I’ve been fortunate that visiting higher altitudes has not affected my daily life much. I can still hike and ski at 12,000 feet with minimal issues. My husband is the same way. So, when we purchased a second home in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in 2009, we went back and forth between Atlanta (1,050 feet) and the mountains (8,500 feet) without any issues.
And then we had our daughter. From the very beginning, it was apparent that adjusting to the altitude would not be as easy for her. Over the years, we have developed a routine (with the help of our pediatrician) for our trips out to Colorado. This is a year-round routine for the kids below:
Day before travel
Limit dairy and heavier foods
Focus on water and hydration to get ahead of headaches
Day of travel
Only water to drink the day of travel.
Focus on foods like pretzels and crackers for snacks and limit dairy intake altogether.
I truly do not go anywhere without these blue bags, especially when traveling to high altitudes!
My children get dehydration headaches the first night at high altitude. I find that giving them a chewable ibuprofen on the flight prevents this headache from occurring. Chewables are best to travel with, in my opinion.
Limit screen usage. This one is hard. But, especially in a car, it is important. It helps keep nausea away.
No strenuous activity on the day of travel.
Day after travel
Keep a blue bag on hand at all times.
Keep a small bag of pretzels for snacks.
Limited dairy consumption.
Take ibuprofen in the morning.
These are the steps we take for sure if we are skiing. The kids are usually in ski school the first day after travel, so we all know the drill now. This 3-day routine helps us stay on track to enjoy our vacation at a higher altitude with minimal sickness.
We have known many adult friends who experienced AMS - acute mountain sickness - and needed to head back down to Denver. Up in the ski resorts, the elevation is around 9,000-11,000 feet. Denver is 5,280 feet. Many people feel better by simply returning to a slightly lower elevation, where there is more oxygen in the air.
If you're traveling to a higher altitude for the first time, consider some or all of these tips to ensure a seamless acclimation process.
*This is not meant to be construed as medical advice.*