The BEhive · House guide · Practical
Practical
Altitude, sun and weather
Why you are thirsty, and what to pack.
- The house is at about 5,400 feet, Golden 5,700, Evergreen 7,200, the ski bases 9,000 to 10,000 and more. Drink much more water than usual, and go easy on alcohol and caffeine the first night; one drink feels like more up here.
- A mild headache or a poor first night's sleep is common and passes. Sleeping here and driving up for the day is the easy way to acclimatize.
- The sun is strong year-round and stronger on snow: sunscreen, sunglasses and lip balm, every season.
- The air is dry. Lotion and lip balm help, and so does drinking water.
- Swings of 30 to 40 degrees in a day are normal, and spring and fall can go from 70 degrees to snow overnight. Snow in town usually melts within a day or two.
- Summer afternoons bring short, sharp thunderstorms with lightning and sometimes hail. Hike early.
- Wildfire smoke can drift in for a few days between July and September; if you have asthma, check the air quality before a big hike.
https://the-behive.com/guide/altitude-sun-and-weather