Preparing Your System for Altitude

Now that most of us are about 30 days before arrival in Telluride, this is probably the best time to start thinking of preparing for arrival at altitude.

  • If you are not already drinking plenty of water every day, start drinking more water, but don’t over do it. You don’t want to wash nutrients from your body.

  • If you have or worry about low potassium, find foods that boost the system in that respect.

  • Higher red blood cell counts really help with adjustment to altitude going smoothly.

  • The three things I was warned about before going to (or at) altitude were caffeine, sugar and alcohol. Think about your current intake of these three things and how much of these are on your Festi-menus.

A happy camper at altitude is a healthy camper! You are headed into extreme camping, and even extreme condo-ing. Be ready for it or be ready for it to possibly take you down at some point of the FESTIVVVAAALLL!!! :thumbsup

Auntie Hope :festivarian2 :green

I’m not going to die at this year’s TBF, am I?

That depends on whether or not you’re selected for the virgin sacrifice. :cheers

But in all seriousness, Telluride sits at 8,745 ft. That’s pretty drastic. I live in MT, and I rarely get to that elevation, let alone party at it for a week and a half. It can make breathing a lot harder. Do what Hope suggests and remember TWO glasses of water for every beer and you should be okay.

Altitude adjustment is serious business.

Auntie Hope, are you a doctor? Or just an angel sent to us from Heaven? Either way, thanks for looking out for everyone.

And you need two beers for every shot of Crunchy Frog, so that means basically drowning by Friday night.

So true, from what I remember…thanks Doc! :drunk (singers in BS+FS f.MF)

:wave It’s now time for you all to start your festival training program. Here is a rerun of a very old post that will help put you on the right path. The more of these actions you accomplish the better shape you’ll be in for the coming Festival:

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Wake up and glare at the bottle on the floor next to your bed
(Note: As training progresses, and greater stamina is achieved, bottle will actually be in your bed)

Stumble to green room in backyard (installed for purposes of training program*) and wait for 20 mins before relieving yourself.

Upon return to front yard, collect instrument someone “borrowed” the night before and left outside all night, leaning against a cooler.
(Note: This is a perfect opportunity to practice true festivarian spirit by not giving in to anger)

Stumble to kitchen, don training program blindfold, and dig through big box o’stuff for little bottle of pain reliever.

Once pain reliever has been located, use dull camp knife to pry open “child-proof” cap, remove blindfold.

Crack a beer and take pain reliever… while eyeing what remains in last night’s bottle.

Pour last remaining shot from bottle while repeating “Hair of the Dog” several times …then, fighting back nausea, back away slowly… in fear.

Replace blindfold, and find soap, towel, quarters, for shower.

Proceed to shower, remove blindfold, turn on hot water and wait for 45 mins before getting into shower, eyes closed, head against wall.

Get into shower, stand for a few minutes until hot water begins to fade, soap up quickly.

SCREAM, curse and perform a “modified stationary panic” when hot water becomes ice cold water… fumble for something to wipe soap out of eyes.

Take clothing and all belongings into front yard and dress in front of entire neighborhood never standing on more than one foot.

Drink the first real cocktail of the day (hair of the dog, hair of the dog) and eat first meal of the day
(Note: While in Town Park this is generally some kind of food bar found in camp or breakfast prepared by someone who obviously went to bed too damn early. As an adjunct to this part of the training program, we advise you look at your very favorite dish for minimum of 20 mins prior to consuming said food; you’ll find this to be valuable prep for the wait in line during the avg. 1-2 x’s per day IFFP** - intended to minimize salivary gland over-stimulation produced by Sisters Dumplings or Killer Flanks)

Saunter out to front yard*** and take up residence in a low-chair, with two Camelbacks: one full of water, the other full of alcoholic substance to build the rarely used orbicudrinkinginsunalldaylaris orsis muscle.
(Note: If you reside in lower elevations… suggested tactic would be to get on the roof of a tall building to ready oneself for alcohol consumption at altitude)

When the “back teeth are floating” feeling hits, go to green room and stand for 20 mins.
(Note: This is an opportunity to begin to perfect the “pee-pee shuffle” disguised as dancing to the music or hacky-sac)

Set-up obstacle course for return to chair… be sure to carry food, dirty-sticker covered plastic cups covered full of liquid and hula-hoop through obstacle course, sit in chair without spilling.
(Note: The obstacle course should also be navigated carrying above objects while blindfolded… to simulate the trip in the dark while drunk.)

