Hello hikers!
We are looking forward to a great weekend hiking La Plata. Here is some helpful information so you can prepare for a high altitude adventure.
A great apps to use are 14ers.com and hiking project
Altitude sickness is a real thing even if you live in Colorado. Please be aware of the symptoms and communicate any you may experience along the way. Taking some Tylenol or Advil as you approach 10,000ft can prevent the not-so-fun altitude headache that can ruin your day. SEE BELOW FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON SYMPTOMS TO WATCH OUT FOR.
Drink extra WATER and hydrate today and tomorrow. This will help you on Saturday.
Bring snacks that are both salty and sweet. A variety of light weight, high calorie options are great. Pepperoni or jerky or sausage sticks taste really great at the summit! So do cookies!
Here is a packing list to help guide you. We recommend going light but still being prepared.
RECOMMENDED PACKING LIST:
– Day pack
– Water (Nalgene or Hydration Bladder) 1.5 -2 liters
– Light gloves
– Beanie/hat/buff
– Sunglasses
– Sunscreen (small bottle or squeeze some into a ziplock so you’re not carrying extra weight)
– Headlamp or small flashlight
– Dress in layers (non cotton, moisture-wicking base layers, insulating mid-layers, waterproof and windproof outer layers). Going up will be warm but it can be cold and windy up high.
— t-shirt
— long sleeve shirt/sun shirt
— fleece jacket or light puffy jacket or sweatshirt
— Rain coat/wind breaker
– Good socks with no holes
– Study footwear…trail running shoes, hiking boots, or tennis shoes with really good tread
– Hiking pants
– Trekking or ski pole (optional)
– Small light pocket knife (optional)
– Small first aid kit or bandaids at a minimum
– Emergency blanket (if you have one)
– TP in little ziplock or small kleenex pack
– Cell phone
HIGH ALTITUDE SICKNESS
Most people who get altitude sickness get AMS, acute mountain sickness. Higher than 10,000 feet, 75% of people will get mild symptoms . There are three categories of AMS:
Mild AMS: Symptoms, such as mild headache and fatigue, don’t interfere with your normal activity. Symptoms improve after a few days as your body acclimates. You can likely stay at your current elevation as your body adjusts.
Moderate AMS: Symptoms start to interfere with your activities. You may experience severe headache, nausea and difficulty with coordination. You’ll need to descend to start to feel better.
Severe AMS: You may feel short of breath, even at rest. It can be difficult to walk. You need to descend immediately to a lower altitude and seek medical care.
Two severe forms of altitude illness occur less frequently but are more serious. Both can be life-threatening. You need to descend immediately and receive medical treatment for:
HAPE (High-altitude pulmonary edema): HAPE produces excess fluid on the lungs, causing breathlessness, even when resting. You feel very fatigued and weak and may feel like you’re suffocating.
HACE (High-altitude cerebral edema): HACE involves excess fluid on the brain, causing brain swelling. You may experience confusion, lack of coordination and possibly violent behavior.
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