Elevation

When you come to Denver you will notice that we love everything 5280! We are 5,280 feet above sea level and if you haven’t been at this elevation before you may not realize just how different it can be on your body or how it can affect simple things like baking. Below are five things to keep in mind when moving to a higher elevation location for the first time.

  1. Sleep. Your body is confused by the reduced amount of oxygen in the air so you may notice your slumber is less restful. People who have this problem experience it at elevations higher than 5,000 feet, and it usually corrects itself after a couple of nights.
  2. Exercise. Even if you exercised often at your lower elevation, don’t expect to be at your same level the first few days in Denver. You will probably feel winded just walking up a flight of steps. Be patient and take it slow, it could take up to several weeks or months for your body to adjust, but it will over time.
  3. Health. Acute mountain sickness is a real thing, though its effects are most commonly felt around 8,000 feet and higher. Have a headache or feel nauseated? Drink lots of water, pop some ibuprofen, and take it easy. It should resolve itself within a few days. If not, see a doctor as altitude sickness can become serious.
  4. Cooking. Surprisingly, elevation affects how things cook. Water boils at lower temperatures as elevation increases (around 202 degrees in Denver). Many other recipes may require some adjustments as well. There is no good rule of thumb, so it may take some experimenting to get your favorite cookie to be the same as it was at lower elevation.
  5. Alcohol Consumption. We love our craft breweries, but if you are new to the Mile High City, take it easy. Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day (it is also less humid here than most places) and even have a glass of water in between your alcoholic beverage. You may feel like the effects of alcohol hit you faster than you have been used to. Remember less oxygen is in the air to breathe so your body is already working overtime to compensate.