altitude sickness in utah
 

Hello, I am taking my 3 young children skiing to deer valley near park city utah. i choose utah because i thought it was lower altitude than colorodo but just found out that the hotel we are staying at is at 7500 ft. altitude. would you cancel this trip with small children. one of my kids has asthma and i don't want to risk any problems? thanks

Ask your pediatrician to be sure. It can impact anyone. Research signs of altitude sickness so you know what to look for and can take proper steps to correct.

We don't find Utah as challenging as some of the higher elevations in Colorado; for example, in Breckenridge and Winter Park, we sleep (or don't sleep) at 9500 feet.

Although most people don't have trouble at 7500 feet, I agree with the recommendation of speaking to their doctor. We find it helps to spend a quiet day before we get active, drink a lot of water, and avoid caffeine.

I, personally, wouldn't chance it. There are five individuals to consider. Sometimes symptoms don't appear for some hours. Sometimes they subside, sometimes the only remedy is to descend. There's a good chance no one will experience problems, but what will you do if one does?

You don't say how young the children are and I think you have never skied out West before, since this is coming as a surprise.
For children, as beginners (or even not beginners, but to improve their skiing) you will want to put them in ski school for sure. They will be at the base of the mountain, will be put in charge of instructors who will gauge their activities, take them inside for snacks, and warmth, etc.
As someone has said, your pediatrician is the person to ask, and take the necessary treatments for caring for ALL the kids. Let them acclimate, DRINK WATER CONSTANTLY and monitor the kids for that.
I see NO reason to penalize the whole family for a nice vacation when it isn't necessary.
If you do happen to be on the mountain and someone needs to descend, you contact the Ski Patrol for help.
Have a GREAT time. I think skiing with our family has provided the best times we have had.

Of course, your pediatrician should be consulted.

A few problems would also include if you venture to your overnight destination with no prior or without adequate acclimatisation beforehand, which could take several days, and the cold air.

The best reason to go elsewhere is that there are plenty of wonderful ski destinations at lower elevations without the risk.

Altitude sickness an asthma are 2 different issues. I got altitude sickness once, coincidentally at Deer Valley, I flew in to SLC in the morning and skied that afternoon = very risky for altitude sickness. On another occascion, I went to Denver, acclimated for a night and then when up to the top of Breck at 13k' and had no issues. Last year I went back to PC, acclimated a night in PC and then went to the peak the next day with no issues. Even when I got sick I was extra-hydrated so for me, the night of acclimatization is probably the key.

I would check with your doc about the asthma and if it's OK, I would just be cautious to acclimate before heading up a lift.

I heard one rule of thumb is not to go from your base altitude (i.e. sea level if that's where you live) to above 10k' in one day under assisted power. i.e. it's OK to hike up because you are aware of slight changes as you go up and slowly acclimate but taking a chair lift, plane, heli up is a bad idea.

People from sea level communities go to the Colorado/western ski areas in droves. The day of arrival is usually not a ski day. You will immediately "feel" the altitude, just going up steps. Kids are in so much better shape than we are, they don't even notice it. The need to hydrate is the principal thing with everyone, and it will stave off a lot of altitude problems.
I go to Denver --and the mountains--a couple of times a year. Some trips I have gotten sick--others not, and haven't in a long time now.
Yes, there are lower mountains. I've skied them too in the East. They are not the Rockies!!
Rest on the way down the mountain. The OP hasn't mentioned what level skiers we have here. Ski lessons for everyone is not a bad idea, no matter skill level. Our kids took lessons on the black diamond slopes and had a ball.

i am original poster. my kids are 2,4,5. they wll all be in ski school. we are spending one day in salt lake on way in to acclimate but i was more worried about sleeping at 7500k than anything else. am i being paranoid?

an old thread, there are several put altitude in search box to find more

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...h-altitude.cfm

judge,

I think you are overly worried. Some people have minor altitude symptoms, very few have more severe. I don't think you need to stay overnight in SLC. Your child with asthma might have more problems staying in the city, where we have been having a bad inversion layer (smog) for the last 3 weeks. The air up at the resorts is clear and fresh!

