a factor - I'm pretty fit and spend a lot of time climbing the [much lower] mountains here in the northeast.

The next time I head out I plan to rearrange my schedule to allow for a day in Denver first, or perhaps a day at one of the lower ski areas (Copper is one of the highest, as you probably already know). I think I'd also have my doctor prescribe the drug, just to have it as a last resort.

Good luck - I gather most people don't have trouble and perhaps you'll be one of them.

I am leaving on Saturday for Breckenridge and this is what has worked for me in the past. Take 120mg of Ginko Biloba 2 times a day for at least 5 day prior and while you are out West. Hope this works!

Hi Debbie, remember that most do not get sick. Things that will help is drinking lots of water both BEFORE you arrive and while your here. Take it easy the first day. I have seen people arrive go straight to the mtn to ski and get sick. Some think that being in good physical condition helps but no real evidence to support that. Lay of the booze a bit that first day. All week? well if you do get sick you will not feel much like drinking anyway. If you are the rare person that does get sick it will typically happen that first day. Arrowhead is now part of Beaver Creek. It is the same elevation.

Asprin helps too. Take some before you need it. There is some medication you can take, Diamox, you may want to talk with a Doc.

If you or your husband gets sick. go straight way to a medical clinic. No reason to tough it out. They will be able to help and salvage your trip.

Forgot to mention a website that might help: http://www.high-altitude-medicine.com/

I have a question...My husband and I will be traveling to Colorado this June, staying in a cabin on Trout Lake, which is in the area of Cortez/Telluride/Ouray. I beleive it is at about 9,000 feet. Should we be worried? Neither of us has asthma, but we smoke. (Tho not heavy). Thanks in advance for any advice.

Thanks Tracey for the excellent website reference. I learned a lot!

Agree that altitude can effect anyone and some not at all. We go to Colo. about twice a year. I can always count on my daughter to have an altitude headache the first day or two. My husband is mildly bothered, usually a slight headache, and I rarely have symptoms. If you can spend the night in Denver, that's probably a good idea. Drink LOTS of water. I don't usually get that short of breath feeling until I'm actually involved in an activity like hiking or skiing, but I'm not in great shape either! My brother and his family flew up to Vail with us last summer from their home on the Florida coast and I don't recall any of them having problems.

Paige, if you haven't already, you might check out the website that Tracey posted: http://www.high-altitude-medicine.com/
Very informative. Also click on the link to Hot Topics where they discuss Ginko...

Yes lots of H2O! One thing I do live in Denver and the altitude of 9000 still bothers me in that I have trouble sleeping. nothing other than that. I bring melatonin (sp?) and take it each night.

I would not really worry though. If it was such a widespread problem I would have the slopes to myself!

You have gotten good advice here. Rest, water, Asprin, no alchohol that first day and you should be fine.

A few comments:
1) Lots of water and a light first day or two usually help a lot with mild altitude sickness.

2) Lots of people with asthma (including me) go up to higher elevations and do just fine in terms of breathing. A doctor's clearance is always a good idea, but if the doctor okays the trip, I wouldn't worry too much about a well-controlled asthmatic. Sometimes cold, dry air will start off a coughing fit, and in that case, hot liquids do the trick for me.

3) Trout Lake is lovely - one of the most beautiful places I have seen! Smokers may get pretty short of breath at that altitude. It would definitely be worth a day at around 5000 feet before going straight there.

I get altitude sickness (actually it's not the correct term because what I get is much less than what the serious mountain climbers suffer) regularly at 6000 feet and higher. I'm fine in Denver and fine in Yosemite, but not great the first couple days in Lake Tahoe, Colorado ski areas and Utah ski areas. I'm a very healthy, non smoker in fairly good shape and have experienced this for many years. My husband never knows what the altitude is--he's totally unaffected! Lots of water, no alcohol first day, rest and take it easy, pain meds for the headache. I think if your doc approves and you follow all this advice, you'll be OK, but as others have said, the cure is to descend!!

Kam, my husband has the same reaction. Fine in Yosemite and also fine in Mammoth, which is higher, but he's always bad at Lake Tahoe for the first day or two. Sometimes he's actually miserable. The rest of us are fine. He tries to take it easy so it's better if we're not camping-no tent set up and he takes Motrin for the headache. The easier he takes it the better off he is.

I recently moved to Denver from the East Coast and I have asthma. I've done fine. My advice, drink alot of water - take it on the slopes with you - might be worth the investment to buy a CamelBak. If you do drink alcohol, alternate between alcohol and water. And, just listen to your body.

Stop looking for answers on the net and from us. CALL YOUR HUSBAND'S DOCTOR, and get a good, solid medical opinion of your husband's specific condition. My mother ended up in ICU in Denver several years ago from complications arising from altitude sickness, while visiting there. While I hope everyone elses predicitions and advice are more likely than what happened to my mom, better leave this to the doctors and not us laypeople.

I'm so glad I found this thread and surely appreciate the helpful hints. Tracey's website (which I printed off) was invaluable, and Dick thanks for your specifics. From the description given on the website your symptoms sound classic. Altitude was an aspect of this vacation I hadn't even considered, being focused instead on the fact that I hadn't skied in 37 years!! Have no idea if I would be affected, but knowing the symptoms and some easy precautions to take is a huge help.

I have a couple of questions on melatonin. Have heard of using it for sleep disturbances, but how is it used and is it truly helpful with no lingering effects the following day? This is always a problem when we head more than two time zones west--I seem to have a particularly strong and accurate body clock.

Again, thanks everyone for your helpfulness. It's great to see this site can still work positively.

O-Check to see if you can rent a small humidifier for your room, buy a small portable one or run the shower with the door open full steam before you go to bed. I always have trouble sleeping at altitude because of the dryness of the air. Plus, you are use to Fl climate which is more humid.

I always carry chocolate with me. An 80 year old ex-ski patroller swears it helps with the symptoms..