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OP
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This is something that at times really hammers me. Do any of you have any ways that deal with this that helps. Thanks Jim
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,974 Likes: 11
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,974 Likes: 11 |
I live at 4, 500 ft. When I venture to Wy for elk (floor is 7,000 and timberline is about 9,000), I get there three days before the season and do the light chores of getting camp in, a little scouting, and some fishing. For the first couple days one has the sensation that he can quite pull in a full breath. By the end of the 3rd day, that sensation has gone away, and life is good.
1Minute
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,525 Likes: 24 |
Rolaids or other calcium carbonate antacids will help. Nothing really fixes it other than acclimation. I live at 4000'. We usually hunt at 6 to 9k. I try to get in good shape during the summer and I haven't had any real problems. I can get tired but not nauseous unless I really overdo it. I have a 5 mile route that I hike at least twice a week during the summer that has a 1000' gain in 1.5 miles. While it only gets up to about 5650', it does help a lot come elk season. I work up to carrying 20 to 30lb in my day pack, too.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Mar 2008
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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The above is good advice. Also, staying hydrated is big help. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption and not too much coffee. Drink plenty of water during the day, your pee should be no darker than pale yellow. A couple ibuprofin before bed and when you get up in the morning should help with the headache (and achy knees).
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Joined: Dec 2017
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
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Thanks guys. I seem to be more prone that some of the guys I've hunted with. We live at about 700 feet above sea level. I was riding 80 miles a week on my bike when getting ready to go and around here could walk all day but that thin air sure hurts! I had not heard that about the antacids. I never drink so that isn't a factor but I do like my coffee!
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,574 Likes: 7
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2010
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Atomic-strength Excedrin can help. I've seen it first-hand.
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Joined: May 2003
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2003
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The above is good advice. Also, staying hydrated is big help. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption and not too much coffee. Drink plenty of water during the day, your pee should be no darker than pale yellow. A couple ibuprofin before bed and when you get up in the morning should help with the headache (and achy knees). Excellent advice. Keep hydrated! Arrive at that altitude two or three days early if you can. Good hunting and stay healthy. L.W.
"Always go straight forward, and if you meet the devil, cut him in two and go between the pieces." (William Sturgis, clipper ship captain, 1830s.)
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,525 Likes: 24 |
Unfortunately, nothing really works for altitude sickness other than being there for a while. There's no magic cure or prevention.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Dec 2016
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
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Unfortunately, nothing really works for altitude sickness other than being there for a while. There's no magic cure or prevention. That's my experience. Way too rough for my lungs Takes more than a couple of days for me
Last edited by Ranger99; 03/13/21.
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Joined: Mar 2008
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Campfire Regular
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Unfortunately, nothing really works for altitude sickness other than being there for a while. There's no magic cure or prevention. You are correct, of course. The other stuff helps mitigate the symptoms though, hopefully enough to make hunting up high tolerable.
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Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 173
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2020
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Shortness of breath or running out of air is pretty normal, and you will never catch your breath like at home. Headaches, nervous jitters, not sleeping, nausea, chest pains are more what I have witnessed with altitude sickness. Cramps is more from lack of hydration. Hydration, Rolaids, arrive a few days early, nothing strenuous for the first few days, all helps. Some have to sleep 2,000 to 3,000 lower than where they hunt. Some medical conditions are aggravated by altitude. Buddy can't go fishing in the mountains anymore, because of high BP and more, doctor's orders. Another bud has to run his CPAP. Takes him about a week to get any kind of acclimation. There are small aerosol canisters of oxygen available.
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 120 |
It can be rough I hunted for years around timberline in and around the Maroon Belles in Colorado Everyone is "In Shape" until you hit that 10,000 foot level where the air and the trees thin out
We used to camp at 7300' and then pitch a spike camp up higher around 9000'
Water lots of water helps, but once you get into the highs it can hit you hard
Slaying Orcs
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
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Sounds like I'd better just get out there a few days earlier. That's easy for me but not so much for my hunting buddies as they have different work requirements than I do. I have thought of going alone several days ahead of them and setting the tent up then relax for 3-4 days.
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Joined: Aug 2017
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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How high?
From most of the studies, it seems like both daytime activities and sleeping over 9000 feet have the greatest chance to cause it.
I've used diamox in the past as a preventative. I don't know if it helped, but I didn't have any sickness. I was sleeping at 10500 and hunting around that elevation too.
Start it 2-3 days before you get up to elevation.
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Joined: May 2020
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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All sage advice. One must get used to the altitude and keeping hydrated, lay off the booze, is an understatement. One does not realize how poorly hydrated they are until they get to altitude. I drink till I pee clear, always!
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Joined: Oct 2004
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,677 Likes: 21 |
It may be worth trying Diamox. A lot of people report that it works very well. Two things I am not good at, I have to remind myself to do at elevation. Hydrate and pace myself. So far, that has worked well for me. Now the altitoots, that's a different story. I'll blow the damn blanket off of me in the middle of the night.
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Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 479 Likes: 1
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 479 Likes: 1 |
+1 on Diamox
When I lived at sea level & had this issue, it worked like a light switch. Turned the symptoms right off. Best to start the day before you reach altitude & continue about 3 days.
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Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 479 Likes: 1
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 479 Likes: 1 |
People’s chemistry for altitude sickness are very different. If you are in the worst percentage it can be deadly & should be taken very seriously. Everyone has trouble with stamina & oxygen until they acclimate but if you’re getting severe headaches & nausea you could be getting brain swelling & lung issues. Sensitivity gets worse with age. Everyone gets cerebral &/or pulmonary edema at 14,000, most at 12,000, some at 10,000 but a small percentage get it as low as 5,000
Worst case scenario is coma & death. Not trying to be dramatic, but it is no joke.
As above posts advise, hydration, slower ascent (eg. breaking the commute into more days, not driving from 0 to 7k or more in one day), don’t work hard right away when you arrive, no alcohol the first few days all helps.
If you are in the hardest hit percentage a prescription for 125 milligrams of Diamox is a Huge help.
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Joined: Jan 2021
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
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Just to clarify, the above applies to the sudden change in altitude. There is no problem once you have time to acclimate. I now live at 7k & have no problems. But could get violently ill when I lived at sea level & traveled to 6k.
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
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I had one hunt that it made me sick enough I had to leave camp for lower altitude. That camp was at 10,600 ft. and we packed in fairly quick with horses. That night I had all the symptoms most get plus being hot then cold and disoriented. The next morning I hiked the 7 miles down to the truck, went to Eagle and got a room. It ruined that hunt. The guys I went with didn't have a clue just how sick I was. They kept hunting. I didn't get to.
My last trip there I had the typical headache and lose of appetite and we camped at 10,200 feet. I managed pretty good. I don't drink any so that's never an issue. My next trip we plan to have our camp at 7200 feet then hunt higher. I've made the same trip before and got along pretty good. I'll look into the Diamox too. I've never heard of it before.
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