I’ve heard about people getting “high altitude sickness”. What is it and how do we avoid it?
Your body can be affected by the sudden change in altitude (going from, say, sea level to 9000+ feet where the air is much thinner) and may result in nausea, listlessness, headaches and other symptoms that can make you feel miserable. To decrease the chances for getting high altitude sickness, drink plenty of fluids—especially water—before you arrive in the mountains AND during your stay. Avoid alcohol and drugs which can escalate the symptoms. It is also very important to remember than a chance for severe sunburn increases at higher elevations. This is because of decreased oxygen. For your protection, always wear sunscreen (preferably a protection factor of 15 or above).
