Helpful Info

At Jans we are dedicated to making your Mountain Recreation experience as enjoyable as possible, so we offer this helpful information to make your ski trip a safe and happy one.

Frostbite

Frostbite is a condition in which the body tissues freeze. It happens when the skin is bare or gets wet in sub-freezing temperatures. The low temperatures cause ice crystals to form in your skin. Frostbite occurs most frequently in your hands, feet, nose and ears. A few signs of frostbite are pain in small areas, tingling in those areas, your skin gets hard and white, you start to itch on the areas that are painful, and the skin starts to peel or get blisters.

Preventing frostbite is mainly a matter of keeping yourself warm and keeping skin covered when it is really cold. If you are going out in cold weather, you need to protect your hands and feet with appropriate gloves, socks, and boots. Weatherproof or water-resistant protection is a good idea. If you think that you have frostbite, you should get into a sheltered place and change into warm, dry clothes. Do not rub the area that is frostbitten.

Altitude Sickness

If you are heading for the mountains, make sure you're prepared for the altitude change.
Altitude sickness occurs most commonly at elevations above 8,000 feet but can certainly happen above 6,000 feet. Dehydration and overexertion are the major contributing factors. It is critical that a person stays well hydrated so that urination is frequent and clear or light colored.

How do you know if you have altitude sickness?
An early morning headache that doesn't go away is one fairly sure sign. Low levels of energy, insomnia, shortness of breath, nausea and loss of appetite are all symptoms that can, either alone, or in combination indicate altitude sickness. Drinking more water, descending, and reducing your level of activity are the standard remedies once you feel sick. Do not push it!

Sun Safety

When you are heading for the slopes, sunscreen isn't always the first thing on your mind. Be aware that the sun is six times stronger at 10,000 feet than it is at sea level because there's less atmosphere for the sun to fight through. Use a sunscreen with at least a 15 SPF (Sun Protection Factor), reapply frequently, wear sunglasses or goggles, a hat, and watch children so they don't burn.