 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi guys I've had a little trouble the last few times I've been skiing with altitude sickness in The French and Swiss Alps I don't want to stop skiing but I also don't want to get altitude sickness it's a real problem because even at altitudes like 1300 meters it happens can you guys recommend either a way to combat this or some good low resorts that might not make me miss3 r 4 days acclimatising I don't have a problem skiing up a hight but I just can't stay up there at places like Sivetz (1780m) I just feel so ill up there thanks for any help guys
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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What kind of symptoms are you getting? 1300m seems pretty low for full blown altitude sickness. It's not something else like just not eating enough whilst skiing is it?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Nausea, lack of appetite, exhaustion, vomiting, a general lack of energy and my heart rate was slightly elevated at one point
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Jonathanemptage, when I went to Breckenridge, Colorado which is higher than many European Alpine resorts, I took the recommended dosage of aspirin for a couple of days before I went, and also for the first couple of days whilst I was there. I then avoided alcohol, and stayed well hydrated, and I had no issues whatsoever.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Timberwolf wrote: |
| @Jonathanemptage, when I went to Breckenridge, Colorado which is higher than many European Alpine resorts, I took the recommended dosage of aspirin for a couple of days before I went, and also for the first couple of days whilst I was there. I then avoided alcohol, and stayed well hydrated, and I had no issues whatsoever. |
Thanks do you thing having a little more iron in my diet might help.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Plenty of places you can stay low and ski high e.g. Orelle is at 880m but you can easily access the top of Val Thorens quickly (assuming you are savvy at Gondy timings). Lots of Austrian villages are reasonably low e.g. St Anton is pretty much bang on 1300m and there are plenty lower. If in doubt stay down valley, rent a car (or stay near a train station) & commute every day.
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I can't really help you with the altitude sickness, though I think altitude affects everyone's heart rate until fully acclimatised.
If you are ok skiing at altitude but just not sleeping there, there should still be plenty of places to go, just pick a low altitude entry point for an area. E.g.
Brides les Baines or Orelle for the 3 Valleys
La Chappelle, Morzine or Les Gets for the Portes du Soleil
Morillon for the Grand Massif
Or have a look as some Austrian resorts as plenty of villages are below 1000m e.g. Mayrhofen, Kitzbuhel, Soll, Scheffau, must be tons more.
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| Scarlet wrote: |
I can't really help you with the altitude sickness, though I think altitude affects everyone's heart rate until fully acclimatised.
If you are ok skiing at altitude but just not sleeping there, there should still be plenty of places to go, just pick a low altitude entry point for an area. E.g.
Brides les Baines or Orelle for the 3 Valleys
La Chappelle, Morzine or Les Gets for the Portes du Soleil
Morillon for the Grand Massif
Or have a look as some Austrian resorts as plenty of villages are below 1000m e.g. Mayrhofen, Kitzbuhel, Soll, Scheffau, must be tons more. |
Thanks I've been to Brides les Baines before and that was really pretty
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Jonathanemptage wrote: |
| Nausea, lack of appetite, exhaustion, vomiting, a general lack of energy and my heart rate was slightly elevated at one point |
You really shouldn't have altitude sickness at that level. That's the height of Ben Nevis. Whilst not wanting to seem alarmist, I would seriously consider getting a medical opinion on this as it may be masking something else. Blood tests would help. Try and get your saturation levels measured whilst at this height.
I've never seen any medical research stating issues lower than 2000m
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| Quote: |
Or have a look as some Austrian resorts as plenty of villages are below 1000m e.g. Mayrhofen, Kitzbuhel, Soll, Scheffau, must be tons more.
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while the village might be, the skiing isn't
but it is kind of nice to drop back down below 600m for the evening
depends if the issue is being up a mountain for prolonged periods (ie 24/7), or quick ascent
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| dsoutar wrote: |
| Jonathanemptage wrote: |
| Nausea, lack of appetite, exhaustion, vomiting, a general lack of energy and my heart rate was slightly elevated at one point |
You really shouldn't have altitude sickness at that level. That's the height of Ben Nevis. Whilst not wanting to seem alarmist, I would seriously consider getting a medical opinion on this as it may be masking something else. Blood tests would help. Try and get your saturation levels measured whilst at this height.
I've never seen any medical research stating issues lower than 2000m |
I do realise it's unusual but my coach Benny (who was running my last trip) had someone get up to the resort he operate his company in and literally collapse he took him down to Nendaz (Swiss alps) and he was absolutely fine at that level he came ups to the resort each day.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| andy wrote: |
| Quote: |
Or have a look as some Austrian resorts as plenty of villages are below 1000m e.g. Mayrhofen, Kitzbuhel, Soll, Scheffau, must be tons more.
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while the village might be, the skiing isn't
but it is kind of nice to drop back down below 600m for the evening
depends if the issue is being up a mountain for prolonged periods (ie 24/7), or quick ascent |
High skiing isn't a problem it's staying up a hight for a prolonged period.
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Bourg St Maurice might be a good bet with skiing in Les Arcs.
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You know it makes sense.
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You could stay in Le Fayet (about 400m) below St Gervais - would be about a 10 minute drive to the gondola in St G (at about 880m) or you could even get the mountain railway from Le Fayet to the Les Houches ski area.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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As many have already said the obvious answer is to go to Austria. If you're going to be staying low you might as well go somewhere that lets you easily access lots of different areas. Have a look at the Zillertal. Mayrhofen is down on the valley floor at 633m but has direct gondola access to two ski areas. The rest of the valley is included in your ski pass and reachable by free train or bus. Some really great skiing at Kaltenbach and Zell am Ziller.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Jonathanemptage, do you suffer on planes? Typically they're pressurised to 2,400m effective altitude.
