So, you’re asking about the altitude at Copper Mountain? Man, let me tell you, it’s not just some number you read on a sign. I found that out the hard way, like a lot of things in life, I guess.
I rolled up there feeling pretty good, you know? Thought I was in decent shape, hydrated a bit on the drive up. Figured, “It’s just mountains, I’ve been to mountains before.” Famous last words, right? First day, I was all eager, hit the slopes. Wasn’t even doing anything crazy, just some nice easy runs to get the feel of the snow. But then, it started creeping up on me.
By the afternoon, I was feeling… off. And not just tired-from-skiing off. This was different. I had this dull headache, felt a bit woozy, and man, trying to catch my breath felt like I was sucking air through a coffee stirrer. My buddy, he was fine, just cruising. Made me feel like a real chump.
My Body’s Official Complaint List
That night was the real kicker. I thought a good night’s sleep would sort me out. Nope. Tossed and turned. Woke up feeling like I’d gone ten rounds with a yeti. My body basically filed an official complaint, and here’s what was on it:
- A headache that just wouldn’t quit. Seriously, like a tiny drummer was living in my skull.
- Feeling super tired for no good reason. Even just walking to the breakfast spot felt like a marathon.
- Shortness of breath. Yeah, still. Doing nothing.
- Just generally feeling blah. You know, that lovely “I might be coming down with something awful” feeling.
I’d heard all the usual advice, of course. “Drink water,” “take it easy your first day,” “listen to your body.” Blah blah blah. It’s like those software manuals nobody reads until everything’s already crashed and burned. I knew Copper was high, sure. Intellectually. But I didn’t get it. The base is already up there, like over 9,700 feet. And when you go up the lifts? You’re easily topping 12,000 feet. That’s serious air up there, or rather, lack of it.
It kind of reminded me of this one job I had. My first “real” job out of college. Thought I knew everything. My supervisor, a grizzled old dude named Sal, kept trying to give me pointers on this big project. I’d just nod and smile, thinking, “Yeah, yeah, I got this, old timer.” Long story short, I messed up. Big time. Cost the company a fair bit of cash. Sal didn’t even yell. He just gave me this look. That’s when I learned that sometimes, you actually have to experience something, and maybe even fail a bit, to really understand what people are trying to tell you. Some lessons, you just can’t learn from a textbook, or a pamphlet in a ski resort lobby.
So, that’s how I really learned about the altitude at Copper Mountain. It wasn’t from a brochure. It was from my own body screaming at me. The rest of the trip, I took it way, way easier. Drank water like it was my job. Skipped the beer at lunch. And slowly, very slowly, I started to feel human again. But man, those first 36 hours? They were a lesson, alright. A lesson in humility, and a lesson in what “high altitude” actually means when you’re not just looking at it on a map.
So yeah, if you’re going to Copper, that altitude is the real deal. Don’t be a hero like I tried to be. Give your body a chance to catch up. Because it will definitely let you know if you don’t.
