Camping in the mountains: a quick guide to the effects of elevation

Whether it be living, working, camping, or flying small airplanes, Mark and I have spent a lot of our lives in high altitude environments throughout the Colorado Rockies. The effects of living at high elevation are more prominent to us now than ever because we spend our winters at sea level in Mexico and our summers in Colorado’s high country. Last week, while camped at 9800′ in Colorado’s Routt National Forest, I got to thinking about all the ways in which high altitude environments create unique challenges. If you’re not aware of those challenges, camping in the mountains may not be the respite you were hoping for. With that, I thought I’d compile this little guide with insight into what you can expect when recreating in high elevation locales.

Elevation vs. Altitude

Elevation and altitude are two different things. Elevation is the measurement of distance from sea level to a particular place on the earth’s surface. The town of Breckenridge, Colorado for example has an elevation of 9,600′ above sea level. Altitude is the measurement of distance from sea level to an object in the sky, such as an airplane. While they are two different things, high elevation environments are often referred to as being at high altitude.

What is considered high elevation?

Environments between 5,000 and 8,000′ above sea level are considered moderate while places above 8,000′ above sea level are considered high elevation. Denver, Colorado is located at the base of the Rocky Mountains and sits at an elevation of 5,280′. As you travel west of Denver, elevation rises, topping out at the peak of Mount Elbert which rises to 14,433′ above sea level. Camping in Colorado’s national forests will likely land you somewhere between 7,000′ and 11,000′ in elevation.

High elevation environments are present in all of the western states of the US. This includes Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness is a real thing and manifests in a variety of ways, depending on the person. Some symptoms of altitude sickness include headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, trouble sleeping, and shortness of breath. From witnessing the effects on family members who come to visit us in various places around Colorado we’ve seen symptoms start to appear around 7,000′ in elevation. The best way to avoid altitude sickness is by acclimatization. If you have the time and resources to step up in elevation slowly, you allow your body the time to adapt to reduced oxygen and changes in air pressure. For example, one or two days spent in Denver (5,280′) could allow your body to adjust before continuing on to the mountains and setting up camp at 9,000′. Mild symptoms may dissipate on their own over time. If symptoms are severe or don’t go away, the only cure is to go down in elevation.

Note: It is imperative to drink more water at high elevation to help combat the effects of altitude sickness. Due to a variety of factors, the body is more susceptible to dehydration when in high elevation environments.

Bodily changes

Altitude sickness is not a guarantee, however, you are almost guaranteed to notice changes in your physical abilities due to the decreased oxygen. It will be easier to get out of breath and you may not be capable of the same level of exercise as what you’re used to at or nearer to sea level. Alcohol may have a more potent effect on your body causing you to feel intoxicated sooner than you normally would. Smoking and drinking can exacerbate the effects of high elevation. Waiting a couple of days to drink and smoke can allow your body time to adapt to less oxygen.

Higher UV

While the air temperature is usually more mild in the mountains, the intensity of the sun is greater, making it feel much hotter than you might expect. This is because there is less atmosphere to filter out UV. If you’re not prepared, you’ll quickly find out that your skin will burn much faster at high elevation than at sea level. For this reason, sun protection is crucial when spending time outside in the mountains.

Rapid weather changes

Weather can change rapidly in the mountains. What begins as a cloudless sky at sunrise can morph into angry-looking thunderheads in no time. Thunderstorms are common in the mountains during the summer and can cause the temperature to drop 20-30 degrees in a matter of minutes. At high elevation, precipitation often comes in the form of hail or graupel. High wind gusts are always possible as storms build and it’s important to note that lightning strikes are always a possibility at high elevation. Due to quick changes in the weather, always make sure items are secure at your camp and awnings are put away before you leave your camp unattended. If you’re heading out to hike, bike, etc., make sure to bring essentials like a rain coat and a down coat. For summit hikes (climbing to the top of a peak), it’s advised to be off the peak before 11am to avoid the threat of a thunderstorm. If you’re going out for a paddle on a mountain lake, the earlier in the day the calmer the water. When wind gusts pick up mid-day, paddling can become a challenge.

On any given summer day in the mountains, you are likely to experience a variety of weather conditions. For that reason, Mark and I always have various gear on-hand such as our rain coats, down coats, hats, gloves, sun shirts with UV protection, and wide-brimmed hats. We always where clothing that is easy to layer as we know how common it is to be hot and cold in the same day.

Cooking

The higher you go in elevation the lower the temperature in which it takes water to reach its boiling point. For example, water boils at 198º at 7500′ rather than reaching 212º to boil at sea level. Due to the lower temperature, cooking time will increase.

Vehicle Performance

Due to the decrease in air density and subsequent decrease in oxygen, vehicle engines have less power in high elevation environments. This can be recipe for disaster when climbing steep mountain passes of which there are many throughout the Rocky Mountains. If you are driving a heavily loaded truck camper like us or are towing a trailer, it is vital to pay attention to your engine and transmission temperatures to avoid overheating. Air temperature is rising in the mountains every year making it easier for vehicles to overheat. Every summer we see and hear about vehicles that have caught fire on the side of the highway while trying to climb one mountain pass or another. RVers should exercise caution when driving and towing in the mountains.

A short season for camping

Snow can remain on the ground at high elevation locations through June depending on how much snowfall the previous winter brought. Many campgrounds and forest service roads will close seasonally; typically they open around Memorial Day weekend. Due to the possibility of snow starting in October, seasonal roads and campgrounds often close at the end of September. June, July, August, and September are prime months for camping in the mountains.

While this is hardly an exhaustive guide to the ins and outs of the effects of high elevation, we hope it gives you an idea of what to look out for when camping in the mountains. The Rocky Mountains are an exquisite place to recreate but can also bring unexpected challenges. The more prepared you are, the better your experience will be.

Happy camping,
Michele & Mark