How Many Calories per day. 12000 Ft elevation

[DIY]

How many calories per day should I be eating to prevent altitude sickness? Im 6'4 200 lbs. Ill be hunting in Colorado opening week between 12-13k feet

 

[Shrek]

I had not heard that caloric intake had anything to do with it. I know water , water , water and some motrin combined wth a little time to adjust. I'm interested in the calorie component as well.

 

[littlebuf]

I don't think theres an across the board answer for how many calories you need a day since everybody's requirement's/needs are going to be different. food and caloric intake is a learning curve I think everybody has to find for them selves. im no expert in elevation effects on the body but I think regardless of elevation if your not feeding your body enough you can run into complications after a few days out. perhaps elevation compounds the matter, but like dave mentioned I know water or lack there of does. what do you usually take in daily while out?

 

[Beastmode]

Eating has a little to do with it because you need food, (carbs) , in your stomach to get water back in your system as efficiently as possible. Otherwise water will go right through you. But Dave is right for the most part in saying water water water. AS happens a lot from overdoing yourself. This is where summer scouting and conditioning trips can help you see where you are at.

Too many flatlanders never go into the mountains until they draw that "tag" and then push too hard without knowing what their body is comfortable with. Know your body before you go! I stay between 2500 and 3000 calories usually but it all depends how hard I'm pushing everyday.
If I'm glassing all day in normal weather and not burning many calories I can be great with 2000 calories. If I'm hiking a lot checking multiple draws 3000 sometimes more. The biggest thing is know what YOU are capable of. Working your a$# off at 12k ft will take a lot out of a guy who is ignorant of his own body.

 

[gelton]

I am a flatlander from tx and EVERY time I get above 10,000 feet I get a splitting headache for the first 24 hours sometimes so bad they initiate vomiting and then after that 24 hrs I am acclimated and I am good to go. However, caloric intake is a hard thing to answer. I dont have much of an appetite up there so I literally have to force feed myself, especially in the morning and during the day. Its great for weight loss though, just returned from a scouting trip and lost 5% of my body weight in 5 days. So for me, I eat as much as I can, which isnt much and nowhere close to the caloric intake I take in while at home. I echo the others - water is the key.

 

[orionsbrother]

Gelton- I'm not a doctor, but you may want to check with one. Splitting headaches are a bad sign from what I understand. Especially if you're solo. You may want to try to hang at 7500-8000 for a night to acclimate. Something to ease the transition. I defer to those with extensive high altitude experience or physicians.

 

[gelton]

Possibly, still not 100% that its just the altitude, could be the 18 hr straight drive to my hunting area or the celebratory beer upon arrival but the first night headaches are pretty much guaranteed for me.

 

[Grey Man]

Next time I would skip that celebratory beer if I was you. Alcohol dries you out, and I'd bet that contributes to your problem.