Ski Cooper 3-5 to 3-7, 2022

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Return to winter. After a super warm spring ski week of sun and Temps across the west, I get 3 days at generally low angle Ski Cooper just as winter returned.

I'm here with my son for 3 days of racing. Super G Saturday, GS Sunday and SL Monday. Each day bringing colder and colder weather. Friday night brought only an inch on top of the refrozen surfaces. But it snowed nicely all morning adding 2 more inches. Given how low angle most terrain is it skied OK, though a bit scratchy. Certainly the low angle meadow skipping was the right ski area to be at for small snowfall after a warm spell. With some sun in the afternoon bringing Temps up to 26 or so. The race area is IMHO perfect for younger kids to learn Super G. Very confidence building.

Cooper was legit busy on Saturday. Even a short but continuous lift line on the double out of the base. Packed cafeteria line, packed bar, etc... whe all terrain was open, not surprisigly the T bar was not worth it ice bumps... which you could tell from the front side flat stuff, but a couple of the parents couldn't help themselves.

I've seen some space cadets on skis before, but they usually don't advertise themselves as such quite this blatantly

Steep & deep?

I forget if this was up top for the training run or 1st of 2 Super G race runs.

This weekend was also the ski Jouring competition on Sat and Sunday in Leadville. We missed the competition, but the main drag was closed, covered in snow and jumps. They also hold a snow mtb race on Sat night that starts a d ends on the snow covering the road. Not sure how many miles, but about 75 racers looped all around town o er the course of a couple hours in the dark. Kinda cool, kinda nuts.

I missed pics of the mass start as I was eating dinner when they streamed up the street.

More coming...

 

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One of the great things about races at Ski Cooper is that the lifts don't open until 9a, even on the weekends. Most other race locations are hectic early-to-rise affairs.

One of my shocks after only one more inch of new snow overnight (4" total since the refreeze) was seeing the Chicago Ridge snowcat running. Thier snowcat terrain faces south and would have gotten the worst of the baking sun last week... Nutty for sure. Hopefully those people got a half price deal...

While it lightly snowed on and off in the am it couldn't have been more than half an inch. Temps topped out about 20F (which seemed optimistic) according to the themometer at the start house just before noon when it started to snow nicely; probably an inch per hour. I managed 2 fast free runs first thing down the decently pitched (for Cooper) Nightmare which had been groomed. I got 3rd and 4th tracks down it at decent speed. Though it would be a blue trail at any other ski area.

Then, due to lack of volunteers (it is tiny Leadville), I worked course crew for a few hours with the race finishing up about 1:30p. Very definitely less people at the hill for Sunday too. The double was nearly always full, but with no lines after the initial racer rush at opening.

With the snow falling my son and I decided to get some runs in taking the platter lift up to Kamikazee on the triple then risking a run down Paradise to the Tbar. Not great, not terrible conditions on the Tbar. Where it was skied off or only an inch it was ice bumps. Then again, a reasonable number of turns at 5-6+" of new where you didn't quite hit the underlying ice much. We followed that up with 2 runs in the trees on the front side roughly Homstake-ish.

Then it Really started to snow for a couple hours around 3-5p when the race club was having a BBQ at the tubing area on the lower side of the parking lot for all the racers, family and etc... so tomorrow should finally be good enough to remove the majority of the icy undersurface.

Tomorrow is forecast to be even colder (approx 12-15F). And for those keeping score, Ski Cooper is part of the "Freedom Pass". So my Greek Peak pass gets me and my son exactly the needed 3 free ski days here.

Sorry for the lack of exciting pics. Cold, snowy weather and busy working the race doesn't lead to lots of great pics...

I certainly wouldn't have paid for cat skiing today

Looking down the platter lift near the mid-station.

It's almost impossible to tell in this pic, but it was absolutely nuking during the BBQ

 

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Ahhh, day three dawned with several inches of new snow.... and temps at -4F.

It was a chilly one for a race day. Especially in March. The sun did come out for the first 90 minutes or so, before retreating and allowing another inch or so to fall. The high temp at the base managed to eek out a 13F number. On a more exciting note, I somehow managed to time things such that I got a run of entirely 1st tracks on the Piney Triple chair, then just as I was getting off that I headed to the Tbar... which had no ropes up, nor tracks leading in... I was confused for the first second then realized I wasn't at a popular major resort. So I headed in for literal 1st tracks that even patrol didn't bother to get. The liftie at the bottom even confirmed that I was the first one of the day. And while not many are headed to Cooper for the Tbar, I think its still remarkable luck/timing given all the racer parents skiing that day.

