St Moritz Switzerland Altitude & 6 Tips
St. Moritz, Switzerland, is synonymous with luxury, winter sports, and stunning natural beauty. And with its high elevation, we’ll review what you need to know about St Moritz Switzerland altitude, plus tips to combat its effects.
St Moritz Switzerland Altitude
Located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, St Moritz Switzerland altitude sits at 5,978 feet above sea level. At its ski resort, the Piz Nair summit reaches a high point of 10,026 feet
St Moritz Switzerland Altitude:
- St Moritz Switzerland altitude - 5,978 ft (1,822 m)
- St Moritz ski resort summit - 10,026 ft (3,056 m)
These altitudes and scenery make St Moritz a top choice for travelers, and even hosted the Winter Olympics twice because of its alpine experience in the high-altitude country of Switzerland.
Is St. Moritz High Altitude?
Yes, St. Moritz is considered high altitude.
Mountain Medicine considers high altitude anything higher than 4,900 feet, in which St. Moritz well exceeds.⁴ In fact, the Piz Nair summit of the ski resort is almost considered very high altitude at 10,026 feet.
How High Is St. Moritz In Feet?
St. Moritz is 5,978 feet high, which is 1,822 meters high.
- St. Moritz in feet - 5,978
- St. Moritz in meters - 1,822
What Is The Elevation Of St. Moritz Skiing?
The elevation of St. Moritz while skiing can reach as high as 10,026 feet (3,056 m) at Piz Nair, the highest summit point.
Just the base elevation of St. Moritz is 5,740 feet (1749 m) high.
Which Is Higher Zermatt Or St. Moritz?
St. Moritz is higher than Zermatt at the base elevation.
St. Moritz > Zermatt base elevation:
- St Moritz base altitude - 5,978 ft (1,822 m)
- Zermatt base altitude - 5,310 ft (1,620 m)
However, the peak of Zermatt reaches a higher peak summit elevation than St. Moritz, therefore, has the highest overall altitude.
Zermatt > St. Moritz summit elevation:
- Zermatt summit altitude - 12792 ft (3899 m)
- St Moritz ski resort summit - 10,026 ft (3,056 m)
While Zermatt leads with the highest elevation, both these mountains are at high altitudes that are very concerning for visitors.
Do People Get Altitude Sickness In St. Moritz?
Yes, visitors of St. Moritz commonly get altitude sickness.
It’s been reported that up to 50% people can experience altitude sickness at 10,000 feet and above.⁵ This puts St. Moritz visitors at a high risk for altitude sickness.
St. Moritz Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness occurs in St. Moritz when the body struggles to adjust to lower oxygen levels due to its high elevations.
St. Moritz altitude sickness symptoms can include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Trouble sleeping or insomnia
- Loss of appetite
- Generally feeling ill
Pay attention to these type of symptoms for at least 6-24 hours upon arrival in St. Moritz, when they’re most likely to set in. Keep reading to find out best tips to prepare for the high altitude.
6 Tips To Combat St. Moritz Altitude Sickness
Given its impressive elevation, vacation in St. Moritz Switzerland can either be unforgettable or miserable if not taking the right precautions.
As a high altitude company located in Colorado, we discuss the top tips that can help you minimize the impact of high altitude conditions.
Here’s 6 Tips To Combat St. Moritz Altitude Sickness:
1. Acclimate Gradually
You want to give your body time to adjust, and you can do so by acclimating gradually. You can arrive in St. Moritz at least a day or two before skiing or venturing in the mountains.
For example, book a hotel in the town of St. Moritz at base elevation and stay there for at least 24 before heading higher. With altitude sickness showing usually within 24 hours, you can at least know if you’re acclimating before you head to higher elevations.
2. Make Hydration A Priority
The dry mountain air and increased respiratory rate can lead to dehydration, some research shows it to be two times faster fluid loss than sea level.⁶
Make hydration a priority by drinking plenty of water throughout the day, at least 2-4 liters. Avoid too much sugar, as it can also lead to dehydration faster.
3. Limit Alcohol
Alcohol can impair your body's ability to recover well, sleep good, and even stay hydrated.⁷ This becomes an even bigger issue when at high altitudes.
It’s best to avoid, or at minimum limit alcohol, until you feel acclimated. This can take 1-2 days to judge how you feel.
4. Take It Easy Initially
Upon arriving in St. Moritz, you want to take it easy before ramping up any intense exercise or activities. This includes hiking, skiing, and any other physically demanding pursuits.
The physical activity can put further stress on your body and lengthen the time to acclimate. Just like with alcohol, give it 1-2 days until you introduce any intense exercise or do mountain activities.
5. Get Substantial Sleep
Proper rest and sleep helps your body recover. It's even shown to increase blood flow and oxygen in the blood.⁹
Create a comfortable sleep environment, minimizing noise and light disturbances, and shoot for 7-9 hours of sleep a night.
TIP: If you can get natural sunlight during the day, it will help melatonin production at night and your potential sleep quality.
6. Boost Antioxidant Defenses
Oxidative stress is shown to increase with altitude.¹⁰ Research has shown glutathione, the body’s master antioxidant, to deplete by 45% in high elevation conditions.¹¹
Antioxidants are a proven solution, boosting your antioxidant defenses through supplementation (like glutathione) during your St. Moritz trip is a proactive approach.¹²
Whether you are there for winter sports, summer adventures, or simply to take in the breathtaking scenery, following these six tips can ensure a more pleasant experience at St. Moritz.
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SOURCES:
1. St._Moritz Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Moritz
2. Skiing At St Moritz - Resort Altitude
https://stmoritzguide.com/st-moritz-ski/
3. St. Moritz Ski Resort Guide
https://uk.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/Switzerland/St_Moritz.html
4. Effects of high altitude on humans
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_high_altitude_on_humans
5. Patient education: High-altitude illness (including mountain sickness)
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/high-altitude-illness-including-mountain-sickness-beyond-the-basics/print#
6. The Importance Of Drinking Water At High Altitude
https://summitoxygen.net/drinking-at-high-altitude/
7. Effects of Alcohol
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.HYP.29.6.1278#
8. ST. MORITZ SKI RESORT | SWITZERLAND
https://www.ski.com/st-moritz
9. Sleep: The Secret Ingredient of Injury Recovery
https://www.orthocarolina.com/media/sleep-the-secret-ingredient-of-injury-recovery
10. High altitude and oxidative stress
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17482529/
11. Effect of high altitude (7,620 m) exposure on glutathione
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11320641/
12. Oxidative Stress and Diseases Associated with High-Altitude Exposure
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8868315/
13. Piz Nair Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piz_Nair
14. Breathtaking St Moritz
https://tempojournal.com/article/breathtaking-st-moritz/index.html
