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I did a search, but found no topics on this subject.
Are there any ways to simulate altitude in your training regime. I do not have an altitude simulator, but would like to prep for an upcoming trip.
Thanks in advance.

I doubt if it really works, but I've heard about duct taping over your nose and mouth and just inserting two straws into the tape that goes over your nose. It may help get used to breathing less 02 with each breath, but I can't see how it would help.

You could go to your local high tec medical center or sports facility and exercise in a hypoxic system. These rooms or tents try to reproduce an o2 depleted environment you would find at alititude. I've never used one so can't speak to how effective they really are.

Exersice only breathing through a snorkel.

Where are you going by the way?

Denali, but so far my experiences at altitude have been problematic. So, I was hoping to get a leg up on the game. I don't seem to be able to get above 17,000 ft without serious problems and I am taking my time and following the climb high sleep low model.

Man, sounds great! That Mountain is definitely on my list. Please let us know how it turns out and be safe. I don't know much about altitude, but from what I have read, time is your friend. The more you have, the better, your body needs time to adjust to the different elevations, its different for everyone. And sometimes even the best high altitude climbers get AMS on 13k foot peaks. Its weird stuff, but hopefully your luck with change, keep your fingers crossed!

I too am heading to Denali in May and looking at my guide service schedule, it appears to be a pretty slow acclimatizing schedule. And with the "great" weather Denali always has, it could get a lot slower! Scott

1vertical1 wrote:Denali, but so far my experiences at altitude have been problematic.

Probably a lack of gluten in your diet. Eat a bunch of whole wheat bread and bagels and sit in your closet for a couple of days. Your body should get used to the lower oxygen content and you'll smell like you've been climbing for two weeks.

ROTFLMAO

No such thing.

Have you considered autologous blood doping or EPO injections?

Personal hypoxicators such as Altipower Pro kit exist (sells for about 1000 USD). An alternative might be to exercise your lungs (without simulating altitude) by using a respiratory trainer, such as Power Lung, which is about 100 USD.

JanVanGenk wrote:Personal hypoxicators such as Altipower Pro kit exist (sells for about 1000 USD). An alternative might be to exercise your lungs (without simulating altitude) by using a respiratory trainer, such as Power Lung, which is about 100 USD.

Hmmmm.... I stand corrected. Sort of.

The Altipower Pro kit has you hold a mask to your face and rebreath your exhaled gas, thus progressively reducing your inspired fraction of oxygen to simulate altitude. The filter scrubs carbon dioxide from the gas so that you're not breathing a progressively increasing fraction of CO2. You monitor your oxygen level with a pulse oximeter. It's self-limiting, if you pass out from hypoxemia, you drop the mask and start breathing room air.

Interesting concept... in theory.

1. You would have to breath from this device for hours at a time to have any significant effect on hematopoiesis.

2. You cannot sleep with this device because you would have to strap it to your face, a risky endeavor without external cardiopulmonary monitoring.

3. The "proof" of its benefit is primarily in the form of testimonials (in magazines like Shape!), and testimonials are well-known to be the least reliable form of evidence.

4. The only pseudo-scientific publication quoted by Altipower Pro found that intermittent hypoxic training is only likely to be beneficial, and that the authors suggest that non-elite multi-sport athletes should expect such training to enhance performance.

All in all, extremely sketchy "science," extremely sketchy "proof," and an extremely high price.

The Power Lung does nothing but exercise your respiratory musculature, which shouldn't even be an issue if you are fit enough to go to Denali in the first place.

So I repeat my original statement in regards to simulated altitude training: "No such thing."

Hold the presses. Altipower is sending me its scientific articles. I will review them and get back to you. I am scanning through the articles from truly scientific journals and it doesn't look good for the Altipower Pro.

Will report back to you later.

Thanks for all the advice, but I think I will go with Brad's suggestion. Its been so without bread.

hyperventilate