I managed several more runs of untouched powder with only a handful of others skiing that terrain and easily avoiding each others tracks for several laps.

Then reality returned and I had to go help with the race. Eventually returning for one more lap with my son around 2p after the race before we pulled the plug and headed back home.

Instead of each lift getting gates, Ski Cooper is the new Disney style 'portal' entrance...

Crisp and sunny to start.

We almost even got the good views as the haze was dissipating a bit for the first time in 3 days.

100% untouched TBar terrain for the day

Slightly different version of fresh corduroy. You can tell this terrain faces roughly East-ish with this pic first thing in the am.

Lap 4 and finally seeing occasional tracks. I would have taken an action pic but there was never anyone around.

Piney triple with the previously steepest terrain at Cooper in view. This terrain faces roughly North.

Oh yeah, there was a ski race going on...

Unfortunately it was not sunny when the kids were actually racing... And yes, this event was not in the same place as the prior two events on the front side.

Finally an action shot!

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Instead of each lift getting gates, Ski Cooper is the new Disney style 'portal' entrance...

I thought that was a great idea when I skied there last season, although the new entrance has a Checkpoint Charlie feel about it.

Did they do any tree thinning in the sector off the new t-bar?

 

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Did they do any tree thinning in the sector off the new t-bar?

It felt more open on skiers right side of the Tbar than 2 years ago (the last time I was at Cooper). I also saw a fair number of trees with orange ribbons tied to them on that side. So I would say yes but in a limited way. If they can work their way across skiers left over time the overall experience would be more attractive to experts in general.

 

[ChrisC]

I watched an interesting YouTube video about Cooper Mountain, which I knew little about. (link at bottom).

I have skied some smaller Colorado ski areas on the Western Slope when conditions warranted, often when flying via Montrose or Grand Junction. These areas include Powderhorn, Monarch, and Silverton (skied unguided when conditions were excellent - December 2013 saw over 100 inches of snow for the month and was able to accumulate 2x normal guided daily vertical).

I rarely fly to Durango due to the required crossing of Red Mountain Pass (11,000 ft) or Lizard Head Pass (10,225 ft), which can often be closed during storms. However, I have skied at Wolf Creek and Purgatory. I find Wolf Creek to be over-hyped: yes, it's snowy, but the steep terrain is lacking outside the Waterfall zone, and the very short steeps/hikes of Alberta Peak and Knife Ridge. Also, the recent HS Quad addition is just a crime - especially considering how slow/long its Alberta lift is. Meanwhile, Purgatory is one of the best intermediate areas in Colorado with fun stairstep terrain for at least 2,000 vertical feet.

I did not know Ski Cooper is a non-profit organization and is only two hours from Denver in perfect conditions. Given its 501 (c) status, I do not understand its aggressive moves to create its 'own pass network' Ski Cooper (Indy Pass + Freedom Pass + Powder Alliance). Seems somewhat inconsistent with its organizational structure. However, it is admirable that they are keeping lift ticket prices reasonable, but so are Loveland and A-Basin with much better terrain, snowfall, and proximity to Denver. Doubt I would ever visit.

Colorado gem Ski Cooper is thriving among giants. Over the past ten seasons, visits have grown 63 percent, fueled in part by affordable lift tickets. Last winter, a midweek ticket cost $45, regardless of the time or method of purchase. Peak days cost $110 with Fridays and Sundays running a bit less. Surrounded by Copper Mountain, Vail, Breckenridge and Beaver Creek; Cooper’s customer base naturally skews local. But the hill also attracts a growing number of skiers from the Front Range and surrounding states, owing to its accessible tickets and laid back character.

Cooper's proposed expansion plans look interesting if realized - especially the Sawmill lift terrain into its old Snowcat Area, which would allow hiking above the treeline.

Cooper is an outlier, especially in Colorado. Lake County owns the fixed assets like buildings and the hill straddles two National Forests. Operations are handled by Cooper Hill Ski Area Inc., a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization. Last year the mountain brought in $6.8 million in revenue, more than triple its sales in 2011. Expenses have also creeped up but not as quickly as revenue. The ski area netted $1.1 million in 2024 and carries no debt. This model has allowed consistent re-investment including a new conveyor lift in 2006, the Little Horse T-Bar expansion in 2019 and overhaul of the Piney Basin triple in 2021. Future improvements will be funded by retained earnings, not debt or taxpayer funds.

