9 replies to this topic

[JaSAn]

I didn't see where else this would fit.

 

My trip through Yellowstone took us over Beartooth Pass to enter from the East.  We camped for the night above Red Lodge, MT at about 6,000 ft, spent the day going up US 212, stopping often for viewing.  As planned, after the pass (10,947 ft) I started looking for boondocking sites as it was approaching 6 PM.  Found a nice site at 8,000 ft, set up camp and made supper.  Simon wouldn't eat (a beagle!).  I had to drag him around the small clearing for a walk.  He then had trouble navigating the stairs to get back into the camper; I had to help him as his back legs weren't working right.

 

It finally dawned on me that these are signs of AMS and possibly High Altitude Cerebral Edema. Oh oh!  Broke camp in record time (20 minutes) and started downhill to Yellowstone.  By the time we got to Cooke City (6,600') Simon was up barking at anything that moved, so he was going to be OK, but I still wanted to get him lower and that close to Yellowstone dispersed campsites are hard to find, especially in the dark.  Blew through Yellowstone in the dark, almost hitting a herd of buffalo (45 MPH is too fast to drive there at night and buffalo aren't reflective) and slept at a truck rest area just outside West Yellowstone.

 

It just never occurred to me that Simon would respond to going uphill too fast.  So a word of caution: when planning or executing a trip, your pup can respond to going up in altitude too fast just as you would so it is something to watch for.

 

jim

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

I don't have a dog but that sure was a scare.

We never stop to think that things that don't bother us humans effect our pets.

Good thing you were paying attention to Simon.

Thanks for the heads up.

Frank

[Happyjax]

Glad it worked out for you and Simon. Thanks for the heads up!

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Jim, thanks for the heads up! That's something I wouldn't have thought of... Good news your pup is ok!

[craig333]

Thanks, it hadn't occurred to me to worry about my dog also.

[Backroad Joe]

It is not necessarily going up too fast but time spent up there. I am not familiar with how pets are affected but I would guess the effects are more rapid. Having lived and hiked in Southern California it is common to leave home at or near sea level, hike to 11,000FT spend the night then descend the following day without symptoms of attitude sickness, because it is quick. Mind you, there are many other factors,such as hydration, etc that can play a significant role.

 

Beyond a day or two of planned travel at higher elevation it is common practice to get to higher elevation, spend at least a night to acclimatize then proceed. The longer you have to acclimatize the better off you are,

[longhorn1]

We spent many nights in Colorado at 8,000+, with drives up to 11,000' and passes 12,000+. We huffed and puffed but Sarah was fine. Scary thought. Jd

Edited by longhorn1, 09 November 2017 - 05:41 PM.

[kmcintyre]

I never thought of that but our "pup" has been hiking above 10k and hasn't shown any symptoms.  I'm glad it all worked out and for the 'heads up'.

[JaSAn]

It is not necessarily going up too fast but time spent up there. I am not familiar with how pets are affected but I would guess the effects are more rapid. Having lived and hiked in Southern California it is common to leave home at or near sea level, hike to 11,000FT spend the night then descend the following day without symptoms of attitude sickness, because it is quick. Mind you, there are many other factors,such as hydration, etc that can play a significant role.

 

We dpent many nights in Colorado at 8,000+, with drives up to 11,000' and passes 12,000+. We huffed and puffed but Sarah was fine. Scary thought. Jd

 

I never thought of that but our "pup" has been hiking above 10k and hasn't shown any symptoms.  I'm glad it all worked out and for the 'heads up'.

 

Unfortunately, "past results do not guarantee future performance".   I have been above 20,000 ft three times with no problems but have had AMS twice: once at 9,000 ft and once at 12,000.  The 9,000' episode developed during the night after driving up from 6,000 ft.

 

IMO the risk is greater when we are driving; we can gain a lot of altitude quickly without any effort.  I think that the effort that hiking at altitude requires slows down the development of altitude sickness.

 

AMS is not life threatening but you are miserable, moving to lower elevation is the preferred remedy.  HACE and HAPE are life threatening and need medical attention.

 

This is something that had not crossed my mind.  My purpose is to make those of you that travel with pets above 8,000 ft to be aware and to learn the symptoms, especially of HAPE and HACE.  Simon wouldn't cry or tell me his head hurt as a child would so I am going to have to spend some time thinking about this.

 

jim

[craig333]

Fortunately most of the time I camp around 7k first anyway. Not unlike the human in a group who goes "everyone else is okay, I'll just suck it up" a dog won't complain. Something to think about the next time I plan a trip to the Whites. 

 

Good thing to keep in mind for myself too.