mountains?

[thatotakugalaxy]

so, I'm going on a trip from Miami to Michigan, my mother said we are driving up HIIIIIGHH hills, i need your opinions on what to do, i get really anxious when im high in the air and think the worst such as 'my mom is gonna drive off the mountain!' or 'its gonna fall down!!' and such, even when i know my mom is an amazing driver.. anyway, tips on high mountains..?? i'll be cramped in the backseat xD

[Mermaid_Izzy]

The highest hills you should go through its the Appalachian Mountains. I haven't been further up than DC to tell you for sure, so you can correct me if I am wrong, but I don't know of there being a lot of high, high areas towards Michagan.

I live in the heart of the Appalachian Mtns and I will tell you that the elevations can get high in the Smokey Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway, but if you guys aren't going through that it should be too bad. It's mostly the backroads where you get really close to the edge (or the Blue Ridge Parkway, it's mostly an alternative route for the adventurious type)

If you guys don't go through South Carolina then you should bypass most of the bigger mountain areas. I put a picture below to help explain the elevation and I circled the area that would be your highest elevation (for the quickest route planned on my GPS)

As for tips, just stay calm and relax. It's nearly impossible for the roads to fall off or four you to easily slide off the edge. The back roads are a lot worse and don't have any guard rails, so if those can be safe, you can rest a sure you are.

Hope this helps!

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[mersheep]

My grandmother was from Kansas, and spent the last few years of her life in California. My dad said she would cover her eyes when driving in the Berkeley hills. Part of her family was from Florida. Back then it was called Vertigo.

I still find it amazing that these hills where I live are only as high as the Appellations. I did spend some time (about 10 months) living in Kentucky and spending time in Pennsylvania. I found that the mountains there are gorgeous and they do have some rather nice grades through the Cumberland gap. People kept telling me the east coast was flat. So I can sense your apprehension as cousins have this concern when they visit. It can also happen in the reverse. The first time I visited family in the Midwest via a car trip they said my face was turned green, after getting out of the car. (this cousin whom I see infrequently likes to remind me of said occurrence.) Possibly where the term greenhorn comes from.


Personally I equate mountains with the Alpine which is about 8000 or so feet just below the treeline. There one does feel the effects of altitude. Camping at 9000 or 10,000 feet at the treeline one has to deal with the change in time water boils.

It could be as you are in the back seat, that you have an inner ear issue that might contribute to nausea. Something like Dramamine might help. Consult a professional. I used to get car sick as noted above when I was little and rode in the back seat, as I often had my nose in a book. Looking down ad a device may also contribute to the anxiety. I find it best to look out at the view. Especially on windy type switchback grades. It can also help when one looks out to identify types of trees or what types of rocks there are on the side of the road. Take an interest in one's surroundings. Dancers who spin spot a fixed point as they spin. This might also help.

I notice here in the SF Bay area, that my ears pop a bit when I go over the local passes (what we call grades.) Or through the Tunnel that separates The east Bay with the Suburban communities that make up the Eastern SanFrancsico region called Contra Costa. These hills are about 1000 feet or so. It could be that one gets used to the slight air pressure differences. I can see how the slight air pressure change could instill a sense of vertigo (which is what your anxiety probably is.)

As for sliding or falling of the road. That is more of a weather issue. I totaled a car here in CA due to black ice in a rare hail storm on the pass between the Beach and Silicon Valley. So it is Good to have caution with such things. Most likely your vertigo amplifies this. Chances are that you will not encounter any of the conditions that can cause road failure. These tend to occur after heavy rains or cold. My indecent was 20 years ago Easter week. Some students took the curve at the pass at about 75 MPH and acted like a bowling ball slamming into the cars that were stopped. So it is not what you control that can affect the anxiety. It is that potential for something bad.

Why people like to gamble take risks.

[thatotakugalaxy]

Thx! We apparently went as high as the clouds! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170425/0194435f0ec2ee8bb93b22e5520de5e2.jpg

It was really fun, sadly i forgot my mermaid tail..:-; we had no room to pack it :(


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[Mermaid_Izzy]

That's no fun! And the clouds look like they are setting lower than normal becuase of rain.


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[thatotakugalaxy]

Yeah, they were!:3


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[Mermaid_Izzy]

Did you enjoy the views?


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[thatotakugalaxy]

i did, it was very fun and beautiful!:)

[Mermaid_Izzy]

Good. The Appalachian Mtns some nice views.


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[mersheep]

Sometimes the journey is the reward. I am glad you were able to see the view.

[Khaleesi Daenerys]

Thx! We apparently went as high as the clouds! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170425/0194435f0ec2ee8bb93b22e5520de5e2.jpg

It was really fun, sadly i forgot my mermaid tail..:-; we had no room to pack it :(


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Nice view I'm glad you were able to enjoy it instead of freaking out. :)