JK at 14,200 feet (caution dialup)
JK Freak
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
From: Chandler, AZ
It's not as bad in CO as far as elevation. You start this trail at around 10,500 feet or so and end up at 14,000. In HI, you're starting at sea level and climbing to over 10,000 feet, so there's a rapid adjustment that needs to be made by your body. Every year though we get skiers that come in from lower elevations, ski all day, and then collapse and sometimes die due to exerting yourself before your body is acclimated. I can remember this happening twice in Summit County alone last year
They make me want to move out there!!
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 139
Likes: 1
From: Fort Collins, Colorado
Wow, thanks everyone for such responses! I don't have kids so I take a lot of pictures of my only baby: my jk! 
As to altitude, it was really more like going from 5,200 to 14,200 feet as we live near, and started from, Denver. Most of the altitude sickness information I've found refers to elevations of 10,000 or greater.
From Princeton University's outdoor action guide:
"There are no specific factors such as age, sex, or physical condition that correlate with susceptibility to altitude sickness. Some people get it and some people don't, and some people are more susceptible than others. Most people can go up to 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) with minimal effect. If you haven't been to high altitude before, it's important to be cautious. If you have been at that altitude before with no problem, you can probably return to that altitude without problems as long as you are properly acclimatized."
Curiously, they fail to mention the extreme joy that can be had from enjoying a Fat Tire at 14,200 feet with views exceeding 100 miles!
As to altitude, it was really more like going from 5,200 to 14,200 feet as we live near, and started from, Denver. Most of the altitude sickness information I've found refers to elevations of 10,000 or greater.
From Princeton University's outdoor action guide:
"There are no specific factors such as age, sex, or physical condition that correlate with susceptibility to altitude sickness. Some people get it and some people don't, and some people are more susceptible than others. Most people can go up to 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) with minimal effect. If you haven't been to high altitude before, it's important to be cautious. If you have been at that altitude before with no problem, you can probably return to that altitude without problems as long as you are properly acclimatized."
Curiously, they fail to mention the extreme joy that can be had from enjoying a Fat Tire at 14,200 feet with views exceeding 100 miles!
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: No where
I'm going to be hiking near there pretty soon. I grew up outside of the springs and try to get back there every chance I get. Going from sea level to 10,000 feet in a day and a half is going to be fun, not to mention the 14er's I'm plaining on climbing. I'll let ya'll know if I make it back ok or not. Never been Air sick, sea sick, car sick or had altitude sickness before. I've had friends get it pretty bad before, noise bleeds are pretty common, and a hellacous head ache
. Great pictures
, everytime I see vast mountain scape shots I think of home.
. Great pictures, everytime I see vast mountain scape shots I think of home.
JK Freak
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 919
Likes: 0
From: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Beautiful pics! Next year's roadtrip: Alberta, Montana down through CO and the Rubi. Can't wait.
I never paid much to altitude sickness till I went from Sea Level to 8500 feet and tried to do PT...ouch.
I never paid much to altitude sickness till I went from Sea Level to 8500 feet and tried to do PT...ouch.