Keystone is in the heart of the scenic Rocky Mountain Range at 9,400 feet with nearby roads approaching 12,000 feet. At this elevation, there is only 66% of the oxygen found at sea level. Staying active is never hard to do in “Colorado’s Playground”, but acclimating can be. Majority of the visitors will get use to the elevation within a couple of days. For others, it may take several weeks. Since most travelers to the high country are here for only a few days, acclimation may or may not happen. Altitude Sickness symptoms include, headaches, nausea, vomiting, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, fatigue, rapid pulse, shortness of breath and diarrhea. By following a few tips, one can lessen the effects of high altitude.
-
Stay hydrated. Not only are we high in elevation, but our environment is fairly dry. Dehydration can happen a lot faster than most people think. We recommend replacing electrolytes thru sports drinks, pedialyte, or the best stuff is Emergen-C.
-
Take it easy your first day.
-
Limit/avoid alcohol intake. Most people don’t realize that 1 alcoholic beverage at 9,000 feet is equivalent to 2 at sea level.