High altitude brings along with it some wonderful benefits, especially the ability to commune with nature in majestic mountains. However, there some precautions if you plan to enjoy it fully. Pagosa is at an elevation "officially" of 7,079 feet. Despite the sign at the town entrance, elevations in the surrounding area hit 8,000 feet, and that's just in the foothills around town.

To appreciate fully and enjoy this mountain town and the recreational opportunities in the mountains surrounding it, you need to be aware that there is only about 70 percent of the oxygen available at this altitude as there is at sea level.

If you aren't acclimated, you will feel the elevation as a burning in your lungs, a reduced ability to perform the physical activities you're routinely able to do, and it can get worse.

Symptoms of the onset of Acute Mountain Sickness can include worsening headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, acute tunnel vision, slurred speech, memory loss and or combinations of these. Headache is the most common symptom experienced - it should be monitored closely as headaches can worsen rapidly.

Children are much more susceptible to suffering from AMS. In adults susceptibility appears to be independent of age, sex or physical condition. Symptoms generally will improve with rest and fluids over 24 - 48 hours, or descent to a lower altitude.