I completed my first high-altitude hike ever, a 13er. This was quite a challenge for me as I come from a place at sea level and have no prior experience with high-altitude hiking. Fortunately, I didn't experience altitude sickness, but I did have to stop several times to catch my breath. Despite this, I found that I was physically fit and able to handle the hike, thanks to my regular workouts of 3-5 times a week over the years. My body adapted to the high-altitude stress quite quickly.
I used to use nasal breathing in the spring , summer and fall when I was doing a long day in a large park near my home and I didn’t want to carry water. It did seem to make a difference.
I enjoy your clips Tayson..thank you for your work on these. Here's a small bio-physical geekism regarding "edema" (from your H.A.C.E and H.A.P.E. segment). The edema simply means "swelling" ... and is typically caused by "fluid build up" ... key word "fluid". While it is constituted by H20 primarily...it can also be the interstitial fluid: fluid that fills the spaces between cells like amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, coenzymes, hormones, neurotransmitters, salts, and cellular products ... other swelling results from plasma and blood. Technobabble out 🙂.
RE: nasal breathing. The book, Breath, by James Nestor has an excellent section about it. After reading it, I started using nasal strips at night. They help open the nasal passages so I can breath through my nose. I plan to try them on a hike at altitude to see if they help.
Great tips Tayson. Definitely having that data is good since you were able to good back and have reason information about how you were and not just how you remember it. Nate
Awesome info very helpful 👍. Electrolytes are very important for your body to run right and blood pressure is always better in a safe low range. All these factors work hand in hand, when ones off it throws the rest off. Excellent points Tayson 👍. P.s I got my 2 pillows in they are awesome. Thank you guys be safe out there.
Thanks for the tips!! Hoping my wisconsin lungs can manage in April!! Gonna acclimate as long as I can but lost a few days out trip... gonna hit a 13k mountain and if that goes well gonna go after my first 14er!
Nasal breathing is something that I had not thought / heard of and nened to try it. Some other clarifications from official literature on high altitude acclimation: like sleep, hydrate well starting several days before going to higher altitudes -- as well as stay hydrated at altitude. Slow ascent - the guideline is to sleep no more than 1000 feet higher than your previous night. Your can exceed the 1000 foot guideline during the day's hike but you should not camp higher. High altitude acclimation is defintiley something to pay attention to -- at best you may be very uncomfortable for a number of days and at worst it can be life threatening. Monitor yourself and your hiking partners.
Since a trip I took to Colorado a decade ago I have been unable to go above 1200 feet. Yes, I know that is not very high. My doctors have not been able to explain it. Thankfully in the part of Michigan I live we don't have any altitude over 1000 feet.
Nasal breathing - interesting! I just finished a book called 'breath' by James Nestor. The whole first section is on nasal breathing essentially being the elixir for immortality.
You guys are really putting out some great content. It’s not just the same old backpacking videos everyone else pushes out. I love you throw tips like this in. Keep ‘em coming!! Looking forward to hearing more on the nose breathers! Lol.
I live at around 1,000 ft altitude. I plan to go to an altitude of 4,700 ft. I am flying there. Do you think I will get altitude sickness? I have had it before, but I was at 12,700 ft altitude.
Thanks for the information. I thought my girlfriend just had low electrolytes on our last hike when she got sick but sounds like it could have been a combination of both.
Having your resting heart rate increase by as few a 5 to 10 bpm is indicative of significant stress. If mine increased by 20 bpm I'd be pretty freaked out and looking for significant intervension. On another point, nasal breathing . . . sleeping with a buff over your mouth and nose can significantly reduce your moisture loss and the associated condensation on your gear.
I had altitude sickness once in my life and I hope I never have it again. I drove straight to the top of Pike's Peak (nearly 3 miles high) without stopping at any of the overlooks, at the top I was walking around for just a few minutes when I nearly fainted and could barely think, it really felt like my body was shutting down. Luckily I was able to communicate "enough" and stumble to the car where my wife drove me back down the mountain, about half way down I started feeling normal again. Going to Zion where it's only in the 6,000 ft range, so hopefully I won't have any issues. Thanks for the tips!
Have you found that food high in carbohydrates help? I read somewhere that eating foods that are easy for your body to break down can help which fits into the idea of reducing stress and work for your body.
I've used nasal breathing for decades to help control my heart rate on long up hill climbs for decades, never thought it was such a secret. So if you find yourself panting like a dog,, shut your mouth!! I also always take asprin ahead and while at altitude; I typically get headaches from exertion and the added intensity of the sunlight at altitude. Just doing these 2 things have helped me a lot to not only enjoy the experience more but also summit several 14k peaks. Keep these great tips coming 👍
