RE: [Philmont]: Philmont Altitude Acclimation

As we know, acclimatization is an individual and unpredictable process.  If
your crew members can have the time and budget to spend an extra day in the
mountains before the trek, it certainly won’t hurt.
 
Many experienced in high altitude outdoor activities scoff at the idea of
anyone having altitude problems at most of the PHilmont elevations, and
certainly anything a crew would see in their first few days.  “Generally
speaking” AMS is considered a condition that develops over 10,000 ft., which
of course qualifies Mt. Phillips and Baldy which aren’t experienced by a
crew now until after day 3.
 
Some folks (including a few members of my own family and myself), are much
more sensitive to these changes than others and are hit hard, even by the
6900 elevation of CHQ.  After even simply being at CHQ on a visit one summer
to our daughter who was a Ranger, the other daughter developed severe
headache and vomiting that first night.  She has always had trouble when
we’ve taken trips to the mountains. In the man time, we learned of the
prescription drug with a brand name of Diamox (generic name,
Acetazolamide).  It has worked wonders.  A downside to this drug is that it
is a diuretic so in an environment where one needs to stay well hydrated,
extra care & caution must be given when taking Diamox.  Typical usage has
the person begin taking the drug 2-3 days before going to altitude, and
continuing with it until they have reached their highest elevations.  As
with any drug, care and caution needs to be used when it is taken to not let
the side effects create more problems, but I have personally benefited from
using the drug. On one trek I thought I was doing well, so quit taking the
drug to eliminate the side effect of the diuretic of having to pee what
seems like every 10 minutes, (which for a female backpacker is much more of
a choreographed effort.) I stopped the drug too soon and by that evening
after hiking even higher in elevation I had a pounding headache everytime I
walked, and it was major effort just to go up the small, gentle hill between
our campsite & the red roof – the pain in my head was almost unbearable.  I
resumed the diamox along with rest that night and lots more water.  Next day
was better.
 
Wilderness Medical Society has an interesting article on their web site.
http://www.wms.org/pubs/altitude.html
 
There is also info on research using the herb Ginko Biloba to prevent or
lessen the affects of altitude. Information on one study can be found
http://www.high-altitude-medicine.com/hot-topics.html
 
Crew members who are concerned should talk to their doctor.  There are some
options out there to help.
 
Signe Rogers
Newton Kansas flatlander

-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/
Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
-------------------------------------------------------
Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------
As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Thu Sep 18 09:51:23 2003