When Altitude Sickness Attacks!

The first time I skied Utah, I got hit hard by the ‘tude’. I had no idea what it was; I actually thought I’d picked up a flu from the man spluttering next to me on the plane.

My inability to walk straight- let alone ski straight – was not my idea of a well-deserved ski holiday…. So I did a little research to help me be more aware for my next ski trip!

Altitude sickness can occur when skiing Utah, as a number of the resorts sit around/above 8,000 feet.

Alta –8,530’
Brian Head –9,600’
Brighton –8,755’
Eagle Point – 9,000’
Snowbird –7,760’
Solitude –8.000’

Look out for the symptoms:

Headaches, dizziness, interrupted sleep and fatigue. Yes, we know a lot of these symptoms can also be related to après ski, the party goers in the hotel room above you, and skiing in general.

Minimize the setbacks of altitude sickness:

Follow these super simple tips and hopefully your lasting memory of your Utah ski holiday won’t involve chowing on packets of Codral or clocking loads of couch time in your five-star hotel!
Stay hydrated by drinking lots of fluids – not alcoholic.
Eat a high-carbohydrate diet
Consider skiing or riding for just a couple of hours on your first day, then go get a massage (there are a number of places at Utah’s ski resorts to do so)
Be in shape. A body that’s in good physical condition will likely experience fewer negative effects from the altitude.

Train:

View our “7 Weeks to Utah Ski Holiday” training program here.

Most importantly of all, listen to your body. Don’t push it – you’re on a ski holiday after all!