hi , New to CF.com I have recently taught my nephew(9.5 yrs.),who has CF, to ski . Is it detremental to take him up in mountains skiing ???. We can go as high as 12680 ft. although we mostly are between 11000 and 8000???? hes been out there 2 full weeks last january and again this past november/december and seem to love it . although i have my concerns since he went to doctor today and was told his lungs were not doing as good . haven't got full scoop yet but am ready to take over his care !!! his immediate family isn't pushing /helping treatments or medicine -from what i see. anybody out there have altitude issues ????
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skiing up to 12, 680 ft
- Thread starter angel4us
- Start date
hi , New to CF.com I have recently taught my nephew(9.5 yrs.),who has CF, to ski . Is it detremental to take him up in mountains skiing ???. We can go as high as 12680 ft. although we mostly are between 11000 and 8000???? hes been out there 2 full weeks last january and again this past november/december and seem to love it . although i have my concerns since he went to doctor today and was told his lungs were not doing as good . haven't got full scoop yet but am ready to take over his care !!! his immediate family isn't pushing /helping treatments or medicine -from what i see. anybody out there have altitude issues ????
First, I think its awesome that your nephew is skiing. I credit much of my success in fighting CF to my year-round high level of physical activity, and coming from New England, being able to enjoy winter and participating in winter sports makes a huge difference.
Personally, I've been ok with altitude, but find that I have a lot more energy skiing at lower levels. Its a trade off... the snow out west, enjoy the cruisers and the intermediates, or do more challenging stuff on smaller mountains. I've been skiing as high as 14,000 (Arapahoe Basin, CO). Yes, I've had some fatigue issues, and would recommend taking several days to acclimate if you are coming from sea level. I have had several conversations with my Dr's about this, and would encourage you to do the same. I was told that it should not be detrimental unless one has seriously compromised lung function. In my experience, if he is doing well enough to ski, he should be able to handle it. He may fatigue very easily at higher altitude, but shouldn't suffer long term problems... he may enjoy skiing at lower levels more. Let him do what he can handle, and be ready to take it easy if that's what he needs.
If you go up into high altitude, HYDRATE... otherwise, altitude sickness/ fatigue will be an issue.
Here is an example of slowing building up to higher altitudes from a trip I took last year.
1) Fly from sea level to denver (@5,000 ft)
2) Stay in Denver for about 36 hours.
3) Drive up a little higher... we spent another day in Keystone/ Silverthorn before skiing, which added another few thousand ft.
4) 2 days of skiing at lower mountains .... Keystone one day, breckenridge the next.... breck has one very high peak, which i avoided.
5) On the third day of skiing, (5th day of trip) I was ready to go higher.... went to A-Basin, which tops out at around 14,000 ft.
6) Next day rested (very jealous, as all of my skiing buddies went to Copper Mtn. that day) <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">
7) Last big Ski day... Vail.
8) Drove back to Denver
9) Fly back east to the land of Ice and rain :-(
One last word of advice... Free the heal, and Free the Mind!!!! http://www.ustsa.org/
Chris
25 w/ CF
Personally, I've been ok with altitude, but find that I have a lot more energy skiing at lower levels. Its a trade off... the snow out west, enjoy the cruisers and the intermediates, or do more challenging stuff on smaller mountains. I've been skiing as high as 14,000 (Arapahoe Basin, CO). Yes, I've had some fatigue issues, and would recommend taking several days to acclimate if you are coming from sea level. I have had several conversations with my Dr's about this, and would encourage you to do the same. I was told that it should not be detrimental unless one has seriously compromised lung function. In my experience, if he is doing well enough to ski, he should be able to handle it. He may fatigue very easily at higher altitude, but shouldn't suffer long term problems... he may enjoy skiing at lower levels more. Let him do what he can handle, and be ready to take it easy if that's what he needs.
If you go up into high altitude, HYDRATE... otherwise, altitude sickness/ fatigue will be an issue.
Here is an example of slowing building up to higher altitudes from a trip I took last year.
1) Fly from sea level to denver (@5,000 ft)
2) Stay in Denver for about 36 hours.
3) Drive up a little higher... we spent another day in Keystone/ Silverthorn before skiing, which added another few thousand ft.
4) 2 days of skiing at lower mountains .... Keystone one day, breckenridge the next.... breck has one very high peak, which i avoided.
