Avoid Altitude Sickness in the Breckenridge Mountains

So you’ve decided to spend your winter vacation in Breckenridge to take up a new skiing or just enjoy a quiet mountain town atmosphere getaway, you are going to have a phenomenal time. Before you go, you should know the risks of going to any high altitude area and the tips to avoid them.

Coming via plane? You will probably be flying into Denver and driving to Breckenridge. Why not make it a two-city vacation? Before driving to Breckenridge, take advantage and enjoy one of the most beautiful cities in the country, Denver, Colorado. Very few places can offer a majestic view of snow covered Rocky Mountains in one direction and seeing downtown Denver with businesses, restaurants, a massive performing arts complex, malls, and all the attractions found in a major city in one direction. One thing Denver can offer is great beer, not just any other beer you find in one of the local pubs, bars or any liquor store all over the country. Denver is the place where any beermonger should call home, Denver brews more beer than any other city in the United States. So if you like going out with your friends and have a few beers, or just like beer period, why not get it from the same place it’s made. Since any normal person enjoys going out and doing something with their friends why not catch a ballgame, Denver is home to the Broncos, Rockies, Nuggets, and Avalanche, there is no shortage of getting your sports fill in Denver. Sports, beer, and amazing views. Denver unexpectedly can turn more than just a place you can pass through driving to Breckenridge.

Speaking of driving, slow down. I know you’re excited to get to Breckenridge but you’re not in the Daytona 500. Be aware of the safety precautions you need to take when driving in icy or snow covered roads. Remember that you are driving a rental car, it maybe tuned and well maintained but it’s not yours. And being unfamiliar with your transport vehicle is not a miniscule detail you can disregard. So drive slow and carefully, but stay inside the speed requirements too. Take this time and enjoy the sights, driving towards a destination should be an experience too. Driving in the snow is not as easy as you think. Before you get on the road, make sure you have these few basic supplies in your trunk, a shovel, an ice scraper and a bag of either kitty litter or sand. Don’t press the gas if you get stuck; that will just dig you in deeper. Dig out the snow around the tire with your handy dandy shovel, and then use the sand or kitty litter for traction. There would most definitely be ice on the road, so watch your speed and leave plenty of room between you and the car in front of you.

Altitude sickness is one of the perils of going to the mountains. Altitude sickness, also know as acute mountain sickness or AMS, altitude illness or soroche is a pathological condition causes by acute exposure to low air pressure outdoors at high altitude. Although treatable to some extent by the administration of oxygen, most of the symptoms do not appear to be caused by low oxygen, but rather by low CO2 levels causing a rise in blood ph or alkalosis. Staying in Denver a day or two can help you acclimate your body to thin air much easier. So take it slowly. Be aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, pins and needles, vomiting and sleeplessness They say altitude sickness feels similar to having a hangover, so if visited Denver’s beer breweries, you should be familiar with the feeling. You can take over the counter medication, or just visit oxygen bars in Breckenridge. Breckenridge takes care of it’s visitors from sea level areas with their oxygen bars, visit one and feel immediately rejuvenated. Drink plenty of water, stay away from caffeinated drinks and alcohol to help keep yourself hydrated and will help you be better acclimated to the high attitude faster.

Breckenridge has lots of restaurants, from inexpensive and relaxed places to fine dining establishments. But some of us can never stay away from missing a good home cooked meal. You can cook for yourself, your family or friends from the kitchen of your Breckenridge condo; cooking in high altitude is quite different with cooking at sea level. You need to have more time because it takes longer time to cook food at higher elevations. Another way to make this a bonding moment with whom you’re spending your vacation with. Remember that you’ll probably need to use higher heat and a little more liquid when cooking or you will end up with dry and possibly rock-hard food.

Remember that for you to enjoy your vacation, or any vacation, careful planning comes a long way. Learning a few basic precautions for safety or any measures to prevent untoward incident by learning about the place you’re going to can be very helpful. So have a safe, fun vacation and have a ball in Breckenridge.

About the Author

Sarah Fox has been teaching English as a Second Language for 11 years. She has published recipes in Healthy Eating and does all of the writing and design work for her neighborhood HOA newsletter. If you’re planning a trip to Breckenridge, Sarah will be happy to give you a few pointers. And check out great rates on lodging at http://www.officialbreckenridgelodging.com/

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