I live in Park City and have a wonderful DV ski instructor who rents my downstairs in the winters. He often teaches the little ones and is great with them. Your kids are in for a real treat!

Come and have fun. Take it easy the first day, drink lots of water (LOTS) and eat well. Food is also a factor. Don't let yourselves get super hungry. Take snacks skiing.

Hope this helps.

Go on up--have fun. Those kids will have a ball, and they will be well looked after. It is much more a day care situation at that age. Our daughter did it at Winter Park.

I don't think you're being paranoid at all. For one thing, young children flying often experience ear problems, which can also occur at high altitudes or be exacerbated by altitudes. This is especially true if any of them are prone to ear infections (or has had a few of them) or any of them are flying with a cold.

I think you will be just fine. Kids usually fair better than adults with altitude sickness. I can also tell you there are probably thousands of kids with asthma that live in Colorado and Utah at high elevations.

djk, when you say ear problems, what kind of problems? are you a doctor? Ear problems are usually related to nose problems(drainage). The only thing I know that helps as far as enviroment, is dryer air, not necessarily the altitude.

If the asthma is that bad, then absolutely consult a ped. before going. I think you will be just fine.

I can't imagine any problem as 6500 level, but seeing all the comments above I am stunned. I live at sea level, regularly fly to Breck, fly in at night, and ski first thing in the morning, and never had a prob...go figure!

But a friend of mine who has altitude issues says take an aspirin each day the week before and the first few days and it seems to work for him.

Have fun.

Everyone responds differently to high altitudes, and from one time to the next, and young children often experience significant ear problems flying during takeoff and landing, which may, or may not, subside, quickly or otherwise, or ever...

<<The only thing I know that helps as far as enviroment, is dryer air, not necessarily the altitude.>>

You also have to consider the lack of oxygen.

I'm not familiar with asthma, but I just cannot imagine subjecting a young child, or several young children, to difficulties involved with flying and altitude risks.

When you hear babies and young children screaming for hours on planes...

To my observation, spending a night in Salt Lake City is not really "acclimizing".

Even Grethen admits that she's gotten sick sometimes, and other not.

The OP says she wants to go, but doesn't want to "risk any problems", and both are just not possible...

For me anyway, it's curious to suggest just filling the kids with water or relying on the "ski patrol". Seriously, how realistic is that? What will everyone else do? Who pays for it?

All in all, it is just not recommended anywhere, by anyone, that it's a really good idea to fly with three very young children, then ascend to a considerable altitude for a "vacation" whether or not all they will be participating in "ski school".

Donna, give it a rest! It is VERY late. I begin to think you have never ever travelled with children. "Not recommended to travel, anywhere, by anyone, to fly, etc." Puhleeeeze. What are you thinking!! Do we only get to go to the park down the street!! LOL
Babies DO have trouble on takeoffs and landings because of ear pressure stabilization. That is one reason that mamas nurse or feed them so the sucking will equalize the pressure--since you asked!! We have been able to explain to our children first, and now our grandchildren how to stabilize their ears also--it isn't a permanent situation and it is easy to fix.
The Ski Patrol is there for your health reasons, whatever it may be and are more than ready to help. Pay? What? Everyone else do? Are there lines of people?
ANd when I was skiing, we also did what Dave says--arrive at the mountain in the afternoon (with children!) and go skiing the next day. It is really really OK.
ANd a major reason for getting sick IS hydration.
The very dry air could even be good for the asthmatic!!

Djkbooks, perhaps it might do you some good to go to a ski resort and just see what an awful time everyone is having there with their kids. Kids cry whether on an airplane or not. My daughter had several ear infections when she was small and she flew several times before the age of 3. Crying on an airplane was never an issue.

We are not doctors.

Consult the doctor who manages your child's asthma.

Period.

It isn't the altitude so much as the body. Different people have problems or don't have problems at different altitudes at different times.

Actually dry cold air can trigger asthma, with our without altitude.

Call your pediatrician and ask, really. This is a medical question and you do not want travel board posters to give you that kind of info.