Our wedding will be in Estes Park Colorado, which sits at an elevation of ~7600ft. For those that haven’t been up at elevation before, I’ve outlined some tips below that should help you to feel great and avoid getting altitude sickness while visiting here! Please don’t be afraid of the altitude, as it’s relatively easy to mitigate the effects with some mild preparation and alterations.

1) Hydrate, hydrate, and say it with me now, HYDRATE. Most altitude sickness is brought up by dehydration, so the most important thing in avoiding it is to stay hydrated in the first place. The easiest way to do this is to drink more water than you otherwise would in the week leading up to visiting, and continuing to drink an above average amount of water while you are here. We’ve found that things like LiquidIV, Gatorlyte, or any form of consuming additional electrolyte’s can help stave off dehydration, but be sure to drink plenty of water along side one of these and don’t overdo it on the electrolyte’s.

2) Due to the elevation, the effects of the sun are greatly increased in Colorado. That means it’s far easier to get a sunburn here, so please take precautions. Sunscreen is a must if you’re planning on spending a significant amount of time outside, and hats and sunglasses are your best friend.

3) Due to a combination of the elevation and climate, Colorado is quite a bit dryer than most places. The average humidity in Estes Park for instance is roughly HALF what it is in Des Moines. This causes skin to dry easier, lips to dry out, and hair to act differently. Lotion and chapstick are your best friends.

4) The air is thinner at elevation, so make sure that you account for that in your planned activities. You will get out of breath easier here and that’s normal, so make sure to not push yourself beyond what you would normally.