Altitude Sickness (AS) It’s exactly what it says: you feel sick because of the altitude. Red River is 8,750 and nearby Wheeler Peak is 13,161 feet above sea level. So, what are the symptoms?
• Mild: A headache, nausea, poor appetite, rundown feeling, shortness of breath after exertion.
• Moderate: Headache not relieved by Tylenol/aspirin, vomiting, raspy cough, weakness, and coordination and balance problems. (Balance difficulty is highly predictive of serious progression of illness. See a physician immediately!)
• Severe: Wet cough, shortness of breath while at rest, disoriented "Leave me alone" behavior, too weak to eat or stand up, lips or fingernails turning blue. (Seek medical help immediately!)
Altitude illness is usually preventable if ascent from lower climes is slow and gradual. Persons traveling above 8,000 feet are most likely to be symptomatic. The chances increase to about 15% when sleeping above 8,000 feet. Being in excellent physical condition has no bearing on one’s ability to acclimate to altitude.
• When you first get to town, take it easy. Hikers, runners and bike riders who can’t wait to head up the mountain can ruin their entire stay in the high country. Start slow and stop early when you start to feel fatigue or prolonged breathlessness.
• A high carbohydrate diet (pasta, rice, pancakes, etc.) can help you acclimate. Increase your intake to 70% of your calories for the day. Reduce fat intake.
• Alcohol, sleeping pills and tranquilizers should be avoided if possible, at least for the first two nights of your stay. They slow your body’s adjustment to elevation. This is critical if you exhibit any symptoms.
Mogul Medical, located in the Lift House at the bottom of the ski slope, is a full-service clinic and specializes in treatment of AS. They may be able to assist with your altitude adjustment. New treatments are available.
Hypothermia
Hiking and camping in the high country are fun and rewarding, but consideration and preparation are not only a good idea - they can save your life and those around you.
It is often referred to as "freezing to death," but it can and does occur during the summer months, especially in the mountains. Hypothermia is caused by the lowering of the temperature of the human body’s inner core. During summer months, it most frequently affects fatigued people who get wet and are then exposed to wind. As the body temperature decreases, even a few degrees, hypothermia is in progress. If allowed to continue, cold will reach the brain, depriving the victim of good judgment and reasoning power. If uncorrected, it can result in death.
The first symptom is shivering. Be aware of this sign and take immediate steps to correct it. Other symptoms include lack of coordination and fatigue. Advanced symptoms include incoherence, listlessness, hallucinations, decreased shivering and, ultimately, unconsciousness. If you suspect or detect hypothermia in yourself or others, take immediate steps to restore body temperature. Get out of the wind and/or rain. Remove wet clothing, put on dry clothes and stay dry. Warm drinks and high energy foods are good.
Victims of hypothermia cannot in advanced cases, produce enough body heat of their own. Share body warmth. Skin-to-skin contact in a sleeping bag is a great way to exchange and retain body heat.
Even mild symptoms of hypothermia call for immediate treatment.
Prevention, of course, is the best case scenario. Avoid getting wet, always be constantly aware of the wind and directional changes, and dress warmly. (Cotton next to the skin may keep the body damp.) Dress in layers so that you can add or remove clothing depending on the temperature, which can fluctuate greatly during the course of a mountain day or night.
If you are hiking or just walking around town and encounter foul weather or become aware of an approaching storm, seek shelter or immediately set up camp while you still have the energy to do so. Then stay put until the weather is more conducive to travel.
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