tonrob

Just booked to go to Colorado on hols mid-June for just over a week and really looking forward to it. Highlights for me will be:

- hiking in the great outdoors (moderate hikes, no mountain climbing!)
- photography (including poss. wildlife)
- great beer bars and craft brews

Basically doing a loop that goes Denver - Breckenridge/Vail - Rocky Mountain NP - Boulder.

Bit worried about altitude sickness. Never suffered from this until a trip 2 years ago. Basically drove from Eureka, CA (sea level) to Lassen Volcanic NP (5000+ ft) in a few short hours then got out of the car and did a short (couple of miles) hike. Got quite out of breath and uncomfortable. Spent the night at a B&B in Chester (4500 ft), intending to go back into the park the next day. All night I felt like I couldn't catch my breath and slept very badly. Ended up cutting that part of the trip short and driving the next day to San Francisco, where normal service was resumed.

Does anyone else have any experience of this and any tips which will make by CO trip more comfortable (assuming by CA experience isn't a one-off). I read online about some herbal-type pills that could help but I'm always sceptical about that sort of thing. The biggest horror was reading that it's best to lay off the alcohol - no chance of that!

Tarkak9

You're screwed mate....

Kidding. Not all's lost. It is true that you will feel the affects of the altitude. Denver is 5280 ft above sea level.. hence called the Mile Hi City. Basically, you want to drink gobs of water when you are here regardless, even if you will need to pee like a race horse.... you'll probably notice that you'll be feeling parched half the time anyway.

Rest. Don't over do it... you might want to refrain from big hikes here... start trying to get into better shape before leaving for here. Have plenty of water with you too. People push themselves too hard w/o realising it... take frequent rests on hikes etc.

It can be a doozy for flatlanders with drinking out here b/c you'll get pissed easier (and cheaper)... especially if you head up into the hills - Breck etc.

The altitude can affect people in different ways.. I didn't have much of a prob when I first arrived but I did notice the tiredness and lower tolerance to booze etc... the body just has to take its time to adjust.. can take a couple of days to a few weeks for people; just depends. Overall - water, water, water.

Still, bee-you-ti-ful scenery here (and the mountains aren't too shabby either) and the local brews are fab. Do you have your list??

tonrob

Cheers for the advice! Just finished booking hotels, rental car and now looking at flights. Prior to departure I will be scouring beeradvocate.com and sticking little pins in my map of beery goodness. What I do know is that there are more great brews out there than I can shake a fair-sized stick at so my biggest problem's going to be prioritization (especially if I'm going to be falling off my stool after two sniffs of the barmaid's apron... )

paddingtongreen

I played football for a company sponsored team there, I thought I would die the first practise. We did drink a lot of beer afterwards though.

The other problem was with contacts, the dry air meant wetting them every hour or so.

Mummy in the foothills

I get sick too, we live at 500 feet and regularly stay at a hotel at 7500ft. I just don't do much, I lounge around a lot, swim and relax, that's what holidays are for right? If I try to walk too much, or god forbid run after one of the kids I'm a heart pounding sick to my stomach mess for ages.
I did find the slower we got up the hill (we got to Tahoe) the better I feel so we stop quite often on the drive up, that way I don't arrive with a pounding head.

tonrob

I figured a staged approach might help, so after arriving late on a Friday evening we'll be hanging round in Denver until Monday before driving into the mountains. No kids to run after so the first couple of days should be fairly laid back...

Englishtart

I just moved back to IL after 18 months in CO, the worst thing for me, was the dry air! really dries out your skin, after 18 months there, my skin aged about 5 years! I hate the humidity in IL, but I am happy to believe that I may get the 5 year (skin age) back!

Octang Frye

Yeah, drink lots of water. And by that, I mean a good two to four litres a day.
I've had relatives and friends come out and their idea of hydration is a cup of water or, honest to God, a coffee.

It takes a while to build up your red blood cells.

tonrob

I shall remember to moisturize.

Swisstony

You could also try Viagra.... seriously:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0624120556.htm

tonrob

Booked by flights - yay!

They went up $65 each since I looked last...

joto

You will need plenty of high factor sun-screen as well. Check out the drive through the Rocky Mountain National Park. Some spectacular views, but you had better keep your eyes on the road in some places.

Octang Frye

Swing by and I'll buy you a beer, show you some nightlife in D-town.

tonrob

Yes, if you could use a sunburned, dehydrated and out-of-breath drinking partner with a roaring headache and an embarrassing bulge in his trousers then I'm your man.

scrubbedexpat099

I am at 9796. I used to live on the Front Range, and had no real issues, I played squash in Boulder, and that took getting on for a month to acclimatise.

But going higher is much harder, I got altitude sickness at Breckenridge, but that was skiing after flying in from sea level.

But a gentle wander in the hills should not be too much of an issue, my Brother has played golf at Breck after flying in, he had no problem.

For Beer, well I will send you a link. Breckenridge Brewery, I just do not like their beers. Sorry. There is a micro in Estes that is worth a try, Boulder is your best bet plus of course the Left Hand tap room in Longmont, my personal favourite. And do not forget Oscar Blues in Lyons. I vaguely remember having 4 pints in there, walking out and collapsing into a concrete gully, very painful. So as others have said, watch it, the beers are stronger, the altitude is a killer.