tnmule20 Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Has anyone ever done the hike from Elk Park flag stop on the Durango and Silverton RR to the Needleton flag stop? Here is a link. https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/colorado/elk-park-to-needleton?mobileMap=false 36 mile point to point. I know it is beautiful because I have ridden the train a few times. I think the Scouts would get a kick out of riding the train to the drop off, doing the hike, and then meeting the train to take you back. We are low landers and I'm always afraid of altitude sickness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Better4itall Posted March 28, 2023 Share Posted March 28, 2023 We haven't done it but it looks like a fantastic trek! As a fellow scouter from the low country, we usually add 1-2 days to acclimatize at altitude to avoid altitude sickness for mountain high-adventure trips. With a trip like this you could fly into Denver, spend a day or two there or somewhere in between and then head out. Mind if we borrow your idea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InquisitiveScouter Posted March 28, 2023 Share Posted March 28, 2023 On 2/10/2022 at 3:08 PM, tnmule20 said: Has anyone ever done the hike from Elk Park flag stop on the Durango and Silverton RR to the Needleton flag stop? Here is a link. https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/colorado/elk-park-to-needleton?mobileMap=false 36 mile point to point. I know it is beautiful because I have ridden the train a few times. I think the Scouts would get a kick out of riding the train to the drop off, doing the hike, and then meeting the train to take you back. We are low landers and I'm always afraid of altitude sickness. So, for this, I'd note a few things... 1. When you say "low landers", what do you mean? What is the average altitude above sea level where you live? This will matter... 2. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) really becomes a factor above around 8000 feet. The best treatment is to go down in altitude. Much of the route you have there is above 8000', with no easy way to get down to lower altitudes, should the need arise. Plan accordingly. 3. Here's some light reading ... https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/travel-to-high-altitudes# https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3678789/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430716/ https://www.uptodate.com/contents/high-altitude-illness-including-mountain-sickness-beyond-the-basics# 4. Plan your overnight locations at the lowest altitudes you can reasonably reach. 5. One of the absolute best predictors of AMS is if you have experienced it before!! So, plan two weekend trips where you go to high altitudes for a night. Anyone gets severe symptoms, you may not want to take them on the long trek. 6. If you are really low landers (live below 5000'), camp a few nights at 5000, then camp at the Every Train Stop on first night (if possible)... I think that's around 8900 feet. This will help you identify potential problems early. 7. Bring ibuprofen!! Pre-load with it!! https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2012/03/ibuprofen-decreases-likelihood-of-altitude-sickness-researchers-find.html 8. Find out who is responsible for search and rescue operations there. Call them. Ask about their capabilities to come and get someone. Do they have a chopper? Have they had to bring anyone out of there before? What communications capabilities do they recommend you bring?? etc, etc, etc. You will learn a lot in a 20 minute conversation with them 😜 Looks like an awesome trip!! May I come with you?? And, for the complete overkill... 9. If you are really worried about AMS, get Emergency Oxygen Administration training; purchase and bring a lightweight O2 canister. It will buy you a little time to figure out what you are going to do to get someone down. 10. If money, time, training, and your weight load are no factor, bring a Gamow bag LOL, if only https://www.chinookmed.com/06001/gamow-bag-hyperbaric-chamber-civilian-model.html#!details Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Better4itall Posted March 28, 2023 Share Posted March 28, 2023 Ummm - really low country. Like 35 feet above sea level. Some good advice, but don't let it deter you, sounds like a great trek. Good hydration and conditioning training before you leave are the best preparations. Treat it like you would a Philmont trek - it looks comparable. I'd leave the O2 and Gamow bag at home, but get ahold of the local SAR team, and definitely stair-step your way up over a couple of days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InquisitiveScouter Posted March 28, 2023 Share Posted March 28, 2023 2 minutes ago, Better4itall said: Ummm - really low country. Like 35 feet above sea level. Some good advice, but don't let it deter you, sounds like a great trek. Good hydration and conditioning training before you leave are the best preparations. Treat it like you would a Philmont trek - it looks comparable. I'd leave the O2 and Gamow bag at home, but get ahold of the local SAR team, and definitely stair-step your way up over a couple of days. LOL, yeah, the last two points were being facetious... note the "overkill" and "LOL, if only " remarks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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