Cooper Master Plan Prescribes Four New Lifts

Colorado gem Ski Cooper is thriving among giants. Over the past ten seasons, visits have grown 63 percent, fueled in part by affordable lift tickets. Last winter, a midweek ticket cost $45, regardl…

liftblog.com

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Doubt I would ever visit.

My 2020 report and the following discussion provides a pretty complete overview of Cooper. It's definitely not your kind of place but for someone like me, it serves as a pleasant warm-up day.

The only terrain that fits in your steepness sweet spot -- the double-back backside serviced by a t-bar -- is heavily treed (also not your preference, as you mentioned recently), which EMSC summarized below in 2021. Hopefully they've begun addressing his recommendation:

They really, really do need to thin out the terrain in the Tbar area a LOT more than it currently is. It ends up as either unskiable (way too tight), or very, very moguled and scraped down in the few areas they did put a couple of thin 'trails'.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Last winter, a midweek ticket cost $45, regardless of the time or method of purchase.

Exactly the kind of pricing for a third-tier ski area that we rave about in the Alps, allowing us to make last-minute decisions on any given day.

Here's a transcript of the video embedded above so we can refer back to it in ten years to see what actually came about from the planned expansion:
Ski Cooper is certainly unique among Colorado, as their low ticket rates and central location have drawn more and more visitors from out-of-town while still maintaining a large local presence and vibe. According to the MDP, visitation over the 23-24 season was 101,258 total guests, an increase of nearly 2000 from the year prior and an increase of about 39,000 since the 2014-2015 season. Such newfound visitation from the Front Range has in turn led to higher revenue numbers; according to tax reports gathered by ProPublica, Ski Cooper earned $6.77 million in 2024 against expenses of $5.64 million.

With this baseline of well over a million dollars in net revenue per year and anticipated growth each further season, it is clear that Cooper is on track to save the capital necessary to enact this full plan without accumulating any debt or using taxpayer funds. Thus, while the mountain doesn’t see nearly the same crowds as the mega-resorts around it do, the higher visitation and earnings present both a problem and the solution. The basic essence is simple: Cooper needs to expand soon.

To achieve this, the MDP puts forth a three-phased plan which would double the current CCC, jumping from 1,819 to 3,682 guests. Rather than going by category such as lifts, expansions, and facilities as we usually do in these videos, we’ll go in the order of the phasing proposed in the MDP since Cooper was so gracious to provide it for us. So with all of this laborious background out of the way, let’s finally dive right into Phase 1.

Phase 1 is a 13 million dollar plan to address base area crowding and out-of-base capacity. This includes three major projects, of which the headliner is a brand-new fixed-grip quad chairlift that would run parallel to the existing 10th Mountain double. This would be huge for the mountain, as the existing double has very limited capacity, and this would diversify the routes out of the base in the case of a breakdown of any of the lifts. This project was a part of the 1999 Master Plan and was previously approved, but was originally going to be a direct replacement.

The additional lift really does make sense, and we like that they’re going that route instead of replacement. However, the thing about fixed-grip lifts is that they’re hard to load, especially at a beginner level like much of Ski Cooper’s clientele is. At a maximum speed of 450 feet per minute, the 5,845 foot lift would take 13 minutes with no stops or slowdowns. As evidenced by the frequent misloads and unloads on the existing double, that’s an unlikely scenario, leading the lift to more likely take somewhere in the realm of 16-17 minutes. That may not seem horrible on paper, but in practice, by minute 11 or 12, snowboarders start getting impatient and jumping off. It’s going to be a terribly long ride time.

According to New England Ski History via the Vermont Act 250 Database, a new Heaven’s Gate fixed-grip quad installed at Sugarbush last year cost just a hair over $4 million. Meanwhile, according to a manufacturer bid we have by Leitner-Poma for the Hudson detachable quad, which is of a very similar length to the one at Sugarbush, the cost was $8.165 million. We understand the reservations about installing a detachable chairlift on the 10th Mountain alignment regarding the nature of the ski area.

However, given that a detachable costs only about double a fixed-grip and the fact that it would make the experience just that much better, we’re a bit disappointed not to see the plan involve a detachable, particularly in this alignment. Not only does a detachable enable faster laps, it makes the loading and unloading experience significantly more pleasant for beginners, encouraging them to return to the mountain.A detachable will only achieve the same capacity a fixed-grip would, so trail crowding would not be an issue. The primary problem with a detachable in this circumstance is simply the patience it would require to accumulate the capital for the investment. We truly believe that the juice would be worth the squeeze. However, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: we are not experts, so take what we say for whatever you will.

