Maybe the hot season is rolling in and you want to find a cooler climate. Or, maybe you just appreciate the mountain life and want to spend more mountain boondocking on top of the world. Whatever your reasoning, elevation comes with its own, weird set of rules, some of which are interesting but innocuous, while others are important for the safety of you and yours.

Altitude sickness is a finicky beast, along with all the other, associated symptoms of spending too much time well above sea level. It’s like going out on a boat for the first time — some people will get seasick while others won’t. Though altitude affects everyone differently, one thing is for sure: it does affect everybody.

Higher altitudes also change the way certain things work, such as propane, the boiling point of water, how fast your food cooks, and how well your generator runs. While you shouldn’t experience anything wildly out of the norm, it pays to be prepared and bring the right gear.

Understanding Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness can affect anyone, but it’s generally more severe for those who live at or below sea level, such as residents of New Orleans. Age also plays a role, with younger people being more susceptible than older adults. Factors like physical health, pre-existing conditions, experience, and genetic adaptations also influence how one might experience altitude sickness. For instance, according to the European Respiratory Journal, individuals with pre-existing lung conditions can suffer differently based on the type and severity of their illness.

Types of Altitude Sickness

When mountain boondocking, it’s crucial to be aware of the three types of altitude sickness: Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), and High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE). Only HAPE and HACE are entirely prohibitive for high-altitude camping.

1. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS):

• Altitude Range: Typically occurs at altitudes above 8,000 feet (2,500 meters).
• Symptoms: Headaches, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue, insomnia, and coordination issues.
• Severity: Mild to moderate. Symptoms can be managed and often improve with rest and acclimatization.

2. High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE):

• Altitude Range: More common at altitudes above 10,000 feet (3,000 meters).
• Symptoms: Severe shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, acute or persistent cough, and significant fatigue.
• Severity: Severe. HAPE is life-threatening and requires immediate descent and medical attention. It involves fluid accumulation in the lungs.

3. High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE):

• Altitude Range: Usually occurs at altitudes above 12,000 feet (3,600 meters).
• Symptoms: Severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, confusion, difficulty walking, and coordination issues.
• Severity: Severe. HACE is life-threatening and requires immediate descent and medical attention. It involves swelling of the brain.

Symptoms to Watch For

• Shortness of breath (gasping after little effort)
• Slight to severe nausea
• Headaches
• Fatigue or sedentary attitude
• Insomnia or broken sleep patterns
• Coordination issues
• Difficulty concentrating or walking in a straight line
• Tightness in your chest
• Acute or persistent cough

Prevention and Treatment

If you’re hauling a big RV, the gradual ascent can help you acclimatize and reduce the risk of altitude sickness. Here are some additional tips:

• Ascend Gradually: Give your body time to adjust. If possible, spend a day or two at intermediate altitudes before going higher.
• Hydrate: Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
• Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine: These can dehydrate you and exacerbate symptoms.
• Over-the-Counter Medication: Medications like Aspirin for headaches, Pepto-Bismol for nausea, and Melatonin or other sleep aids can help manage symptoms. Caffeine in moderation can be helpful, but avoid energy drinks.

Final Tips

The higher you go, the lower the oxygen levels, which affects your brain and blood oxygenation, decreasing your body’s efficiency. While the human body is incredibly resilient and can adjust over time, usually within a day, severe symptoms that persist require immediate descent and medical attention.

Remember, don’t rely on a six-pack of NOS or Monster energy drinks to get your mojo back. Severe symptoms should not be ignored and need prompt action.

Preparing For Weather Changes

While it’s true that heat rises, this principle changes at higher altitudes. The Earth’s atmosphere has a harder time retaining heat at higher elevations, losing more warmth to space. So, even if it’s summertime at sea level, don’t expect to be comfortable in swim trunks and sandals when mountain boondocking.

As you ascend, the temperature typically drops. This is similar to the cooling effect experienced when entering a cave. Additionally, mountains act like barriers, trapping moisture from air masses that move in from distant bodies of water. This can lead to sudden weather changes, including thunderstorms, rain, rapid temperature fluctuations, snow, and hail.

