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Disclaimer:
This site is provided for informational
purposes only. The information here is not intended to diagnose
or treat any condition, and should not replace the care and attention
of qualified medical personnel. Use the information on these pages
at your own risk, and, as with any information pertaining to health,
nutrition, mental health, or fitness, consult your physician before making any
changes that might affect your overall health.
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High Altitude Recreation
We
have been in a tent when the walls caved in and the tent poles
snapped in high winds. We have woken in the morning with ice
on the blankets around our mouths, and snow on the roof of
our tent.
 There is more to high altitude recreation than
camping, but camping is a biggie. We have camped on the Platte
River, and in the Medicine Bow National Forest. The experiences
were different, but they had some similarities which apply
to high altitude recreation in general.
Temperatures at
night are pretty much cold year around. In the summer, you
will want a warm blanket or sleeping bag at night, even in
the hottest part of summer. High altitude locations do not
hold heat in at night very well.
When you are out
all day, it is often easy to underestimate the cumulative
affect of sunlight, and people burn in places they do not
think to protect. Wear a hat to keep your head from burning
on your part line, or through thin hair.
In some areas,
mosquitoes are a particular problem also. Others, they are
not. But if you are going to be at moderate altitudes, be
prepared to either cover up, or bring bug spray.
And of course
bring lots of water. Many high altitude streams and creeks
do not have water that is safe to drink without being treated.
And treated water does not necessarily taste good. Packing
in water can help, if you have the space to do so. We found
that it was hardest to cope with longer camping trips, because
we could not pack in as much water as our large family could
use in that time.
Most higher altitude
recreation is physical, so be prepared to cope with the rigors
and more intense demands that high altitude puts on your body.
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High
Altitude Library
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Editorial Comments throughout this site written by Laura Wheeler (with occasional sarcastic remarks by her son, David). Laura is a 10 year resident of Medicine Bow, Wyoming, where the altitude is greater than the population. Medicine Bow is at 6200+ ft above sea level, and boasts a total of 297 residents from the last census. Laura is an experienced technical, health and family writer.
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