Whether you have dreamt about living in a mountain chalet your entire life or if you just got a promotion to a location with a higher altitude there are a few extra things to be mindful of when moving to a higher altitude.
Hire Movers
You can’t understand how thin air will affect you until you experience the acclimation period firsthand. Even if you feel “fine,” there is still a good chance you will exhaust much sooner than you usually do. Do yourself a favor and hire long-distance movers. You do not want to be carrying heavy furniture while your body is getting used to the altitude.
Be Prepared for Mountain Driving
If you decide you want to rent a truck and then hire local movers to unload when you arrive you certainly can, but be warned that driving a truck in the mountains is zero fun. If you think getting up the hills is a pain, try riding your breaks all the way down. Plus, you have to deal with all those twists and turns and manage to stay in your own lane. Driving your own vehicle will be challenging enough. If you can, avoid driving a big moving truck by hiring a long-distance moving company.
Acclimating
You will probably be dying to start unpacking, but you should take it easy for a few days. If you pack a few boxes of essentials they will get you through the first few days. If you feel fine, unpack a box here and there, allowing plenty of rest time. If you follow these tips, the elevation change may not affect you.
- Stay Hydrated – The importance of drinking water cannot be stressed enough. It is vital to help you adjust. Higher altitudes are generally dry, so you will need more water than what you are used to drinking in a humid environment.
- Increase Potassium Intake – The best way to replenish electrolytes is to load up on foods high in potassium, such as bananas, dates, avocados, cantaloupes, bran, granola, broccoli, and potatoes.
- Avoid Alcohol – You probably want to grab a six-pack or a bottle of wine to celebrate your first night in your new home, but this is better done after you have been there a few days. Alcohol affects your body differently at higher elevations. If you do decide to have drinks, make sure you have a designated driver. You may be fine to drive after a few beers and a couple of shots in your hometown, but the same amount of alcohol will have you far tipsier in a higher elevation.
Be Prepared
When you live in the mountains there is no such thing as being over-prepared. You need an emergency kit in your car, and you should stock up on essentials around the house. There may be snowstorms that make it impossible to get into the city until roads are clear. Make sure you have enough food to last a while. This includes pet food, too. Have a crank radio, candles, solar lanterns, and cans of gel fuel for warmth and cooking, in case your power goes out.