SummitPost.org

Hello everyone,

Do you know if anybody attempted to climb big mountains while fasting (just water + electrolytes, no food or calories in any form)? By Big mountains I mean something like Aconcagua which are at high altitude and base camp - summit round-trip is 2000+ meters. Is this a feasible/interesting objective in your opinion?

Sounds pretty masochistic. I'm sure there are many cases of folks who ate little or nothing for a day or two, either because they were sick or because they became separated from their food by some kind of accident, and summitted anyway. I've not heard of anyone *planning* to climb a really big mountain that way, but it wouldn't completely surprise me. People try all kinds of boneheaded things.

What is the point to be proven? Your body will just cannibalize itself for the energy.

Are you suggesting perhaps someone engorge themselves before starting, then go without for the duration of the climb? For big climbs, I just don't see it as feasible.

I'm sure someone's not eaten and tagged a big summit. It's not something anyone's likely to keep a record of. It's inconsequential to the climbing community, and would either be done as a side effect of AMS or for religious/spiritual purposes. None of which are of any historical value to the community.

Do you know if anybody attempted to climb big mountains while fasting (just water + electrolytes, no food or calories in any form)?

Yes, that's what Maurice Wilson did on his Everest attempt in 1934. He didn't survive.

Did a winter summit of Kosciuszko once after the rats at Seaman's Hut ate/contaminated all our food.

Does that count?

Water and electrolytes is cheating! Now if your truly hard core about it, you'll go in with an appetite as well.

What's the point? What's wrong with food? I eat it every day!

Either to create a new list, or see what their bodies are made of when depleted of food. Totally not worth it if you ask me.

Sounds pretty irresponsible.

Next up, first person to bike to the summit of Mount Everest. Any takers?

I can climb 30 minutes without having food. A record? Perhaps.