Another significant piece of Phase 1 would be the construction of a 12,000-square-foot addition to the base lodge. With the rising visitation numbers, the base area buildings, even more so than the lifts themselves, have seen matching rising crowds, at times overflowing the current dining and seating capacity. This new facility will hugely expand kitchen and seating space, making Cooper’s lunch experience that much better. The hill currently has some of the more reasonably-priced food we’ve seen at a ski area, so with more space to produce and enjoy that food, it could become one of the few ski areas where lunch might actually be one of the highlights of the day. The facility would also host public lockers and improved and expanded restrooms, along with many other administrative offices and service spaces.

The final piece of Phase 1 would be a 2 and three quarter-acre expansion to the parking lot, in order to accommodate further growth. Naturally, Phase 1 is the most likely of all three phases to be fully built out, and we have full confidence, barring another pandemic or significant world event, that in the coming years we’ll start to see this come to fruition.

While we are disappointed by the proposal of a slow fixed-grip quad instead of a nice detachable one, this phase represents the most critical plans for Cooper to host further spikes in visitation. Now let’s be honest–Phase 1’s projects were fairly predictable. Phase 2, on the other hand, is where it gets fun. This $12 million plan is centered around a huge expansion, with lots of supporting projects to go along with it. The plan proposes a new fixed-grip double that would run from the bottom of the Little Horse T-Bar up the opposing Chicago Ridge. This new lift, called Sawmill, would be a fixed-grip double running about halfway up a bowl and opening up 250 acres of new terrain.

This new terrain would comprise 8 blues and 5 blacks, which would offer open, bowl skiing on their upper sections before transitioning into traditional tree-cut runs lower down. This is part of the expanse of terrain that was served by snowcats for a number of years, but Cooper cut that program a few years ago because it perennially ran at a loss. For the longest time, Cooper was entirely cut runs. With the addition of the t-bar in Tennessee Creek Basin, Cooper added tree skiing, meaning that aside from extreme terrain, this lift opening high-alpine terrain would check the final box for Cooper to become a truly well-rounded Rockies mountain.

Because the lift is planned to only go halfway up the slope, it also opens the opportunity for further lift-served expansion even higher up. Additionally, it opens the opportunity for hike-to or cat-skiing further to the sides of the cut runs. A double chair in this alignment makes perfect sense, as it will be serving primarily higher-level skiers in a location that’s hard to get to and from. Overall, we really, really like this project, but with one reservation.

Our sole qualm with this new expansion is the egress–everybody who skis this new pod will have to ski back down into Tennessee Creek Basin and ride the Little Horse t-bar to return from the pod. This means a handful of things. Of course, there’s the concern about if Little Horse goes down for any reason. But even bigger than that, we would argue that the requirement to take a surface lift may discourage some skiers from heading to Sawmill. While the primary purpose is to diversify the terrain offerings, a secondary objective would be to spread skiers out, as is with any expansion project.

In our eyes, Little Horse might really scare away some of the intermediates who might otherwise really enjoy skiing the bowl terrain. This is, of course, a pretty minor concern without real impact to the ski area. It’s just a little unfortunate for the experience of a select population. Now, to support the expansion, a number of smaller projects will need to be undertaken alongside it. The first is a skier bridge across the creek, in order to connect the existing Little Horse side with the Sawmill side. Additionally, a small ski patrol outpost would be built at the top of the new chairlift. At the summit of the current footprint, a new, more permanent patrol headquarters would be built. And down at the base area, two new buildings would be built to house ski school and a maintenance shop. These other small projects wouldn’t necessarily be noticeable to the everyday skier, but would contribute more than just the sum of their parts, as they make Cooper a much more rounded mountain and business.

The next big piece is an expansion called Hoyt’s, which would be anchored by another double chair. This 140-acre expansion would see 5 new blues built to the looker’s right side of the upper main face. Cooper’s strength is already its low-intermediate terrain, and this would just add even more of that to explore. A double chair is a bit of a curious choice here, as we could foresee the low capacity of the lift getting overwhelmed if the terrain proves to be popular. If we were doing it, we would go with a fixed-grip quad, but this project is so far in the future that we’re not going to complain about anything just yet. Odds are, some element of this plan will change over time.

