altitude acclimatization advice

[rdp32]

Hello, my brother will be flying in from sea level to go backpacking with me over Labor Day weekend. He has visited CO several times before and we have always stayed a night in Denver first before sleeping at ~10k ft. or so the first day of the trip. He has never had altitude sickness issues. My question is, do you think the night in Denver is necessary, or would we likely be fine jumping right into our backpacking trip? I'd love to squeeze one more day into the trip if possible! Thanks in advance for any feedback

[719BR]

Hello, my brother will be flying in from sea level to go backpacking with me over Labor Day weekend. He has visited CO several times before and we have always stayed a night in Denver first before sleeping at ~10k ft. or so the first day of the trip. He has never had altitude sickness issues. My question is, do you think the night in Denver is necessary, or would we likely be fine jumping right into our backpacking trip? I'd love to squeeze one more day into the trip if possible! Thanks in advance for any feedback

If you have a practice that works, stick with it. Lots of folks can handle going from sea level to 10k. Lots can't. You'd rather not find out your brother can't when he winds up yakking on day one. I just had that experience with someone on a trip. She drove up from sea level the morning of a backpack, and within hours she yakked. And so we took her down. Because really, if he gets sick, that's the option, to go down.

[rob runkle]

Try it, then you will find out how well he handles it. But, I've gone straight to 10k from flatland over 20 times, and brought maybe a dozen people from flatland and done the same thing. And, none have had notable issues. You won't know until you try.

[rdp32]

OK, thanks. Sounds like there's no straightforward answer on this one. I think I'll throw together two alternative itineraries (one spending a night in Denver first and one sleeping at ~10k the first day) and let him pick which he wants.

[TallGrass]

He has never had altitude sickness issues. My question is, do you think the night in Denver is necessary, or would we likely be fine jumping right into our backpacking trip? I'd love to squeeze one more day into the trip if possible!

Go for it. There are folks like brichardsson who'll say don't because they had a bad experience once (or know someone who did), but think about that logic. That's like saying "I [or someone I know] had an allergic reaction once to peanut butter, therefore you should not eat it." Every-body's body is different. Just make sure you hydrate, eat, manage body temp with appropriate clothing, and note the AMS symptoms on the Lake Louise worksheet. You may have to keep dropping a gear until you find your steady pace that you can maintain (like driving a carbureted car over a mountain pass), but so long as you stay below 3 points, go baby go.

[Scott P]

Keep in mind that the airplane is already pressurized to an altitude of 8000 feet or so, so you will likely have no problems at 10K if you survived the plane ride.

If you are coming from sea level, sleeping at 10K can sometimes be hard for the first night.

If you are going much higher more acclimatization can help.

PS,

Where are you going?

[Sean Nunn]

There was a great post on here a few months ago about an army study that showed it was a great idea to acclimate one day at 4500ish feet before going up to higher altitude.
The same study showed rates of 20% or so of AMS (acute mountain sickness) for people who go straight from sea level ish to 8000 feet or more.

However, it is probably worth trying it once to see if you are one of the 20% or not. If you aren't then you are losing a lot of great days of hiking over the course of many years.

Regardless, the science does point to the wisdom of taking it easy the first day at altitude. So you wouldn't want to try your toughest mountain on day 1 either way IMO.

[719BR]

There are folks like brichardsson who'll say don't because they had a bad experience once (or know someone who did)

Strawman FTW.

That's not what I said at all. What I said was, if you're worried about it, and you have a system that is proven to work, stick with the system.

[gjohnston89]

Drink a bunch of beer or whiskey the night before your hike, get about 2 to 3 hours of sleep and then hit the trail. Just kidding, acclimization is a tough cookie, everyone responds different and there isnt a one perfect solution. Best bets, drink plenty of water, sleep at least 6 to 8 hours, eat good healthy carbs, and slowly move upwards making sure to be self aware of your body and what it is telling you.

[rdp32]

Thanks all. I appreciate both perspectives and will plan alternative routes and let my flat-lander brother decide which he feels more comfortable with.

Scott P, you asked where we're going--- that depends highly on what we decide with regards to acclimatization! I think I've successfully narrowed it down to about four options though (one in RMNP, one in IPW, one in the Elks, one in Wind River range... but then again, the Weminuche is calling, and I've never been to the Holy Cross Wilderness, and...)

[spiderman]

+1 for the Wind River range. It isn't any further than the Weminuche and far better than RMNP, IPW, or the Elks.

[TallGrass]

There are folks like brichardsson who'll say don't because they had a bad experience once (or know someone who did)

That's not what I said at all. ...

This help?

If you have a practice that works, stick with it. Lots of folks can handle going from sea level to 10k. Lots can't. You'd rather not find out your brother can't when he winds up yakking on day one. I just had that experience with someone on a trip. She drove up from sea level the morning of a backpack, and within hours she yakked. And so we took her down. Because really, if he gets sick, that's the option, to go down.