This AMS story is an example of right decisions made. So often, the wrong decisions are made, or are talked about here, so this is one for people who get the gold star.
I just finished Kearsarge to Whitney-Russell Col to Iceberg Lake, then back out to tarns above Guitar Lake for the night. Summitted via JMT on 8/18 on what I felt was a wonderfully cool, breezy day for hiking despite the comments I heard from others. Although I summitted at 7:43 am and had plenty of time left, I elected to hang around, then break up my descent by spending a night way far off to the side of the mass of mankind at Trail Camp. Next morning I continued my descent and met a problem at about 11,500 ft.
A Dad, his son, friend #1 and friend #2 (all the young men about 22 yo) had arrived after overnight drive from San Diego. I think they had stayed a day for acclimatization at WP. If so, that certainly would have been the most minimally reasonable amount of time at altitude, although more would have been better. Next day, the foursome started up. Friend #1 developed AMS symptoms of nausea, headache,fatigue, and Mountaineer's Foot (can't put one in front of the other) at about the 11,500 ft level. The young men had never been to this altitude. Dad was experienced. He appropriately called (or acknowledged) a halt. When I met them at about 7 am, they were filtering more water at Trailside Meadow.
The dad was escorting the AMS-sick friend back to WP.
His son and healthy friend continued on, but a turn-around time of 10am was set. My guess is that they would at least reach Trail Crest, itself a worthy and spectacular goal.
I leapfrogged with them on the way down. Although I carried Diamox and steroids, they were neither offered nor needed. The correct treatment of descent, descent, descent was underway. The fellow was better with 500 ft descent, and continued to improve all the way down. We had lunch at the Store.
Good job.
Harvey
PS: Doug Sr- it was wonderful to meet you face to face. Thanks for all you do, and thanks for sponsoring this forum.