Relying solely on smartphone weather apps can be problematic, as even the best meteorologists can’t predict mountain weather with 100% accuracy. To counter this, it’s essential to prepare for all possible weather conditions. This might sound overwhelming, especially if you have a small camper, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Imagine being caught off guard while mountain boondocking, surrounded by grizzly bears, with a storm front rolling in. Preparation is key, and experience will improve your readiness over time. Here are some tips to minimize potential danger and better prepare for a beginner’s trip:

• Go during a full moon: The calmest days on mountains, whether the Smokies or Rockies, are often during a full moon.
• Pay attention to cloud patterns: Cirrus clouds often indicate approaching bad weather. These high-altitude clouds are thin and wispy, resembling delicate feathers or hair-like strands. They form above 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) and are composed of ice crystals.
• Beware when the wind begins to warm: This can signal a change in weather.
• Go in May or June: These are generally the best months in America for mountain boondocking.

Don’t laugh at the full moon suggestion; it’s based on the observation that weather patterns can be more stable during this time. Cirrus clouds, warming winds, and clouds moving against the prevailing wind direction are all signs of impending weather changes. Keep an eye on the sky to anticipate conditions when you’re off the grid.

If you have a cell signal, frequently check the NOAA website and download their weather updates to stay informed.

Wildlife Precautions

Black bears roam throughout the Smokey Mountains, while grizzlies are found in the northern Rocky Mountains. You’re far more likely to run into a black bear than a grizzly. It’s simply a matter of population numbers. Either way, dispose of your food safely and securely. Never leave food out where a bear will catch the scent downwind.

If you can’t cook inside, try to cook well away from your camp. Make sure you keep any foods sealed and put them away until you are ready to cook or eat them. Awareness of your surroundings is not a natural skill, but one you should develop when alone in the mountains. It’s not like the movies. Unless it’s very damp, almost everything makes noise when moving through the woods.

Use your nose, eyes, and ears as you go about your day. Eventually, you’ll develop a knack for it. If you decide to go on a hike, pretend you’re a thousand people marching through the woods with drums. In short, make noise — lots of it. Animals are often far more frightened of us than vice versa. Remember, animals are most active, especially predators, in the early morning hours and as the sun goes down.

In the case of bears, you can play dead with a grizzly, but you cannot pull that hat trick on a black bear. The National Parks Service reiterates that point clearly. The black bear will simply assume you’re making things easy for it. Black bears can also climb trees, so don’t bother. Bear spray helps but not always. If firearms are your thing, be sure to have one with you, so long as you are abiding by the rules. For more bear safety information, see our article: BEAR SAFETY 101: HOW TO SHARE SPACE WITH BEARS.

The following is a list of animals that may become aggressive when encountering a human:

• Moose
• Cougars and bobcats
• Wolves
• Snakes
• Grizzly and black bears
• Elk
• Mountain goats
• Bison (though you probably won’t spot a bison in the mountains)

With the exception of snakes, most animals will leave you alone if you make lots of noise, square up, and make yourself seem bigger than you are. Playing dead is a last resort with grizzlies, but you can ease away from either grizzlies or black bears. Never turn your back and never seek them out. If you see bear cubs, make yourself scarce immediately. Momma bear is likely not far behind them.

It’s always a good idea to take wildlife precautions, even if you’ve spent a lot of time in the wild and never spotted anything significant. The thing is, they probably see and smell you far more often than you do them. Don’t give them a reason to be interested in your camp. If it’s warm out, watch your step and give any snakes you spot a wide berth.

Conclusion

Mountain boondocking is not some dreaded concept that’s more trouble than it sounds. It’s just different, like boondocking in the desert, in the wild, or even urban boondocking. Like the others, it comes with its own sets of risks and rewards. So long as you are prepared, the risks are minimized while the rewards increase.

Boondocking is supposed to be fun but comes with a high degree of personal responsibility. If you toss your half-eaten fish into the tree line next to your camper, don’t be shocked when you’re dealing with a big daddy grizzly before bedtime. Keep a weather eye on the horizon and pay attention to your body. It speaks the only language you need to know to understand your health and safety.

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