Stay in chair until dark and beyond, cheering neighbors/cars as they pass by to build clapping callus.

Replace program blindfold and gather all items taken out at beginning of training day, and return inside via obstacle course.

Put on not quite warm enough clothing, grab musical instrument and make your way out into neighborhood seeking alcohol, warmth, and people willing to jam.

Play music, drink alcohol and try not to complain about the cold until you can no longer stand.

Find reasonably comfortable place to sit, and drink alcohol, complain about cold and play music until you can no longer find the strings.

Sling instrument over your back, put on blindfold, clutch bottle w/ remainder of alcohol someone gave you in your teeth, and crawl back home to bed.
(Note: Sidewalk use is not allowed during this step. Crawl through yards, under bushes, etc… this method should help prepare you for wee-hour drunken rumblin’, bumblin’, stumblin’ return to camp. Extreme training would involve at least 3-4 attempted entries into someone else’s bedroom. Goal is to get out with all limbs, dignity and undergarments intact.)

Lean instrument against cooler in yard, crawl in to house, in to bed and go to sleep.

Repeat.

:peace

:cheers Doc’s orders?

:clap :clap

I’m all about safety.

Oddly, that question is asked every year on the forum as the festival approaches.

The truthful answer to that is: Yes, a little bit…if you are festivating correctly.

At least a few brain cells…

Ha! Well I can live with a little of that I suppose!! :cheers

For information on Altitude Sickness check out www.altituderesearch.org There are also prescription meds you can take beforehand if you know you are susceptible to Altitude Sickness.

:flower Dave

yes but only the weak ones!

The following is an actual excerpt from Forbes Magazine:

A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo, and when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herds as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole is maintained or even improved by the regular culling of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can operate only as fast as the slowest brain cells through which the electrical signals pass. Recent epidemiological studies have shown that while excessive intake of alcohol kills off brain cells, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. Thus, regular consumption of beer helps eliminate the weaker cells, constantly making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. The result of this in-depth study verifies and validates the causal link between all weekend parties and job related performance. It also explains why, after a few short years of leaving a university and getting married, most professionals cannot keep up with the performance of the new graduates. Only those few that stick to the strict regimen of voracious alcoholic consumption can maintain the intellectual levels that they achieve during their college years.

You’re Welcome, Darlin’. :cheers

Far from a Dr. Just someone that has “fallen out” upon first arrival, to the point where all I knew was that I needed to get the the grocery store, and PRONTO, not even knowing what I was going to buy. I walked (barely) in the front door, saw the stand of bananas and (uggg) bottled water, somehow managed to get the money out of my pocket and then landed (hard) on the bench out on the sidewalk. 20 minutes later I was back on my feet… two baanas and two (uggg) bottles of water later.

I’m a woose… that was after 12 hours in town and half a beer. It may take you 6 hours longer, but I guarantee… you’ll hit the same bench if you’re not careful.

Just wondering… did anyone ever find Glenn Hansard’s Sunday apology to the festi-field in 2009 on youtube? Someone else can tell that story if the video can’t be found. :sorry

Auntie Hope :festivarian2 :green

word has it Ginkgo Biloba can be beneficial. :sorry

I think sunburn is an even bigger concern. You have to be SOOOOOO careful. If you do burn, lots of aloe and keep it out of the sun…DO NOT PUT SUNSCREEN ON A BURN!!! It will trap the heat in and make your life and Telluride experience miserable. :cheers

If you get sunburned drink lots and lots and lots of water, and aloe helps of course too.

Also, for info on Altitude Sickness check out www.altituderesearch.org and click on “Traveling to altitude” Cheers everyone and have a safe, fun, and happy fest!

:flower Dave

There is a fix for sunburn… this from a former Florida Mom…

Distilled White Vinegar. Once sunburned get clean, however you do that, and before doing anything else dab the vinegar on the burn. I promise, you will only smell like a salad for five minutes or so. AFTER the vinegar dries coat the skin with clear aloe vera gel and keep coating until the skin no longer soaks up the gel.

WARNING: You can not continue to get burned day after day at festival. Burning of the skin is actually a chemical reaction that is happening under the surface of the skin, hence the reason one continues to burn after getting clean and after nightfall. The vinegar neutralizes the chemical reaction happening in the skin.

SUNSCREEN AND WATER are the keys to happy Festivation! :thumbsup

Auntie Hope :festivarian2

Disclaimer: This is not expert medical advice, only “an option”.