From: Jim Moss (BSARecLaw@Earthlink.net)
Date: Wed Jan 29 2003 - 23:13:41 CST
As usual your comment about me not coming down to earth cracked me UP!!!
Thanks
Jim Moss
PO Box 2656
Silverthorne, CO 80498-2656
JHMoss@Earthlink.net
----- Original Message -----
From: Johnlebl@aol.com
To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2003 8:14 PM
Subject: [Philmont]: The Shape We Are In (not!)
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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