By David Draper

Starting in late August, thousands of hunters from east of the Continental Divide converge on the Rocky Mountains to hunt elk and mule deer. Most of them will experience the hunting trip of a lifetime, whether they tag out or not. Some of them will spend the first couple of days feeling, generally, like crap. And, though it’s rare, a small percentage could succumb to much more serious health problems associated with the high country.

Hunters who rush from their home at lower altitudes into the mountains run the risk of suffering from acute mountain sickness (AMS), more commonly known as altitude sickness. AMS generally manifests itself in symptoms such as headache, shortness of breath, nausea and loss of appetite. Generally, its consequences are not much more serious than losing the first couple of days of the hunt. It’s easily treated by spending a day or so at an altitude below 8,000 feet.

Much more serious is High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE). These two potentially fatal ailments are most common at extreme high altitudes – think Everest, but can happen above 8,000 feet, where much of the Rocky Mountain elk and deer hunting takes place. HAPE causes a build-up of fluid in the lungs and difficulty breathing while HACE is marked by confusion and mental fatigue. It’s a leading cause of death among climbers. Both must be treated by quick descent to lower altitudes and medical attention.

Preventing altitude sickness means acclimatizing yourself slowly. Experts suggest gaining only 1,000 feet of altitude per day. Better yet, if you’re coming from out of state, plan to spend a day in the foothills before heading to a high-country camp. Don’t over-exert yourself the first day of the hunt and stay hydrated. Setting up camp at lower elevations than you’re hunting can also help you acclimate faster.

For more information about staying healthy in the high country, you can learn about AMS here. -- David Draper, F&S Contributing Editor

Comments (4)

from whitefish wrote 2 years 33 weeks ago

scrap your fourwheeler, dont bother bringing it to the mountains

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from CoBowHunter wrote 1 year 30 weeks ago

I believe your body replaces all of your red blood cells in your body every month. Being at high altitudes gets your body to produce more red blood cells that can carry oxygen. So, it takes a while for your body to catch up. I think what happens is, you just get used to sucking wind and you adjust your physical activity and breathing to match what your body can do. Nothing replaces being in shape for mountain climbing.

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from langyanzi wrote 25 weeks 1 day ago

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from whitefish wrote 2 years 33 weeks ago

scrap your fourwheeler, dont bother bringing it to the mountains

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from CoBowHunter wrote 1 year 30 weeks ago

I believe your body replaces all of your red blood cells in your body every month. Being at high altitudes gets your body to produce more red blood cells that can carry oxygen. So, it takes a while for your body to catch up. I think what happens is, you just get used to sucking wind and you adjust your physical activity and breathing to match what your body can do. Nothing replaces being in shape for mountain climbing.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from langyanzi wrote 25 weeks 1 day ago

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0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from langyanzi wrote 25 weeks 1 day ago

Good challenge ..
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0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.