Community Forums

Dagwood · 07-09-2006, 06:55 PM

Does anyone know how long it takes to acclimate to high elevations? I am going to Yellowstone next year and I remember having troble breathing at Mt. Mitchel in N.C. Thanks for any answers. James Wilson

Dagwood · 07-09-2006, 06:55 PM

Does anyone know how long it takes to acclimate to high elevations? I am going to Yellowstone next year and I remember having troble breathing at Mt. Mitchel in N.C. Thanks for any answers. James Wilson

Paul Heuvelhorst · 07-09-2006, 07:07 PM

Based on my own experience (at age 60) when we did volunteer work in New Mexico (above 6,500') it took me a good 10 days to acclimate. Even then, everything I did was slower than at sea level. Today we live at 4,500' and I never noticed any difficulty.

How quickly you acclimate, if you ever do, depends greatly on your state of health. If you have heart problems or respiratory problems, altitudes above 4,000' may not be recommended. If you have health difficulties, check with your doctor before you make that trip.

school man · 07-10-2006, 06:14 AM

Drink lots of water. Mike

chasfm11 · 07-10-2006, 06:44 AM

My wife and I both experienced problems at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. We had driven in from New Mexico so we had some prelimiary adjustment but the climb from 4,000 to 8,000 feet took under 1 hour.

We had both had lots of water in the previous 48 hour period but it was another 24 hours after we arrived before the headache and lack of energy went away. After that, we hiked several of the trails albeit at a very leasurely pace. When those trails had some climbing associated, we took frequent brakes. We did not feel that our activities were significantly impacted after the first 24 hours but we continued to take things slowly for the remainder of our stay.

Dagwood · 07-11-2006, 12:30 PM

Thanks everyone. I am in fair cond but always a little shortwinded. I guess I better plan on a few more days enroute at 4 to 5k before arriving at West Yellowstone which is at 6660 ft.