Leadville CO area questions
DH and I and our dog are thinking about heading to Colorado. I have been researching and looking for a campground on a lake with beautiful view. We have a 33' TT. I am considering the Leadville, CO ar...
Forum Discussion
welove2drive wrote:
Thanks for the tip 2lazy4U. I hadn't thought of altitude sickness.
Excellent of 2lazy4U to point this out, and it is something to be taken seriously. Going from an elevation such as where you're from to 10000 feet, which is what Leadville is, should be done gradually if possible. And keep in mind also that some of the locations suggested, such as Independence Pass, are over 12000 feet.
My sister flew out to visit from Alabama not so long ago. As soon as she got off the plane, she felt a difference for the 5280 feet of Denver. She fainted in a restaurant, and ended up going to the emergency room. She had become dehydrated and unknown to her, also had the flu. IV fluids got her back on her feet.
If possible, take some time to stop in Kansas or Nebraska, at a bit of a lower elevation, then head to somewhere along the Front Range (Denver to Fort Collins area), most of which is in the 5000-6000 foot range. Spend a day or two if you can to adjust.
Even for those of us who live out here sometimes need to heed this advice. Going up on Trail Ridge Road in RMNP, I immediately notice a difference in hiking at 10-12000 feet. Driving to the top of Mount Evans, at over 14000 feet can be a challenge and definitely is a challenge when climbing/hiking the final 150 or so feet.
KEEP HYDRATED! Drink copious amounts of water. If you start to feel dizzy, confused, or nausea, you need to consider getting to a lower elevation as soon as possible.
