Vancouver, Whistler & Vancouver Island - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 898

lands. In the major cities of Seattle, Vancouver and Portland, and even some smaller
towns, such as Eugene and Victoria, travelers will find everything from gay religious con-
gregations to gay hiking clubs, while in the rural areas they may want to keep their orient-
ation to themselves.
The Capitol Hill neighborhood is the center of gay life in Seattle. In Vancouver, the West
End is gay-centric, while Commercial Dr is more lesbian-oriented. Queer- integrated Port-
land has no specific gay neighborhood (Sam Adams, Portland's mayor from 2008 to
2012, was the first openly gay mayor of a large US city).
Seattle Gay News ( www.sgn.org ) A weekly newspaper focusing on gay issues.
Just Out ( www.justout.com ) Free biweekly serving Portland's gay community.
Vancouver Pride Society ( www.vancouverpride.ca ) Check out the events link.
Tourist Vancouver ( www.tourismvancouver.com/vancouver/gay-friendly-vancouver ) Re-
sources for gay-friendly Vancouver.
Health
Altitude Sickness
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), aka 'Altitude Sickness,' may develop in those who as-
cend rapidly to altitudes greater than 8000ft (2400m) but sometimes less. Being physically
fit offers no protection. Those who have experienced AMS in the past are prone to future
episodes. The risk increases with faster ascents, higher altitudes and greater exertion.
Symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, malaise, insomnia and
loss of appetite. Severe cases may be complicated by fluid in the lungs (high-altitude pul-
monary edema) or swelling of the brain (high-altitude cerebral edema).
The best treatment for AMS is descent. If you are exhibiting symptoms, do not ascend.
If symptoms are severe or persistent, descend immediately. When traveling to high alti-
tudes, avoid overexertion, eat light meals and abstain from alcohol. If your symptoms are
more than mild or don't resolve promptly, see a doctor. Altitude sickness should be taken
seriously; it can be fatal when severe.
OCEAN WAVES & RIPTIDES
Never turn your back on the ocean when beachcombing or examining tide pools.
Large 'sneaker waves' often catch the unwary and sweep them out to sea. If you're
swimming and get caught in a riptide which pulls you away from shore, don't fight
it - even expert swimmers can get exhausted and drown. Instead, swim parallel to
the shoreline, and once the current stops pulling you out, swim back to shore.