If you can handle a couple of hours in cruise, then it does't sound as though the altitude's the issue.
Also, from Wikipedia, "In some individuals, particularly those with heart or lung disease, symptoms may begin as low as 5,000 feet (1,500 m), although most passengers can tolerate altitudes of 8,000 feet (2,400 m) without ill effect."
I find I can suffer the symptoms you mention if I don't have a hearty breakfast.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Stop mucking about with this Alps nonsense. If you have altitude problems and want to ski - one word - SCANDINAVIA! Resorts typically at 300-500m, top of resorts about 1100-1400 - e.g. top of Trysil - 1100m, Are - 1400, Hemsedal - 1400m
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Tue 17-05-16 15:26; edited 2 times in total
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Jonathanemptage, Altitude sickness is highly unusual below 2,500 meters, most Austrian resorts will tick the box for you. Also talk to your doctor and explain the symptoms and the altitudes you experienced them at. If it is safe, ask him to prescribe Viagra, an excellent altitude sickness cure.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Fattes13, excellent for the apres ski as well.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Jonathanemptage wrote: |
| Nausea, lack of appetite, exhaustion, vomiting, a general lack of energy and my heart rate was slightly elevated at one point |
I have this some mornings when skiing, live and learn.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Norrin Radd, 
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| dsoutar wrote: |
| Jonathanemptage wrote: |
| Nausea, lack of appetite, exhaustion, vomiting, a general lack of energy and my heart rate was slightly elevated at one point |
You really shouldn't have altitude sickness at that level. That's the height of Ben Nevis. Whilst not wanting to seem alarmist, I would seriously consider getting a medical opinion on this as it may be masking something else. Blood tests would help. Try and get your saturation levels measured whilst at this height.
I've never seen any medical research stating issues lower than 2000m |
This.
Go see a doc.
Such bad altitude sickness is extremely rare under ~14k feet.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Whitegold, you and some others above make a good point - not uncommon to get some symptoms living in a resort at, say, 1500-1800m (e.g. being a bit more "puffed out" than at lower altitudes), but OP's symptoms seem quite severe
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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+1 to @dsoutar and @Whitegold. Go see a doc. Or don't get so hammered on the first night that you end up with a 4 day hangover
I can't see how you would get AMS at those kind of altitudes without some serious metabolic disorder that is screwing up your blood pH very badly. i can't see how that would be the case without you noticing.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Quote: |
| most Austrian resorts will tick the box for you...... ask him to prescribe Viagra, an excellent altitude sickness cure. |
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| Excellent for the apres ski as well |
^^^Er....which is the viagra recommended for - the altitude sickness or the apres ski?? 
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@mountainaddict, Viagra apparently helps with oxygenating the blood
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You know it makes sense.
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@Jonathanemptage, Do you get the same symptoms on a flight? The cabin altitude will be in excess of 1300m - this may help narrow down the cause (or not).
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Rule 5
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Timberwolf wrote: |
| @Jonathanemptage, when I went to Breckenridge, Colorado which is higher than many European Alpine resorts, I took the recommended dosage of aspirin for a couple of days before I went, and also for the first couple of days whilst I was there. I then avoided alcohol, and stayed well hydrated, and I had no issues whatsoever. |
Went to Breckenridge too and did the total opposite, especially failed to avoid alcohol and oddly enough had several days of a rather sore head.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Jonathanemptage, The symptoms also sound like sunstroke. Do you always wear a hat or helmet?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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When I started climbing in the Alps I used to think that the altitude of the huts gave me headaches and made it hard for me to sleep. Eventually I discovered that it was simply lack of hydration from which I was suffering. Try drinking more H2O?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Quote: |
When I started climbing in the Alps I used to think that the altitude of the huts gave me headaches and made it hard for me to sleep. Eventually I discovered that it was simply lack of hydration from which I was suffering. Try drinking more H2O?
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It's both though I think. In terms of exercise I'm pretty good until 3500m but begin to find it a bit tough after that. I hiked Kilimanjaro and found the mile or so along the crater rim REALLY hard (at 5800m) - gave me real awe of people who climb 8000m without O2 (although they would do much more acclimatisation. Sleeping though I find tough above 3000m, I just find I nod off, my heart rate tends to race and I jerk awake - rinse and repeat. This happens even if I've been very careful with hydration (on a Kilimanjaro trek you are practically force fed drinks at every stop because the guides know how much of a problem the altitude is for people who got off the plane on day 1 and are camping at 3000m on day 3). I wonder if this would sort itself out if I spend several nights at altitute.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@jedster, Yes it would. When I've just arrived in the Alps I feel weird above around 3,500m - light head, nausea, trembling, carelessness ("Oh, I'm about to fall over and slide into a deep crevasse, never mind"). It takes me about 5 days at altitude to acclimatise, and also develop a bit of mountain fitness, then it feels great to be up there, it's almost euphoric. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| D G Orf wrote: |
| @mountainaddict, Viagra apparently helps with oxygenating the blood |
Don't tell the pro road crew this bit of info, god only knows what the lycra would look like!
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