![]() Everyone is different, and it can happen to anyone, even if you have spent a lot of time at high altitudes before without a problem. However, altitude sickness can happen even if you give yourself time to acclimatize. This happens when you climb to high elevations too quickly. Altitude sickness can occur when one does not give the body adequate time to acclimate to the environment, the change in air pressure, and the lack of oxygen. Altitude Sickness is Real (and dangerous)Īltitude sickness is real, and dangerous. The lack of trees means little-to-no protection when bad weather occurs – so if a thunder or lightning storm hits, head back down the mountain!ĥ. The terrain becomes much more rugged, so appropriate hiking boots with proper ankle support is a must, cairns mark the routes instead of a nicely formed trail, and Leave No Trace principles become more strict. The altitude of the “treeline” varies by climate, but in every habitat it represents the same thing – the edge of where trees are capable of growing because the conditions become to harsh for plants to tolerate. The scenery changes continually the higher you climb. Once on the trail, you can never control the weather so always prepare for the worst case scenario when heading into the backcountry. In August and September, afternoon thunder and lightning storms are common, so you may want to consider an alpine start (hitting the trails as early as possible). Plan your hiking trip based on annual average temperatures in your desired destination. However, rain, hail, and even snow are a real possibility when you’re hiking above eight or nine thousand feet in elevation. Summer weather in the mountain west can change drastically in a matter of hours, sometimes minutes! We all go backpacking in search of those warm days where we hike all morning and lounge in the sun all afternoon, taking a quick dip in a freezing alpine lake to refresh for the next day’s hike. Lip balm is must to soothe those cracked lips! While hiking, move at a slower pace, find a rhythm, take breaks as needed, and breath deeply. When heading out on a high altitude hiking trip, make sure to drink extra water, wear extra sunscreen, and wear proper clothing with enough coverage including hats and sunglasses. With the thin air comes a lack of moisture, so hiking at high elevation can be rough on the skin. The Higher You Go, The More Intense the Environment Once you reach around 7,000 feet above sea level, the atmospheric pressure and percentage of oxygen starts to decrease at a rapid pace, so it is much harder to breath. Humans perform best – both physically and mentally – at sea level where the atmospheric pressure is 1 atm. The high-elevation backcountry of the American West is an explorer’s wonderland – but hiking at high altitude has significant effects on the human body and mind. You could be doing the hike of your life – such as scaling Half Dome in Yosemite at 8,839-feet or climbing up 14,259-foot Long’s Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park – and you want to be able to soak in the amazing experience of being at high elevation, not suffer through it! For the best adventure possible up high, read below for the 5 things you should be most aware of when hiking at high elevation. If you’re headed for the peaks, even past the pines – there are some important things to know about the environment at high elevation and how it affects the human body and mind before you go.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |