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Altitude sickness when skiing?

Altitude sickness when skiing?

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Started by Finn in Ski Chatter - 31 Replies

J2Ski

Finn posted Oct-2010

Has anyone ever suffered from altitude sickness when skiing?
The British NHS advice is that mild Altitude sickness can occur above 2500m (8000ft) & severe above 3600m (1200ft). Given that alot of ski areas are above 2500m altitude sickness must be a pretty common problem.
Finn

Beanie
reply to 'Altitude sickness when skiing?'
posted Oct-2010

When younger I had occaasional dizzy spells when ascending rapidly in a cable car, but not proper altitude sickness as such. I've not really suffered as I've got older, I think it's something you can get used to.
BASI Community Rep

Ian Wickham
reply to 'Altitude sickness when skiing?'
posted Oct-2010

Never

AllyG
reply to 'Altitude sickness when skiing?'
posted Oct-2010

Hi Finn,
We had quite a long discussion on this subject several months ago. The thread was supposed to be about motion sickness, but a lot of other stuff (as usual!) crept into it, including some very useful information on altitude sickness.

http://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/48/7749.page

Ally

Bandit
reply to 'Altitude sickness when skiing?'
posted Oct-2010

For many years I suffered mild symptoms, frequent headache, poor sleep patterns, snotty nose and nosebleeds. Always during the first week of a two week alpine trip. Both winter and summer. I started taking Gingko Biloba for unrelated reasons and was very pleasantly surprised the next winter, to find that most of my symptoms had gone. It could all be a coincidence, perhaps I outgrew all the symptoms at once :mrgreen:

Finn
reply to 'Altitude sickness when skiing?'
posted Oct-2010

bandit wrote:For many years I suffered mild symptoms, frequent headache, poor sleep patterns, snotty nose and nosebleeds. Always during the first week of a two week alpine trip. Both winter and summer. I started taking Gingko Biloba for unrelated reasons and was very pleasantly surprised the next winter, to find that most of my symptoms had gone. It could all be a coincidence, perhaps I outgrew all the symptoms at once :mrgreen:



Bandit
out of interest were you skiing above 2500m? Was it worse on bad weather days in periods of low pressure.
Finn

Bandit
reply to 'Altitude sickness when skiing?'
posted Oct-2010

Typically in higher level ski stations. Most miserable time in Breckenridge, where the town is at 10,000ft. Also suffered in Val Thorens, Tignes and at the top of the Aguille du Midi 3800m. I did not notice if I was worse on bad weather days or not, it used to be all pervading!

I have learned the value of ski high, sleep low. I sleep well at 1600m these days, with no ill effects.

Edited 1 time. Last update at 03-Oct-2010

Dave Mac
reply to 'Altitude sickness when skiing?'
posted Oct-2010

I had no probs at Breckonridge. but it was evident that plenty of people do, there is a medical centre locatedd next to the bottom of one of the main runs, and most of their business was AS.
I have suffered once, only slightly, at 10.000 ft, but skied at 13,050ft at Arapahoe Basin without bother, but my OH was seriously affected. She was OK, once she started skiing ~ attagirl!
In, Breckenridge, 9.500 ft, they advise 3 days without alchohol, yeah, right......

Topic last updated on 06-November-2010 at 11:41