5) On the third day of skiing, (5th day of trip) I was ready to go higher.... went to A-Basin, which tops out at around 14,000 ft.
6) Next day rested (very jealous, as all of my skiing buddies went to Copper Mtn. that day) <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">
7) Last big Ski day... Vail.
8) Drove back to Denver
9) Fly back east to the land of Ice and rain :-(
One last word of advice... Free the heal, and Free the Mind!!!! http://www.ustsa.org/
Chris
25 w/ CF
First, I think its awesome that your nephew is skiing. I credit much of my success in fighting CF to my year-round high level of physical activity, and coming from New England, being able to enjoy winter and participating in winter sports makes a huge difference.
Personally, I've been ok with altitude, but find that I have a lot more energy skiing at lower levels. Its a trade off... the snow out west, enjoy the cruisers and the intermediates, or do more challenging stuff on smaller mountains. I've been skiing as high as 14,000 (Arapahoe Basin, CO). Yes, I've had some fatigue issues, and would recommend taking several days to acclimate if you are coming from sea level. I have had several conversations with my Dr's about this, and would encourage you to do the same. I was told that it should not be detrimental unless one has seriously compromised lung function. In my experience, if he is doing well enough to ski, he should be able to handle it. He may fatigue very easily at higher altitude, but shouldn't suffer long term problems... he may enjoy skiing at lower levels more. Let him do what he can handle, and be ready to take it easy if that's what he needs.
If you go up into high altitude, HYDRATE... otherwise, altitude sickness/ fatigue will be an issue.
Here is an example of slowing building up to higher altitudes from a trip I took last year.
1) Fly from sea level to denver (@5,000 ft)
2) Stay in Denver for about 36 hours.
3) Drive up a little higher... we spent another day in Keystone/ Silverthorn before skiing, which added another few thousand ft.
4) 2 days of skiing at lower mountains .... Keystone one day, breckenridge the next.... breck has one very high peak, which i avoided.
5) On the third day of skiing, (5th day of trip) I was ready to go higher.... went to A-Basin, which tops out at around 14,000 ft.
6) Next day rested (very jealous, as all of my skiing buddies went to Copper Mtn. that day) <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">
7) Last big Ski day... Vail.
8) Drove back to Denver
9) Fly back east to the land of Ice and rain :-(
One last word of advice... Free the heal, and Free the Mind!!!! http://www.ustsa.org/
Chris
25 w/ CF
Personally, I've been ok with altitude, but find that I have a lot more energy skiing at lower levels. Its a trade off... the snow out west, enjoy the cruisers and the intermediates, or do more challenging stuff on smaller mountains. I've been skiing as high as 14,000 (Arapahoe Basin, CO). Yes, I've had some fatigue issues, and would recommend taking several days to acclimate if you are coming from sea level. I have had several conversations with my Dr's about this, and would encourage you to do the same. I was told that it should not be detrimental unless one has seriously compromised lung function. In my experience, if he is doing well enough to ski, he should be able to handle it. He may fatigue very easily at higher altitude, but shouldn't suffer long term problems... he may enjoy skiing at lower levels more. Let him do what he can handle, and be ready to take it easy if that's what he needs.
If you go up into high altitude, HYDRATE... otherwise, altitude sickness/ fatigue will be an issue.
Here is an example of slowing building up to higher altitudes from a trip I took last year.
1) Fly from sea level to denver (@5,000 ft)
2) Stay in Denver for about 36 hours.
3) Drive up a little higher... we spent another day in Keystone/ Silverthorn before skiing, which added another few thousand ft.
4) 2 days of skiing at lower mountains .... Keystone one day, breckenridge the next.... breck has one very high peak, which i avoided.
5) On the third day of skiing, (5th day of trip) I was ready to go higher.... went to A-Basin, which tops out at around 14,000 ft.
6) Next day rested (very jealous, as all of my skiing buddies went to Copper Mtn. that day) <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">
7) Last big Ski day... Vail.
8) Drove back to Denver
9) Fly back east to the land of Ice and rain :-(
One last word of advice... Free the heal, and Free the Mind!!!! http://www.ustsa.org/
Chris
25 w/ CF
lovingBenandCambree
New member
I live in an Altitude of about 6500 ft. and I can tell a difference in just going 1000 ft. higher. At that point I need to be on oxygen. All I can tell you is that it really depends on how well his lungs are at this point. My lungs used to be great and I never felt that big of a difference going into the mountains but now as i have been through different traumas with my lungs there is a huge difference. I would mostly keep tabs with docs to see what there thoughs are.
