A scientific approach for Mt. Whitney hiking (7) ~ High altitude sickness

Night sky at Trail Camp

High altitude sickness

Due to oxygen partial pressure effect, the amount of oxygen a human take with one breathe is getting lower in higher altitude.  People typically called “low oxygen environment” for this situation.   Some study says that the symptom may be shown around 2,000m (about 6,500 feet).   However may people may be able to hike the elevation without much problem.   However around 4,000m (about 13,000 feet), many people start feeling some symptom.  Also, it is known that the human body would adopt such “low oxygen environment” if people stay such altitude longer enough.

 We are talking about hiking around 14,000 feet.   So that almost all hiking for this class of mountains could be done within a few days.   Therefore it is probably not long enough to adopt such environment in this situation.   On the other hand, I did not have much issue even if I did not think about anything about the “high altitude sickness” in the past.   So it may impact to a person’s performance somehow, but it might be still achievable without anything special.   But please remember that some people get a really bad symptom or serious impact for his/her performance and it is possible for the person could not make to hike such class of mountains some time.

Pulse Oxy-meter 

 Pulse oximeter

There is a medical equipment named "pulse oximeter" which indicates saturated oxygen level.  It is used for expedition to Himalaya.   It shows the situation how a human body adopted to the altitude.  I was thinking it might be useful for a hiking to 4,000m class mountains.  It shows something if it is something completely wrong or very critical situation.  But a big difference between climbing 8,000m mountains and 4,000m mountains.   Because 4,000m class mountains, we usually climb / hike in a short period, something like a few days which might not be long enough to adopt the altitude.   In a short period, it might be hard to tell the difference by the reading of pulse oximeter.  The reading may change depending on how we breath.  Unless the reading is extremely low, it might be heard to tell if it is OK or not.  It might be good to know how we can breath to get a better value which may help to minimize the impact of the low oxygen environment.  

Heart rate

 Running watch with GPS / Heart rate monitor (My second one, Garmin 910XT)

My first running watch (Garmin 405CX)

 

Since I have a running watch with GPS function for running, I started using it for hiking a several years ago.  The watch also support a heart rate monitor as well.   The interesting thing for the heart rate is the heart rate is not changing other than the stress level to the human body.  It is different from the reading of pulse oximeter which depends on how people breath.   So the heart rate is probably a better parameter to indicate the situation of a human body.  Thus, we can use the heart rate to optimize moving pace during a hiking in 4,000m class mountains as similar as running.

(To be continue)