Been hiking/scrambling peaks in the Sierra for many years. A few times over the last 4 years I got mild altitude sickness. But the last 2 trips up this summer it got to be a considerable handicap. I live at sea level and usually day hike over a 2-3 day weekend. After coming from sea level a day up on Tuolumne Peak, 10,845', the last 3 miles back found me with a nasty headache, mild nausea and doing a 3 percent grade was a challenge! Serious un-fun! Last weekend I even got the symptoms hiking 9,700' Fairview Dome but not as bad. Even the second day at 10,700' I was feeling it. Was going to do 12,590 Mt. Conness 3rd day and it might have been fine but..... decided on something lower.
Drink plenty of water! Stay fit and do big hikes locally, fresh as ever. Maybe it's age catching up. In any case anyone know any other remedies?

I've heard caffine helps. I've also heard (but haven't validated the claim) of Viagra helping... LOL, feel free to tell us how that turns out...

I've heard about Diamox and other techniques but considering the particular forum branch you posted this in I'm not sure that's the response you were hoping for.

Bring 151 rum (it's nice and concentrated so you get more bang per oz) and do a couple of shots before your big alpine start. When you wake up at 3AM you definitely won't feel like getting out of your sleeping bag, and will instead sleep in for the day, thereby allowing you to get more acclimatized.

I would have suggested hydration and making sure you eat something whether you are hungry or not, but this is "Ethics, Spray and Slander".

Far as age catching up goes, I've heard exactly the opposite, and it's been my experience as well. Seems that when I go to higher altitudes, it's the younger, faster folks who more often end up puking and wiping bloody noses while the older climbers stomp on up. How much of this is due to younger folks going too fast and older folks pacing themselves, I couldn't say. I have heard that there are physiological reasons as well - such as slower body responses in older climbers which, paradoxically, hep with AMS - but I can't confirm.

Other than that, climb high, sleep low!

Noondueler wrote:Been hiking/scrambling peaks in the Sierra for many years. A few times over the last 4 years I got mild altitude sickness. But the last 2 trips up this summer it got to be a considerable handicap. I live at sea level and usually day hike over a 2-3 day weekend. After coming from sea level a day up on Tuolumne Peak the last 3 miles back found me with a nasty headache, mild nausea and doing a 3 percent grade was a challenge! Serious un-fun! Last weekend I even got the symptoms hiking 9,700' Fairview Dome but not as bad. Even the second day at 10,700' I was feeling it. Was going to do 12,590 Mt. Conness 3rd day and it might have been fine but..... decided on something lower.
Drink plenty of water! Stay fit and do big hikes locally, fresh as ever. Maybe it's age catching up. In any case anyone know any other remedies?

Let's keep this in E+S+S.......

Can you out hike your partners????

Most of my climbing buddies can kick my ass hiking wise....but when it goes 5.10 plus they stall out and I catch up and smoke on by.....

I get sick if I camp at 10,000 plus. The next day it feels like I drank about 50 beers + Tequila shots

Nothing helps except to go down to lower elevation.

I live at 500 feet so local day hikes do zip to help me acclimate to 10,000 plus.

Being a weekender I don't have to time to stay at 9,000 for a week then 10,000 for a week, etc.... than go see what happens..... unless the Chief would let me camp out in his back yard and experiment some.

Noondueler, What happens if you camp at less than 10.000? Than go C to C?

If I do, I can hike and climb up to 14 + the next day with no problems, but if I camp I pay the price.

Remember: Old = superior.

I find that my body doesn't acclimate as fast early season, when I haven't been at altitude for awhile. If I go to elevation every weekend or so, though, my body acclimates quickly during the latter part of the season. Plenty of fluids before, during, & after. Limit the caffeine. Sleep at altitude (if I'm doing a trip to the East Side, I'll spend the (driving) approach night camped out at Tioga Pass). Garlic, or garlic pills, have been used by top mountaineers for some time to help their bodies at altitude.

Guyzo wrote:Remember: Old = superior.

Remember, old = slow, in your case...

ShortTimer wrote:

Guyzo wrote:Remember: Old = superior.

Remember, old = slow, in your case...

Jan... I was speaking with your wife the other day, do you think Viagra helps?

I don't eat big breakfasts before I start; just two cups of coffee and a few bars, and another pint of water.

I force myself to slow down at altitude; the body and mind are used to my 3000' home pace, which isn't appropriate.

I force myself to breathe harder, with forced deep exhalations and inhalations. Otherwise I don't have the reflex to get enough O2.

Primarily, watch your pace. Start at a speed below what you would use near sea level.

I've seen more people puke from over-exertion, than from altitude.

My main 'trick' is exposing myself to altitude on a regular basis. I live at sealevel as well but I try to go to altitude at least every other week. If I know I have a big (i.e. high) trip coming up, I often go to 10k the weekend before. Works out pretty well.

Last weekend I went to 13k from 5k without any issues. I used to get bad headaches at 13k.

Oh yeah, I pressure breathe once I get higher up. That's probably the best tip I ever got.

josegarcia wrote:overdosed on diamox and viagra on my last climb. i really wanted to pee, but couldn't.

Try a direct application of Ice to the affected member.

Guyzo wrote:Jan... I was speaking with your wife the other day, do you think Viagra helps?

Nope, it doesn't help at all. What good is it to walk around with your sword in the air if there is no one to duel.

Guyzo wrote:

josegarcia wrote:overdosed on diamox and viagra on my last climb. i really wanted to pee, but couldn't.

Try a direct application of Ice to the affected member.

Have you tried using it for self-arrest? You might be able to save the weight of a mountaineering axe on your next snow climb.

ShortTimer wrote:

Guyzo wrote:Jan... I was speaking with your wife the other day, do you think Viagra helps?

Nope, it doesn't help at all. What good is it to walk around with your sword in the air if there is no one to duel.

You should go show your sword off at the "beach" in TM.