From: Johnlebl@aol.com
Date: Wed Jan 29 2003 - 21:14:44 CST
There is the common misconception that AMS, (acute mountain sickness) and
shortness of breath due to altitude are the same thing. They are not.
There is also the misconception that if last year you crew "had no problems"
then they probably won't have problems with AMS. Nothing is farther than the
truth.
When you live at high altitude, let's call 8,000 high for this sake, but it
isn't really high) then your body produces more red blood cells than those of
us who live in 90% of the US. These red blood cells are what carried the
oxygen to the body's cells for respiration, or the release of energy within
the muscles.
Why do you think the Olympic Training Center is at Colorado Springs and they
train at even higher altitudes? Well, it's because blood packing is illegal
now in Olympic competition, so they live high and let nature takes it's
course.
Don't think for one minute if you haven't had AMS that you won't. AMS is
about as fickle a physical ailment as there is. That is why nobody can give
you any concrete answers about it. There just aren't any.
Jim Moss is the most experienced person and the most reliable source of
information on altitude related maladies on this list. Read and head what he
writes.
The reason is he "is there doing that" instead of "been there, done that" is
that Jim lives and plays way up in the mountains. He just has difficulty
coming down to earth sometimes. Pun intended. <grin>
He'll be the first to tell you AMS and the other altitude maladies have no
rules. Well, no hard and fast rules anyway. You will have hell with them
one time and no symptoms at all the next time. Then it will rare it's ugly
head to grip you again without warning or logic.
Just work at it the best you can to prevent it based on you experiences and
knowledge and be prepared to deal with it when you get it.
I do know from experience that an extra few days acclimating at altitude
above 8,000 helps a great deal in preventing AMS and to boost red blood cell
content of the body.
It also helps most wives attitude as they all seem to love "shopping" the
high altitude towns of New Mexico and Colorado.
Places like Taos and Crested Butte just seem to do positive things to a
woman.
However, that will wreak havoc on your wallet. It is expensive, or can be.
One last bit of advise, you CAN drink too much water. The results are
disastrous. Drinking more than 3 gallons of water a day on the PhilTrail
could lead to fatal results.
Drink a lot of water and often, but not excessive. If you don't know the
difference between enough and too much, then you have your homework cut out
for you.
To answer the gentleman going to PTC that is out of shape and has a heart
condition I recommend a good, honest heart to heart talk with your doctor
while going over the Philmont physical form. I THINK, for what that is
worth, that you probably will be fine so long as you realize your
limitations, the conditions under which you will be living and don't do
anything stupid.
The altitude at PTC is about 6,600. It is going to effect the way your body
recovers from each and every step. Whether it will endanger you or not is
virtually unknown. Any good doctor can and Philmont's will, give you some
good advise. Take it.
John LeBlanc
Eagle Class of 1959
Phirst Phil Ptrek 1959
PhilTrek 2002 630H2 Trek 16
My latest adventure was yesterday,
Today is not over yet!
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