on 9/17/03 7:25 AM, Guy Murtha at geoguy@bestweb.net wrote:
Our Troop is currently planning an August 2004 trek and there is a question
regarding the amount of time that should be allocated for the crew members
and adult advisors to become acclimated to the 6000+ ft altitude since we
live virtually at sea level.
The planning coordinator is allowing 48 hours (which is about the same as he
did for our 2001 trek). One adult advisor had to be removed from the trail
on the 2001 trek due to inadequate time at altitude (he later rejoined his
crew after 3 days at the base camp).
To prevent a reoccurrence of this, would it be advisable to increase the
time to become acclimated from 2 days to 3 or 4 days?
Guy Murtha
AMS Troop 49
Ossining, NY
We are from Ohio and find it hard to train at over a vew hundred feet. My
first trip in 1992, I along with others had a problem with altitude sickness
although no one had to come off the trail. In 1996 and in 2000 no one has
had any problems. I'm going back again with the council contingent in 2004.
I hope and believe these same priciples will work for us again. Things I
believe have been helpful are:
Be in top notch physical condition. In the last two trips, we have
worked really hard both
with 5 weekend backpacking trips and climbing the stairs with a heavy
pack. We have also
stressed teamwork and crew dynamics so that everything is everyone's
job until the work
is done.
Flying rather than ground transportation. The cabins are presurized at,
I believe, around
8,000 feet, so it gives you some increased time to acclimate.
Drink a lot of fluids during the week before you go. Be superhydrated.
Drink a lot of fluid, probably at least 6 quarts per day, while on the
trail. Have the group
get together and "camel up." This let's everyone be sure everyone
actually does it. Get in
the six quarts by the time you leave the last site with water if you
are going to a dry camp.
Cook your dinner and clean up at the last site with water and have
your lunch for dinner,
so all of your water is available to drink and not to cook and wash
dishes.
Avoid caffeine during the 48 hours before you get to Philmont. It's
important to keep the
fluid in you rather than just passing it through.
Philmont has changed the treks, so you don't go to high altitudes so
early like my crew did in
my first trip in 1992 when on our first day without a ranger we
climbed Mt. Phillips (over
11,000 feet) and camped there.
I have carried Diamox, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, with me in 1996
and 2000, but have
not needed to use it. It is very inexpensive, but you do need
someone to write a
prescription for it. However, it is a good treatment if anyone does
develop altitude
sickness.
Charles Goodwin, MD, Scoutmaster Troop 236, Kettering, Ohio
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Received on Wed Sep 17 09:46:56 2003
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