Rocky Mountain High

Tip : Getting in shape to go elk hunting is standard advice. Elk typically live in tough country and often at high altitudes. This means tough hunting in thin air that many people are not used to.

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) affects some people who are accustomed to low elevations when they ascend too high, too rapidly. The symptoms are dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath and difficulty sleeping. Untreated AMS can progress to the serious and potentially fatal conditions of High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) or High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE).

Altitudes as low as 5,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level may affect particularly sensitive people. However, elevations above 8,000 feet broaden the category of potential risk. This ailment is related to an individual's response to altitude, not physical condition. Being in great shape won't necessarily protect you.

To avoid high-altitude sickness, acclimate yourself to altitude by spending a couple of nights at a mid-range elevation between that of your home area and the elevations where you expect to hunt.