Emilee
Emilee
lovingBenandCambree
New member
I live in an Altitude of about 6500 ft. and I can tell a difference in just going 1000 ft. higher. At that point I need to be on oxygen. All I can tell you is that it really depends on how well his lungs are at this point. My lungs used to be great and I never felt that big of a difference going into the mountains but now as i have been through different traumas with my lungs there is a huge difference. I would mostly keep tabs with docs to see what there thoughs are.
Emilee
Emilee
B
Ben
Guest
I agree with Emilee....I think it really does depend on what kinda shape his lungs are in. I have raced national level motorcycle events at 11,500 before in Colorado with some minor issues (but was manageable). I was fatigued more after the races, but I don't think that was unusual for someone who lives at sea level. I would wait to hear more about his medical status before the trip and play it by ear from there. Perhaps a trip to a snow slope at a lower altitude would be a good compromise.
B
Ben
Guest
I agree with Emilee....I think it really does depend on what kinda shape his lungs are in. I have raced national level motorcycle events at 11,500 before in Colorado with some minor issues (but was manageable). I was fatigued more after the races, but I don't think that was unusual for someone who lives at sea level. I would wait to hear more about his medical status before the trip and play it by ear from there. Perhaps a trip to a snow slope at a lower altitude would be a good compromise.
In 2001, I moved from sea level to the mountains at 8,500 ft. in town. I would ski often and the top of the mountain where I was was 12,000ft. I did many other outdoor activities while I was there, hiking, etc, and my lung function ended up being the best it had ever been! Everyone was amazed. I think the high altitude was great for me, because you're actually getting a full-time workout on your lungs, walking up stairs, carrying groceries and all. My doctors were concerned when I told them I was moving there, so they lent me a Puls-Ox machine for a trip up there before I moved. I went on a hike and monitored my oxygen levels to make sure I'd be okay without oxygen. Maybe you could buy a puls-ox for your nephew during your trips so you can tell how he's breathing before anything were to happen. Just a thought. Don't know how is current condition is though, like others have, it might be reallt hard for him. I imagine very case would be different.
In 2001, I moved from sea level to the mountains at 8,500 ft. in town. I would ski often and the top of the mountain where I was was 12,000ft. I did many other outdoor activities while I was there, hiking, etc, and my lung function ended up being the best it had ever been! Everyone was amazed. I think the high altitude was great for me, because you're actually getting a full-time workout on your lungs, walking up stairs, carrying groceries and all. My doctors were concerned when I told them I was moving there, so they lent me a Puls-Ox machine for a trip up there before I moved. I went on a hike and monitored my oxygen levels to make sure I'd be okay without oxygen. Maybe you could buy a puls-ox for your nephew during your trips so you can tell how he's breathing before anything were to happen. Just a thought. Don't know how is current condition is though, like others have, it might be reallt hard for him. I imagine very case would be different.
U
usedtobeinca
Guest
What a great thread! I have an 8mo old son wcf and my wife and I have been avid mountaineers/backpackers/hikers for perhaps a decade. One of the the many difficult aspects of accepting my son's cf has been the fear that we'd never be able to share the high mountains with him. Now it seems that this isn't necessarily the case and I'm (cautiously) thrilled. We'll need the discuss this in the future with his docs of course, but to know that there is a possibility warms me in ways I can't describe. Thanks everyone!
U
usedtobeinca
Guest
What a great thread! I have an 8mo old son wcf and my wife and I have been avid mountaineers/backpackers/hikers for perhaps a decade. One of the the many difficult aspects of accepting my son's cf has been the fear that we'd never be able to share the high mountains with him. Now it seems that this isn't necessarily the case and I'm (cautiously) thrilled. We'll need the discuss this in the future with his docs of course, but to know that there is a possibility warms me in ways I can't describe. Thanks everyone!
U
usedtobeinca
Guest
What a great thread! I have an 8mo old son wcf and my wife and I have been avid mountaineers/backpackers/hikers for perhaps a decade. One of the the many difficult aspects of accepting my son's cf has been the fear that we'd never be able to share the high mountains with him. Now it seems that this isn't necessarily the case and I'm (cautiously) thrilled. We'll need the discuss this in the future with his docs of course, but to know that there is a possibility warms me in ways I can't describe. Thanks everyone!