Tips for Visiting High Altitudes
Image taken in Rocky Mountain National Park. Please respect wildlife and keep a safe distance.
I’ve been fortunate that visiting higher altitudes has not affected my daily life much. I can still hike and ski at 12,000 feet with no issues. My husband is the same way. So, when we purchased a second home in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in 2009, we went back and forth from Atlanta (1,050 feet) to the mountains (8,500 feet) without issues.
And then we had our daughter. From the very beginning, it was apparent that adjusting to the altitude would not be as easy for her. Over the years, we have developed a routine (with the help of our pediatrician) for our trips out to Colorado. This is a year-round routine for the kids below:
Day before travel
Limit dairy and heavier foods
Focus on water and hydration to get ahead of headaches
Day of travel
Only water to drink the day of travel.
Focus foods on pretzels and crackers for snacks and limit dairy altogether.
I truly do not go anywhere without these blue bags and especially when traveling to high altitudes!
My children get dehydration headaches the first night at high altitude. I find giving them a chewable ibuprofen on the flight prevents this headache from coming on. Chewables are best to travel with in my opinion.
Limit screen usage. This one is hard. But, especially in a car it is important. It helps keep nausea away.
No strenuous activity on the day of travel.
Day after travel
Keep a blue bag on hands at all times.
Keep a small bag of pretzels for snacks.
Limited dairy consumption.
Take ibuprofen in the morning.
These are the steps we take for sure if we are skiing. The kids are usually in ski school the first day after travel, so we all know the drill now. This 3-day routine keeps us on track to enjoying our full vacation at a higher altitude with minimal sickness.
We have known many adult friends who experienced AMS - acute mountain sickness - and needed to head back down to Denver. Up in the ski resorts, the elevation is around 9,000-11,000 feet. Denver is 5,280 feet. Many people feel better by simply getting back to a slightly lower elevation where there is more oxygen in the air.
If you find yourself traveling to a higher altitude for the first time, consider some or all of these tips to make sure the acclimation is seamless!
*This is not meant to be construed at medical advice.*
