adjusting to altitude

[nebhunt]

Other than spending time at higher altitude what do you guys do to help your body adjust. Is there something a person can take that helps?

 

[Mitten32]

I’m not sure in regards to supplements. Drink lots of water.. i find if I don’t drink a lot of water my heaches from the altitude are much worse

 

[Boxerboxer]

Diamox is a prescription drug that some people find helpful. You would need to speak with a doctor and explain what you're planning to do but it sounds like it's pretty easy to get a prescription for. Other than that, just be in the best shape you can. I rented a mountain bike one summer in Colorado on vacation, and despite having trained hard on my bike in the midwest since February that year, I was struggling at elevation.

 

[wakedye]

If you are wanting to be able to hike at elevation one of the biggest things you can do is to get in the best shape you can. Do a lot of cardio and your body won't miss the lack of air quite as much when you are hiking around.

 

[TheCougar]

I can tell you what NOT to do! Don’t get those restrictor masks that make it tough to breathe. The “benefits” of them have been thoroughly debunked by science, unless you wear it >22 hours per day. If you want to breathe harder, then work harder! Stay away from booze on the mountain. Don’t let yourself get dehydrated. I’m not a fan of taking a bunch of drugs, but the first couple of nights I might pop some pills to help get a good nights sleep.

You will have to acclimate, period. I’m in good shape and I find myself acclimating at the rate of 3,000’ per day, for example taking me about 3 days to reasonably acclimate from sea level to 8,000. It takes twice as long to fully acclimate. Mix in some HIIT training with your workouts. It doesn’t help with the acclimation, but it helps with training your body to rapidly recover. You’ll still suck wind for a few days, but once you stop to rest, you’ll catch your breathe and control your heat rate faster, allowing you to resume faster. Hit the stair master with a pack and work on intervals! It sucks, but it works!


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[jmez]

Getting there a day or two early and taking it easy those days is the best thing you can do. Try to avoid pulling into a Trailhead and hitting the mountain full steam on the same day. Means an extra day or two off work but worth it if you can swing it.

When we hunt high in CO, we meet in Denver on Thursday and spend the night. Head into the mountains on Friday and then stay at the trailhead Friday night. Hunt/pick around the trailhead area Saturday morning and then head up into the mountains Saturday afternoon. Seems to help.

 

[Arctic Hunter]

I take Advil starting on the way there. And I usually plan it to where I spend the night at some altitude when I arrive.

Other than that, like everybody says, you have to acclimate to it. But it's a little easier to keep hunting while you acclimate if your legs are solid and you're just winded.

 

[Mosby]

I have been affected by altitude the last couple of years in Colorado, where we hunt at 10,500 feet. Never bothered me before but who knows. What I have found is it helps is go early to acclimate. The longer I am there, the better I feel. I used Diamox this past year and it helped. I took an over the counter drug called Nauseum and it helped with nausea as well. Take Advil regularly and drink a ton of fluids. I start drinking a ton of fluids a couple of days before I leave for the trip to ensure hydration.

I agree with the other guys. Conditioning really matters as well.

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

It's tough to rush physiological processes, such as increasing hemoglobin production and increased lung expansion, it takes time, hence the 2-3 day rule. But I agree, being in great shape is the best you can do ahead of time.

There are anti-altitude sickness things out there, but if you take your time and don't go hard right out of the gate at elevation, you should be fine.

No matter what you do, you'll have a lower physical performance at elevation, how much all depends on tons of variables.

 

[nebhunt]

Lots of good information. I do cardio 5 days a week all year around and try to get a few weeks of carrying a loaded pack before I go hunting. Been doing that for 20 plus years of elk hunts but like others have said it takes me about 2 days at altitude to feel normal again. The reason I ask is now that I'm 56 it seems to take a little longer and just didn't know if there were short cuts.

 

[go4thegusto]

Great article on this in the most recent Traditional Bowhunter magazine by Dr. Don Thomas.

 

[smoothie25]

Ditto to what everyone has said so far. I found some pedialyte packets that seem to help with getting hydrated before the hunt. It’s hard for us to get hydrated quickly bc we usually have a 14+ hour drive to where we hunt and don’t want to be pounding water on the road and stopping to pee every hour! Plus the packets pack well and add some flavor to your water while in the woods.


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[Bowhuntone]

Hydrate! This year i took wilderness athlete's altitude advantage starting 2 weeks prior to my hunt and during the hunt. I live at 1000 feet and hunted at 7500 to 9500 in Montana and felt better than I did on previous hunts at similar elevations. A lot of what I have read suggests than dehydration will compound the effects of altitude sickness. And since most of us travel to our hunting destinations and don't drink a lot during travel we arrive dehydrated. Then with excitement go directly to full out pursuit of our intended game compounding our dehydration and feel the pain.

 

[Northernpiker]

Get fit, stay hydrated, try to stay a night at elevation to acclimate and my doctor gets me Diamox.

 

[Laelkhunter]

Staying hydrated is really important, as others have stated. If your urine is dark yellow, you are not drinking enough water.

 

[PAhunter58]

Last year I went one day @ Colorado Springs to 1 day @ Gunnison to camp at 9600FT. First day of the hunt went to 11,400. No problems for me. All the above advice is spot on. Get in shape, Weight train your legs, HITT, Hike with a heavy pack and drink lots of water and spend a couple days to acclimate. You'll be just fine.

 

[Usi05]

Great stuff here guys. Appreciate the insight!

 

[BCSojourner]

Great stuff here guys. Appreciate the insight!

Also, pick up some Gingko pills on line or at a store like Whole Foods, and take at least 120 mg per day (typically 2 pills) several days before arriving at elevation. Take two or three per day while hunting as well. This will help your red blood cells absorb more oxygen. They work, as a friend of mine from NY who has hunted at 9,000-10,000 ft for several years and prepared by taking these pills about two weeks prior to arrival, will attest. If you look at ingredients in Wilderness Athlete and Mtn. Ops, main ingredient is Gingko Biloba. A whole lot cheaper to simply buy the pills on line or in store.

 

[Ibex]

Water and be in best shape possible

 

[7Bartman]

I'll second what others have said, get in great CV shape and just let your body acclimate. It takes time. Diamox is a prescription medicine that can help if need be, but staying hydrated is also beneficial. Do not waste your money on any supplements. They have not been proven to work and most of them are junk.