Over on the front side, the Buckeye platter would be replaced by a T-bar. The Buckeye platter is one of the oldest operating lifts in the state, and as such may end up being due for replacement before they get around to Phase 3. Either way, it’s replacing a surface lift with a surface lift, almost purely for age concerns and that’s all. We don’t have much to comment on this one.

Another piece of Phase 3 would be a further 1.9 acre parking expansion to continue to increase the daily capacity of the hill. So now, all that out of the way, we come to what is quite possibly the most underrated project in this entire Master Development Plan: the installation of snowmaking. Cooper currently relies on natural snow, and while its high elevation and location allow it to receive plenty of that, lift loads and unloads, the race course, and the lowest couple hundred feet of the mountain can be pretty bare when the mountain opens in December. A simple snowmaking loop would allow Cooper to make snow on Sitzmark and Black Powder, along with on the lift loads and unloads, allowing the early season operations to be that much more reliable as weather patterns get more and more volatile. Out of all of the Phase 3 plans, we believe that this is the most likely to come to fruition the soonest.

So there you have it. Two new lodges, more parking, 4 new lifts, 2 expansions, and plenty more outline the vision Ski Cooper has put forth for its future. This MDP is only in the draft phase and is several steps away from forest service approval, so there is still opportunity for them to change elements. However, this presents a clear roadmap for what and how the resort plans to embrace the future as their visitation rises each year

 

[MarzNC]

My 2020 report and the following discussion provides a pretty complete overview of Cooper. It's definitely not your [ChrisC] kind of place but for someone like me, it serves as a pleasant warm-up day.

I think I'd enjoy the terrain and vibe at Cooper. What has kept me away is the elevation. The base is at 10,500 ft. Nearest lodging is in Leadville, which is just over 10,000 ft. So stopping by Cooper at the start of a ski trip to Colorado isn't likely.

In comparison, the base of Monarch is at 10,727 ft. However, Salida is where I'd be likely to stay is at 7000 ft. I often start a trip to Taos by staying in town for a few nights at 7000 ft before moving up to join my friends for slopeside lodging, which is just over 9000 ft.

In general, I avoided skiing in Colorado when I was only doing a single 1-week ski trip a season out west. I live at about 300 ft. One reason I prefer to drive across Kansas to Colorado to ski Wolf Creek in December is to help with altitude adjustment.

These days, I pay more attention to elevation when planning ski trips because a few people I like to travel with have become very sensitive to high altitude. For them, sleeping at over 5000 ft means taking Diamox and it still takes 3-4 days before they are sleeping decently. One learned at Breck decades ago, and was enjoying spring trips there for several years after retiring. Can't do that any more.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I think I'd enjoy the terrain and vibe at Cooper. What has kept me away is the elevation. (...) I live at about 300 ft.

Based on how much you've written about elevation sickness, it's clearly a major issue with you. Even though I live at 150 feet, more or less sea level, I've never had any problem with it, even with arrival-day skiing at the Cottonwoods' lift-served summits of 11,000 feet and Loveland's of 12,700 (unless I'm herring boning or hiking for turns, which is not advised).

The only physical unpleasantness I've experienced going straight from the airport to the slopes is vertigo from low-vis/above-treeline skiing in the Alps.

 

[MarzNC]

Based on how much you've written about elevation sickness, it's clearly a major issue with you. Even though I live at 150 feet, more or less sea level, I've never had any problem with it, even with arrival-day skiing at the Cottonwoods' lift-served summits of 11,000 feet and Loveland's of 12,700 (unless I'm herring boning or hiking for turns, which is not advised).

The only physical unpleasantness I've experienced going straight from the airport to the slopes is vertigo from low-vis/above-treeline skiing in the Alps.

You're lucky.

Altitude adjustment is less of an issue for me in recent years than when I only skied a week out west (1990-2010). I've been flying to SLC and taking a shuttle straight to Alta Lodge in April for almost 20 years. I often ski the first afternoon, and ski full days the rest of the stay with no problem. I may take one aspirin the first or second day.

What's changed in the last 3-4 years is that I often consider doing a ski trip with someone who is very sensitive to high altitude. For a few of my potential travelmates, they didn't used to have an issue with sleeping at over 8000 ft. So I have developed a habit of checking elevation for a resort of interest, as well as lodging nearby.

 

[Tony Crocker]

For them, sleeping at over 5000 ft means taking Diamox and it still takes 3-4 days before they are sleeping decently.

