Camping, backpacking, hiking, et al

[Hungary Jack]

I just bring as much alcohol as I can carry.

model airplane glue is much lighter and just as effective.

[Hungary Jack]

So for people who have hiked at altitude, have you found any tricks for dealing with altitude sickness?

There is a drug that you can take beforehand that might help. I'm sorry but I cannot recall the name. But the best way to prepare for altitude is to try to acclimatize gradually, and be in the best possible aerobic shape as possible.

[G. Keenan]

So for people who have hiked at altitude, have you found any tricks for dealing with altitude sickness?

There is a drug that you can take beforehand that might help. I'm sorry but I cannot recall the name. But the best way to prepare for altitude is to try to acclimatize gradually, and be in the best possible aerobic shape as possible.

You might be thinking of Diamox? I got me some of that.

In Peru and Bolivia they also drink lots of mate de coca tea, which supposedly helps. Apparently if you get drug tested after drinking it you'll test positive for cocaine.

[thrill]

So for people who have hiked at altitude, have you found any tricks for dealing with altitude sickness?

Water, water, water and more water.

Being in good shape will never hurt.

I saw on no reservations, Bourdain went to Cuzco and had wicked altitude headaches, chewed on some coca leaves and it went away almost instantly.

[Popeye_Card]

I am considering 3 main places for my summer trip, which would be a week-long (9 days, with the two weekends) backpacking/hiking trip. Probably the longest single trip I'd want to do is 3 days, with other assorted day hikes mixed in.

Beartooth Wilderness (Wyoming/Montana)
Mt. Cloud Wilderness (Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming)
Grand Tetons (to do the Grand Teton Crest trail)

Anyone with much experience with these places? (I'm looking at you, HJ) I'd be looking to go over July 4th week to save a vacation day, so I'm fearful that the Tetons might be a bit crowded. I like National Forrests because the rules are much more relaxed, and they're not nearly as crowded.

I've done some hiking in the Tetons in the past, and would like to do more. I've only driven through the Beartooths and Bighorns, but I'd like to do some hikes there.

[Freed Roger]

So for people who have hiked at altitude, have you found any tricks for dealing with altitude sickness?

Water, water, water and more water.

Being in good shape will never hurt.

I saw on no reservations, Bourdain went to Cuzco and had wicked altitude headaches, chewed on some coca leaves and it went away almost instantly.

++ on the water. first day or two - go easy on the alcohol and drinks with diuretic effects.

And agreed -being in good shape doesn't hurt - but may not truly help with acclimization i.e. in Colo last summer I went on a run with my niece (she went to state for X-country) and she was struggling - couldn't keep pace with me - and I can guarantee shes cruises normally at least a minute+ per mile faster pace than me.

Though this may not be directly associated with acclimating to altitude -A travel tip I've tried seems to help - train your stomach for a couple weeks before trip. Eat yogurt and foods of that ilk with the "good" bacteria etc in it that helps with digestion. I think you can get a pill with this stuff in it. Sometimes people think altitude is causing other non-related ailments -such as er..ummm.. travelers stomach.

[Hungary Jack]

I am considering 3 main places for my summer trip, which would be a week-long (9 days, with the two weekends) backpacking/hiking trip. Probably the longest single trip I'd want to do is 3 days, with other assorted day hikes mixed in.

Beartooth Wilderness (Wyoming/Montana)
Mt. Cloud Wilderness (Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming)
Grand Tetons (to do the Grand Teton Crest trail)

Anyone with much experience with these places? (I'm looking at you, HJ) I'd be looking to go over July 4th week to save a vacation day, so I'm fearful that the Tetons might be a bit crowded. I like National Forrests because the rules are much more relaxed, and they're not nearly as crowded.

I've done some hiking in the Tetons in the past, and would like to do more. I've only driven through the Beartooths and Bighorns, but I'd like to do some hikes there.

Ack. I really haven't backpacked much at all in the Rockies, regretfully. Some time in the Southwest, but mostly day hiking in Colorado Front Range, Gore, and Sawatch. All of those trips sound great, especially the Teton Crest. The Bighorns strike me as a very out-of-the-way place.

Another place to consider might be Great Basin NP in Nevada. Near there is the Ruby Mountain Range, which supposedly is very pristine.

[Popeye_Card]

I am considering 3 main places for my summer trip, which would be a week-long (9 days, with the two weekends) backpacking/hiking trip. Probably the longest single trip I'd want to do is 3 days, with other assorted day hikes mixed in.

Beartooth Wilderness (Wyoming/Montana)
Mt. Cloud Wilderness (Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming)
Grand Tetons (to do the Grand Teton Crest trail)

Anyone with much experience with these places? (I'm looking at you, HJ) I'd be looking to go over July 4th week to save a vacation day, so I'm fearful that the Tetons might be a bit crowded. I like National Forrests because the rules are much more relaxed, and they're not nearly as crowded.

I've done some hiking in the Tetons in the past, and would like to do more. I've only driven through the Beartooths and Bighorns, but I'd like to do some hikes there.

Ack. I really haven't backpacked much at all in the Rockies, regretfully. Some time in the Southwest, but mostly day hiking in Colorado Front Range, Gore, and Sawatch. All of those trips sound great, especially the Teton Crest. The Bighorns strike me as a very out-of-the-way place.

Another place to consider might be Great Basin NP in Nevada. Near there is the Ruby Mountain Range, which supposedly is very pristine.

The Bighorns are one of my options since I've got a buddy who will be staying in Sheridan, WY this summer. I've also talked with a guy from Wyoming in the past who said the Bighorns have always been his favorite to spend time in (he was a big horseback rider).

I think Zion NP will be my destination next summer, and I do need to make it out to Nevada and California as well. So many places to go, so little vacation time. I think I want to take a 3 month sabbatical some summer and just get a lot of travelling in.

[thrill]

I've gotten altitude sickness twice. The first two times I came straight from Illinois, climbed to 12,500 feet and got really sick. It was at the same exact point on Long's Peak both times. The third time, I camped at about 8,000 feet for 4 days, then climbed to 14+ and was fine. I just needed those days of acclimitization.

[Hungary Jack]

I've gotten altitude sickness twice. The first two times I came straight from Illinois, climbed to 12,500 feet and got really sick. It was at the same exact point on Long's Peak both times. The third time, I camped at about 8,000 feet for 4 days, then climbed to 14+ and was fine. I just needed those days of acclimitization.

Boulder Field before the Keyhole?