I know everyone adjusts differently to altitude, but am curious about the following. Our group has a pass for an overnight hike up the Whitney Main Trail in August, and a few of us plan to hike and camp at altitude ahead of time to acclimatize and hopefully make the Whitney hike more enjoyable. Question: if we spend two-three days in the Sierra, then go down to Lone Pine for a shower and night in a motel before going up Whitney, should we expect that overnight to undo the acclimatization benefits of the previous days? "Going Higher" says de-acclimatization occurs within a week or two, but the implication in the section is that this followed a much longer stay at high altitude than two or three days.

I'd be grateful for any advice.

Going to Lone Pine for an evening will not undo the benefits gained from previous days. The R&R just might make it even better.

Be sure to visit the Western Film Museum while you're there!

DMT

The last time I did W in 2001, I slept at about 4,000 ft. elevation the two nights previous, with a few hikes up higher during the day. Did the r.t. hike in 15 hours, October 12, btw. I'd always do well when I was bagging the high peaks, I'd spend the 2 day weekends up high, then rush down back to work for the week, and head up for another weekend, back right to where I was as far as acclimation, it seemed.

One memorable trip, we camped two nights at about Lamarck Col, 12,000' elevation, and I spent the tues-fri week at sea level. The next weekend, I dashed back up to bag Willie. The two with me had come from sea level without any prior acclimation and were pretty sick. I was great, could have bagged Tyndall if I had the inclination.

Though when I bagged Shasta, without any acclimation for weeks, I got a standard headache. More anecdotal reminiscence, but so true.

Physiologically, you are at altitude and your red blood count goes up accordingly. A few hours or, by me, even a work week back down at sea level and you retain some of your higher red blood cell count. Or so it worked for me, by me!

Thanks for the quick and helpful advice.

Gary Schenk wrote:What Dingus said. Climb high, sleep low.

+1

When in the Alps, it was expected that climbers spent a couple of days at hut height - 3000m -ish, return to the village for a day, and then ascend once again ready to climb high. The break is sought.

mike