That's way outlier sensitivity IMHO. As I mentioned recently, in the 90's my ex was fine sleeping at 8,000 but needed Diamox to be comfortable at 9,000.

a few people I like to travel with have become very sensitive to high altitude.

You're making me a little nervous. So far I have no issue with sleep, headache, digestion, etc. But by 10,000 I will hit a heart rate limit and have to take rest stops with moderate effort in hiking or skiing steep terrain/variable snow that were not necessary before age 70.

 

[Tony Crocker]

At a maximum speed of 450 feet per minute, the 5,845 foot lift would take 13 minutes with no stops or slowdowns.

One less often mentioned benefit of detachables is the reduced ride time. I recall Snowmass in particular having multiple chairs with ride times around 20 minutes in the 80's. This is mainly an issue covering flatter terrain with long length to vertical ratios, and Cooper's primary 10th Mountain lift certainly fits that description. Conversely I barely notice at Taos, where nearly all lifts have short length to vertical ratios.

The shorter ride time is also appreciated when it's cold, and I'd guess that Cooper is a quite cold mountain midwinter. Few of Mammoth's chairs are super long, but the shorter ride times on detachables is much appreciated on windy days.

 

[MarzNC]

You're making me a little nervous. So far I have no issue with sleep, headache, digestion, etc. But by 10,000 I will hit a heart rate limit and have to take rest stops with moderate effort in hiking or skiing steep terrain/variable snow that were not necessary before age 70.

Based on what I've read about issues with "high altitude" I don't think you have much to worry about. Most of the time, the topic is about going over 8000 ft.

Came across this abstract when I was discussing altitude adjustment with my ski buddy who is a family physician and medical school professor. He was medical support for a mountain expedition once. There was a hiker who had to be led down to lower altitude because of her symptoms that were clearly signs of AMS. I think they were in Colorado. He takes Diamox if sleeping over 8000 ft since he lives in midwest flatlands.

January 2020

https://academic.oup.com/jtm/article-abstract/27/6/taz104/5693886?redirectedFrom=fulltext

 

[Tony Crocker]

Based on what I've read about issues with "high altitude" I don't think you have much to worry about. Most of the time, the topic is about going over 8000 ft.

I am puzzled that the way I can ski at 8,000 has changed minimally while it's so noticeable at 10,000.

 

[MarzNC]

I am puzzled that the way I can ski at 8,000 has changed minimally while it's so noticeable at 10,000.

My friend who doesn't adjust well sleeping at over 5000 ft is rather annoyed that her body changed with time. Not predictable based on population statistics. No different than a dosage for any medication that is tested for a "normal" patient.

The cut points often mentioned when it comes to adjusting to high altitude are 5000, 8000, 10,000, and 11,000. I remember noting 15-20 years ago that most people have at least minor symptoms when going directly to 9000 ft for a ski trip. That matched up with posts/threads on ski forums. Of course, round numbers are just guidelines.

These days, it's easy to find basic info on the Internet about adjusting to high altitude. Not so much for skiing as for other more popular outdoor recreation such as rock climbing or adventure hiking. I dabble in indoor rock climbing during the off-season (May-Nov) since that's readily available near my house. Would like to do a Via Ferrata one of these days.

Here are suggestions related to altitude that pop up in assorted medical or public health websites. The key is that "people adapt at different rates." Also worth remembering that what happened in the past for an individual is not necessarily what will happen in the future. Gradual change helps anyone avoid symptoms.

Altitude Sickness - Harvard Health

What is altitude sickness? At higher altitudes, the pressure of the air around you (barometric pressure) decreases so there is less oxygen in surrounding air. People can live comfortably at moderat...

www.health.harvard.edu

Similar suggestions on the webpage for a river rafting company that operates in Colorado so even the mild adventures are over 5000 ft and under 8000 ft.

April 2025

How to Adjust to Altitude Changes and Not Get Sick

Avoiding altitude sickness is easier than you think; this handy guide will help you adjust to altitude changes and enjoy your time up there!

www.inaraft.com

One more . . . tips from an American company that has offered treks in the European Alps for over 50 years. The cut off mentioned is 8200 ft, which is about 2500 m. 10,000 ft is just over 3000 m.

Tips to Avoid Altitude Sickness in the Alps

Planning a hiking trip in the European Alps? Altitude sickness can sneak up on you! Check out our top tips to stay ahead of AMS and enjoy the adventure.

www.mtsobek.com