High Altitude Training

Carneyje3

I have some buddies who are moving out to Boulder, CO. I'm trying to plan a trip out to visit them and I'm hoping to get some major hiking in out there. Has anyone done training for higher altitude who can offer some advice? I've seen the high altitude training masks, but I haven't heard good things about them.

puffbrat

What altitude are you at now? Have you ever been to higher altitudes?

Carneyje3

I live at 39' compared to Boulders 5328'. I've never been to anything remotely close to that long term. Years ago I did a cycling trip from Vancouver to San Diego, so I rode down the West Coast but I'm unaware of any elevation I was at that would be comparable.

tlpina82

Carneyje3 wrote: »

I have some buddies who are moving out to Boulder, CO. I'm trying to plan a trip out to visit them and I'm hoping to get some major hiking in out there. Has anyone done training for higher altitude who can offer some advice? I've seen the high altitude training masks, but I haven't heard good things about them.

I went to see a soccer game (We call it Football) in Cochabamba, Bolivia and I went for a run at Elevation: 2,558 m (8,392 ft).
That was hell.

The south Boulder Peak is about 50 meters higher - 8549 ft / 2606 m

Only thing that came close to this was Military Training where we had to run with a partially blocked snorkel. Basically, they put duct tape to cover half of the snorkel pipe and taped the mask to our faces to seal it.
It felt ok walking, but the moment we started to run, it felt like my legs weighed double what they do.

puffbrat

I live at a slightly lower altitude than Boulder. This article has suggestions that friends have told me they do to visit me. https://www.theoutbound.com/rachel-davidson/7-tips-for-high-altitude-hiking

Based on my friends' experiences - if possible, get to Colorado a couple days before planning to do any strenuous activity to give yourself a little time to adapt. Drink lots of water and get as much sleep as possible the first 24 hours you are in Colorado. Listen to your body.

ETA: This is also what I do when I want to go hiking over 9500' since that is where I start to feel the altitude.

DaddieCat

puffbrat wrote: »

I live at a slightly lower altitude than Boulder. This article has suggestions that friends have told me they do to visit me. https://www.theoutbound.com/rachel-davidson/7-tips-for-high-altitude-hiking

Based on my friends' experiences - if possible, get to Colorado a couple days before planning to do any strenuous activity to give yourself a little time to adapt. Drink lots of water and get as much sleep as possible the first 24 hours you are in Colorado. Listen to your body.

ETA: This is also what I do when I want to go hiking over 9500' since that is where I start to feel the altitude.

This. I live here. Hydration helps. Having a day or two to adapt helps. Getting those weird little bottles of oxygen also helpful, I'm told.

Carneyje3

Very helpful guys! Looks like the best things I can do would be lots of weighted conditioning, making sure I properly prepare when I get out there, and give myself enough of a time table to properly assimilate to the elevation.

lalalacroix

Although I don't live in Boulder, I hike there at least once each week. When I first moved here the biggest issue with altitude was breathing.

From my experience and that with friends and family I will say that altitude under 9,000 doesn't seem to affect people too terribly. Mostly it causes people to be a bit out of breath and you may hike a bit slower and need a few more breaks. And acclimation often only takes a couple days for many people. Over 9,000 feet can be a different story altogether.

Enjoy your visit. Maybe I'll see you on trail.

NorthCascades

You won't be hiking in Boulder, you'll be going into the mountains, traveling through beautiful places, makin' me jealous, at higher altitude. It might literally take your breath away. All you can really do is set your expectations reasonably, and take lots of great pics and come back here and share them with us.

lorrpb

Altitude affects people differently. Try to plan your trip so you have a couple days to adapt. Take it easy the first day on the trail. I don’t know anything about training specifically for that, but I think overall cardio conditioning would help. Enjoy your trip!