Altitude sickness and a new CO Elk hunter......?

[PAPA BEAR]

i'd also add that the nausea comes from lack of oxygen getting into the lungs.take advil if ya have a headache also but caraway seeds should help imensely.i use'em religiously and would never tell someone bad info when its something so critical........larry

[Pat B]

I hunted Colorado for the first(and only) time 3 years ago. We hunted between 9000' and 10000'. I trained for 6 months with a 60# backpack and hiked as much with my pack as I could. The alt at my home is 2600' but I did get in a few hikes up to 6200'. I never felt any alt sickness while in Colorado.
   Drink plenty of water while you are hunting.

[Wolfkiss]

As Don stokes mentioned, you don't see the sweat as the dry air whips it away,   one thing you will probably notice is the inside of your nostrils will be bone dry!! small tin of vaseline to keep em greased helps.

[Lone archer]

Try to get to Colorodo a few days before you go on the hunt. Diamox is started 3-4 days before you go up in altitude. Drink plenty of water. Chapstick for dry lips and saline solution for your nose. Good Luck!

[Shaun]

Here's the routine I used last year before hunting with Doc Sherpa; High stress low physical activity job many hours a day for the last few weeks and smoke lots of unfiltered cigs. When you reach base camp at 10,000ft realize that there is no coffee in camp and cold turkey from your caffeine habit. Then, try to keep up with Doc who has been there a week already and is tough as nails to begin with. You should have no problems. Good Hunting!

PS there is lots of fine cold clear stream water that has been run through a filter. You'll need it.

[Steve O]

 

Shaun, you must have had some TREMENDOUS headaches!  Cold turkey is tough...

[Missouri Sherpa]

Shaun,

I must apologize for my callous disregard of your need for coffee.  I was raised to believe that it makes you weak, and I have never, ever had coffee in my camp.  Fine spirits; yes, nectar of the God's (Diet Mt. Dew); yes,  even a barley pop once upon a time, but never coffee.  I had no idea people drink coffee in elk camp.

Apparently it was not critical to your existence since you did not die and have to be packed off the mountain in parts.  I enjoyed having you in camp, and you must have been in good spirits cause I didn't realize you were in withdrawal.

I have been preparing for altitude by working 10 head of horses, getting them in shape for a trip up the mountain.

[Shaun]

John, great hunt and you were a gracious host and outfitter, as good as it gets in the Rockies. Thanks again for a grand adventure. I cherish the time, after climbing for a couple hours on the way to retrieve the elk, that I was hands on knees gasping for breath and you asked. "When was your last stress test?" I said, "About two minutes ago."

[fatman]

Shaun, that's funny right there  

[Al Kidner]

Thanks for all the info and well wishes people... many thanks!

As I said I do think myself fit enough and will be far fitter come the start of September. I'll just take things easy enough -that is going to be the hard part- as we've 12 days in the mountains so that enough time to find a good bull I'd think.

I also always hunt with water, mainly a camelbak... a natural thing to do when hunting back home in aussie.

Cheers,


ak.

[Ben Maher]

al...regardless of ya chances of alt sickness,, i am so jealous !!!!
looking foward to stories.

cheers

ben

[Smallwood]

Staying hydrated always helps.
But for times when you do start getting the altitude sickness , I use rolaids.
 Eat two or three and if symptoms continue, eat two to three more. Headache and nausea usually goes away shortly thereafter.
We usually hunt around 12 thousand feet and occasionally get it.
hope this helps.
sammy

[Tom Anderson]

Ahead of time, go to the Dr. and get you a prescription for "Scopace" by Hope Pharmaceuticals.  If you do end up with some altitude sickness, it'll help you out immensely

[Winterhawk1960]

Tom,

I wasn't aware that scopalamine was used for altitude sickness. I have however, very successfully used it on numerous occasions to prevent motion sickness. It comes in a patch and pills, I like the pills.......the dosage to be effective will vary from person to person and the pills are a much better way to adjust for this. It has been a godsend for my Dad for going on deep sea fishing trips. I don't always suffer from sea-sickness.......but I take a pill about an hour before leaving the dock and the only side-effect that I notice is a terribly dry mouth.

Winterhawk1960

[woodworker]

Al,
     as mentioned over and over prevention is key. take it slow and drink plenty of fluids, bring some powdered gator aid to mix with water at camp.  If you do get a little ahead of your self go the antacid route, get some fluid in and use some dramamine to keep your stomach from dumping the fluids and a little caffeine will go a long way and don't forget sleep!  I pushed it a couple of times and relied on this to keep me in the game, good luck and all the best, Joe