The altitude of Jackson, WY isn’t exactly the death zone of base camp 4 at Everest, but if you are coming from sea level or other lower elevations, the increase in altitude can be significant enough to throw you and your vacation plans for a loop if you come down with altitude sickness. Nobody wants to be sick, let alone sick on a vacation that they have looked forward to for months or even a lifetime. Here are some tips to help avoid altitude sickness in the first place, so you can see more than just the lovely hotel room on your epic trip out west to Jackson.
The town of Jackson sits at an elevation of 6,237 feet, which is more than a mile high. Yeah were looking at you Denver that somehow is exactly a mile high, right on the nose, not a foot more or less when measured on the steps of the State Capitol Building. They also claim to have some of the best snow on earth, but hey, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. To put this in perspective if you got in your car and drove straight up into the sky and drove for a mile you’d be at the same elevation as Denver. If you kept your foot on the gas pedal and kept driving another 957 feet you’d be at the same elevation as beautiful Jackson Hole, WY. First thing you might think besides how did I get my car to drive straight up into the atmosphere is, “Wow, the air is a lot thinner up here and contains less oxygen to breathe”. This in turn causes you to breathe faster and brings on the unpleasant symptoms of altitude sickness. If you’ve ever been hung over, well the symptoms of altitude sickness are pretty similar.
Symptoms of a hangover include:
- headache
- loss of appetite
- vomiting
- feeling lethargic, weak
- loss of sleep
- feeling dizzy
- excessive thirst
Symptoms of Altitude Sickness include:
- headache
- loss of appetite
- vomiting
- feeling lethargic, weak
- loss of sleep
- feeling dizzy
- shortness of breath
The major difference between the two is one you get for free and the other is the result of a crazy night out that you may or may not remember, but will show up on your credit card statement at the end of the month. Hey, it seemed like a great idea to buy drinks for all your new “friends”at the bar at the time. In short one is avoidable, but the other being altitude sickness just simply affects some and not others when traveling to high elevations.
The average person, not Sasquatch, needs 1 to 3 days to acclimate to a significant change in elevation. So a good idea when you get to Jackson is to take it somewhat easy and ease into your vacation. Make sure you get plenty of sleep, consume plenty of water or other non-alcoholic beverages, and refrain from smoking. You can still go out and climb or bike that mountain, but maybe give your body a day or two of rest before you try and conquer every peak in the valley. This strategy also is advisable if you are attempting to taste every award-winning microbrew, potato vodka, or hand-crafted whiskey in the region. If you go straight to the bar after getting off the air tarmac, you may not be able to tell if you have a hangover or altitude sickness because you’ll frankly have both. In our experience, it’s best to avoid either, so you can see and enjoy all the sights that Jackson has to offer while not feeling like your head is going to explode.
You can also take some steps when preparing for your trip to help avoid getting sick. Travel, whether by car or plane, is notorious for dehydrating travelers, so make sure to drink water often while traveling and even before you take off. Get your body up to speed by drinking up to 2 to 3 liters of water per day in anticipation of the change in altitude. It’s also recommended to avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol while traveling. You should make sure to pack all your necessary medications for your travels so as not to compound the issue. Most people simply acclimate naturally to high altitudes, but if you are concerned, discuss this matter with your doctor who may prescribe medication or possibly supplements to help with this transition.
While on vacation in Jackson, continue to drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids, hey the water is straight from the mountains and delicious, and get plenty of sleep, you’ll probably be exhausted from your adventures anyway, and try not to overexert yourself. Educating yourself on the perils of altitude sickness is your best ally to avoiding it in the first place. High elevation has a lot to offer. Just make sure to take some proper steps to fully enjoy it.
Oh and FYI, baking times may increase at high altitudes because the air pressure is lower, so plan accordingly in the kitchen when you are making your famous Upside-down pineapple cake while on vacation in here.