[taxcontrol]

As a resident of Colorado, I can tell you that a LOT of low landers (anything below 2,000 ft) come out here and get disoriented at 9,000 to 10,000 ft. Which is base for many of the ski resorts. About 10 to 12 each year die from pulmonary edema related to altitude change and most runs are below 12,000 ft. Many many more get altitude sickness.

[PilotDave]

“As a resident of Colorado, I can tell you that a LOT of low landers (anything below 2,000 ft) come out here and get disoriented at 9,000 to 10,000 ft”

Yep, except Patrick was on his way to his ranch in New Mexico. Where he spent much of his time. Hardly an unaware unconditioned low lander.

[justlurking]

As a resident of Colorado, I can tell you that a LOT of low landers (anything below 2,000 ft) come out here and get disoriented at 9,000 to 10,000 ft.

As a "low lander" that has never smoked, I've noticed minor hypoxia effects after an extended time at 11,000 feet. I immediately asked for a lower altitude and have never been above 10,000 feet (aircraft cabin altitude) since then.

I've made trips to 14,000 feet (on Pike's Peak), but never stayed long enough to feel any effects.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Lower than that, even. I wasn’t exactly in good shape at the time when I did a long trip to CO in the ‘90s and gave it enough time to acclimate (from my home here in Nashville at 500 feet) up to Leadville and Cripple Creek at over 10,000. After leaving Cripple Creek, headed down to Colorado Springs at half that altitude. I saw all these strapping firefighters a little older than I was at the time, and they had just flown in from NYC, all huffing and puffing walking a few feet. I joked and said it was a good thing they hadn’t gone straight to Cripple Creek, they would’ve needed oxygen tanks.