How to avoid altitude sickness in Breckenridge, CO

The ski runs at Breckenridge are serviced by the highest ski lifts in North America. Altitude sickness is a factor at any elevation above 8,000 ft. Breckenridge town and ski resort are all above 8,000ft so you will need to be familiar with altitude sickness and how to avoid it.

Most of the advice available about altitude sickness relates to people who are climbing extreme slopes such as Mount Everest for example. The tips suggests the climber adjusts to the thin air of the higher peaks by not climbing more than 1,000 feet per day when above 8,000 feet and by staying at high altitudes for a few days before trying to go any higher. Obviously this is not something that can be incorporated in your Breckenridge holiday, so here is some advice to help your skiing holiday be a success.

Drink lots and lots of water: Most fitness experts will tell you to drink a minimum of eight glasses or two litres of water per day. However, when skiing at high altitudes you need to double that to as much as four litres per day if possible.

Avoid caffeine and alcohol: Beverages like caffeine and alcohol might be tempting when you come in from the cold, but they can also dehydrate you, which can cause some of the altitude sickness symptoms such as headaches and nausea. During your day drink plenty of water and restrict the amount of coffee and alcohol consumption at least in the first few days of your stay at Breckenridge.

Avoid salty foods: Salty foods are another thing you should eat sparingly during your Breckenridge vacation. They can dehydrate you, much like the caffeine and alcohol mentioned above. You should also increase the number of carbohydrates you consume, and stick to low fat foods. Take healthy snacks with you on your ski run such as granola bars and similar.

One of the biggest problems you will find while skiing on some of the higher slopes at Breckenridge is that because the air is so much thinner, you might find it difficult to breathe. Your body will adapt naturally to the thinner air as your vacation progresses, but it is important that you don't try and ski every slope Breckenridge has to offer on the first day. Many skiers find they are not as fit as they would like to be at the beginning of their ski vacation and this too can contribute to difficulties in breathing. However, even those of you who have maintained comprehensive fitness programs during the off season should still accept that the higher altitudes at Breckenridge do need to be respected, so take the first few days slowly.

Two of the most common altitude sickness symptoms you might be afflicted with during your stay in Breckenridge are insomnia and a loss of appetite. The most effective way of dealing with these problems is to take things easy until the symptoms ease. It is important that you do not miss any meals because you need your body to process the food as energy as you fly down the Breckenridge ski slopes. If you find it difficult to eat larger meals make sure you snack frequently on high carbohydrate, low fat health bars and other health food products designed for hiking, skiing and other outdoor pursuits.

Altitude sickness is not something that should be ignored because in some cases it can become fatal. If for some reason your altitude sickness symptoms do not ease after a few days make sure you seek professional medical assistance, available from Breckenridge ski resort and/or medical facilities in the town itself.