Mountains are my specialty. Ha! In fact, since I get afflicted with awful altitude sickness when I venture up to the mountains, I truly know how to be prepared! Vacationing in the mountains is not always relaxing or renewing for me because it’s not that simple when an extreme migraine type of headache surmounts. Fortunately, I have a few easy ways to mitigate these little (or big) annoyances. Try out my myriad of tips so that your journey can be as stress-free and fun as possible. And if you’d like any tips on where to visit, Just Ask me!
1) Check in with your doctor
Whether you’re a mile high or at 10,000 feet, altitude can play havoc on your physical being. If you’ve experienced any altitude sickness at all, ask your doctor if you should be prescribed Diamox. It’s used to prevent and reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness. This little white pill helps me tremendously. I start taking them two days before ascent and continue for three days while way up high.
2) Stay hydrated
I can’t emphasize this enough! If you’re active in the mountains like I am and love to hike or ski or bike, always tuck a small water bottle in your coat pocket with you. I also put a drop of pure sport water enhancer in 20 oz. of water, which has some B-12 and Hawaiian sea salts (I found this concoction at the Sun Valley Lodge Spa) to give me some extra energy while keeping me hydrated. Don’t drink alcohol the first day or two until your body acclimates. You’ll have plenty of time to imbue after your body gets acquainted with the mountain air.
3) Pack Advil
When I hiked Machu Picchu I read a lot about hiking and altitude sickness. The one piece of information that really helped me was to continuously take Advil throughout the day to help with narrowing blood vessels in the brain in order to avoid a headache. It truly worked! If you do unfortunately get a migraine headache, make sure to pack another prescription drug called Maxalt. I don’t recommend taking prescriptions, but as an altitude sickness survivor, they can be life-saving!
4) Don’t forget snacks
During any physical activity in the mountains, your energy gets depleted. The “thin” air at high altitudes has considerably less oxygen, making you have to breathe more and work harder. Always carry a few of your favorite energy snacks that will keep you satisfied. If it has to be a pb&j sandwich or a piece of pepperoni pizza, bring it! Sometimes those very healthy protein bars taste like cardboard and just don’t do the trick when you're working out hard. Indulge!
5) Get in shape
Doing any type of physical activity in the mountains can be fun, but it can also take a toll on your body. If you’re going on a skiing trip and you haven’t skied in three years, make sure your lungs and limbs are ready for this strenuous sport. Do some cardio and lots of squats well before your trip so you can ski down those bumps with your friends. I’ll have to admit, I was hit by a rude awakening on my last ski trip to Sun Valley. But not again! I will be in tip-top shape to hit Mt. Baldy!
Enjoy the mountains, but be prepared!
