Aspen Nightlife and the Altitude

There is more to do in Aspen than ski! The 

Aspen nightlife is like nothing you will 

experience elsewhere. The warmth and 

camaraderie of all of the skiers, from all of the 

different lodges is quite special, and remarkable. 

You will have a good time in Aspen, no matter 

what you choose to do, but there is one thing 

that you should be very aware of before you 

start your party – the altitude.

Aspen sits about 8000 feet above sea level. 

Unless you live in a high altitude area, you will 

need to adjust to this altitude. You may find 

yourself feeling dizzy or light headed, and you 

may even find it a bit difficult to breath. Altitude 

Sickness is a serious problem, and if your 

symptoms become extreme, you should seek 

medical attention.

If you will be drinking, you need to know that the 

altitude will have a large impact on the way your 

body handles the alcohol. Many people who are 

not used to such a high altitude find that they 

become drunker on much less alcohol, in a very 

short period of time. It is best that you avoid 

drinking alcohol at all until you have adjusted 

to the altitude. 

It is also important to recognize the signs of 

both Altitude sickness and Acute Mountain 

Sickness (AMS). Altitude sickness can be 

recognized by hyperventilation, shortness of 

breath during exertion, increased urination, 

changed breathing patterns at night, strange 

dreams, and frequently waking from sleep 

during the night. Acute Mountain Sickness, on 

the other hand, is recognized by loss of appetite, 

nausea, vomiting, fatigue or weakness, 

dizziness, light-headedness, difficulty sleeping, 

confusion, and a staggering gait.  

As you can see, the symptoms of both Altitude 

Sickness and Acute Mountain Sickness 

somewhat resemble the symptoms of drinking 

too much alcohol. The only way to rule out being 

drunk is to not drink for at least 48 hours after 

your arrival in the higher altitude. You should 

also seek medical attention if your symptoms 

last more than 48 hours, or if you show signs 

of Acute Mountain Sickness. AMS can be 

deadly if it is not treated.

Health care professionals suggest that you 

avoid drinking alcohol because the effects are 

magnified at a high altitude. Avoid strenuous 

activity for the first couple of days after arriving 

at the higher altitude. Drink extra fluid and visit 

a doctor if you have symptoms of AMS 

immediately for treatment.