Home > Weekends of Recovery > Packing Reminders: Alta Lodge
What to Bring for Your Stay at Alta Lodge:
Here are a few things to consider that will make your stay for the Advanced Weekend more enjoyable:
- We advise loose, comfortable clothing and layers for warmth.
- Please bring your own toiletries (toothpaste and personal supplies) Alta Lodge does provide soap and shampoo.
- There is a no-smoking policy in all of the public spaces at Alta and in the surrounding woods and meadows areas. If you need to smoke, please check with the reservations desk at Alta Lodge to identify designated smoking areas. (A reminder: Utah is usually in a drought this time of year, so please do not discard any lit materials while in outdoor spaces.
- Most cell phones should work fairly well. However, you may want to bring a calling card in case your service provider does not reach into this mountain space. There are public access phones throughout Alta Lodge.
- There are great outdoor spaces to enjoy surrounding Alta Lodge. Please practice the ethic of "leave no trace" - which means, anything you take outside should be with you when you return inside & be mindfully sensitive to make the minimal impact as you trek through any outdoor space.
- Alta Lodge is at 8500 feet altitude. It is not uncommon for people to experience minor physical symptoms above 8000 feet. (Symptoms can include headache, loss of appetite, & fatigue.) There are no specific factors such as age, sex, or physical condition that correlate with susceptibility to the effects of altitude. Some people get it and some people don't, and some people are simply more susceptible than others. Here's some tips for how to deal with any effects of altitude that you may experience during the retreat:
- Stay properly hydrated. Acclimatization is often accompanied by fluid loss, so you need to drink lots of fluids to remain properly hydrated.
- Take it easy; don't over-exert yourself when you first get up to altitude. Be prepared that tasks such as climbing stairs may require more physical exertion than you're used to for the same task at a lower elevation. Light activity during the day is better than sleeping because respiration decreases during sleep, exacerbating the symptoms.
- Avoid tobacco and alcohol and other depressant drugs including, barbiturates, tranquilizers, and sleeping pills. These depressants further decrease the respiratory drive during sleep resulting in a worsening of the symptoms. The acclimatization process is inhibited by dehydration, over-exertion, and alcohol and other depressant drugs.
- If you have any concerns about your susceptibility to the effects of altitude, please consult with your physician. Diamox (Acetazolamide) is a prescription medication that can moderate the side effects of altitude for most people. However, since it takes a while for Diamox to have an effect, it is advisable to start taking it 24 hours before you go to altitude.
Things to Bring:
- A flashlight (for any nighttime strolls)
- Rain gear (…in the unlikely event of rain - an umbrella is fairly useless for mountain rain, as storms are usually accompanied by wind).
- Jacket - and gloves, hat, & some warm clothes if you are sensitive to the cold. (Temperatures may be as low as the 30's at night and should be in the 50's & 60's during the daytime. There is always the possibility of snow in September!)
- Sunscreen is strongly advised - remember that sunrays are considerably more intense at mountain elevations. A hat with a brim is also very helpful to protect you from the sun.
- If you plan to participate in any hiking activities: Hiking boots (or shoes comfortable for easy & moderate hiking trails), a hiking stick (if you use one), & a day pack.
- Any lost & found items will be mailed back to you on request, and Alta Lodge will ask to be fully reimbursed for the postage.
Dietary Needs:
If you have special dietary needs that you have not already communicated to Howard during your registration process, please complete the checklist below and then email this directly to Howard at hfradkin@malesurvivor.org. Be as specific as you can so we can do our best to meet your needs.
Please do not expect special dietary requests to be taken at the site.
Please email this back to Howard:
I DO NOT eat:
- Red meat
- Poultry
- Fish
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Wheat
- Corn
- Soy
- Tree nuts
