Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board How long does acclimatization last?

I'm hiking the main trail with my nine-year-old on Monday, June 23. We live at sea level, but we'll be in Brian Head, Utah, elevation 10,000 feet, June 17-19. Will we have any effect of those two nights on our acclimatization four days later? We're also camping two nights at Horshoe Meadows before we start the trail, and we'll be stopping at Outpost and Trail Camp along the way. Does anyone know how long acclimatization lasts?

Unless you are hanging around near the top, I don't recall Brian Head being that high. But even staying at the base there, you will achieve some significant acclimation. And then traveling to Horseshoe Meadows two days later -- THAT will especially help.

So I think your nine-year-old will be in pretty decent shape for Outpost and then Trail Camp. Take it easy on the trail, make sure he/she stays hydrated and eats regularly.

I personally think I retain some acclimatization for a week, but others may debate that.

I've been at Brian Head many times and have found it did help in the higher elevations in California. Four days is probably pushing it, but I do believe your time in Brian Head will be a help. My nine-year-olds never seemed to have any problem with elevation at Brian Head or Whitney.

The benefits of time spent at altitude before your hike are not limited to, and can greatly exceed the purely physiological acclimation benefits of a brief time spent at altitude. Take the time at altitude to practice consciously increasing your breathing rate to match your immediate level of exertion. Plan to walk some steep sections to practice this. Take the time to notice the dehydrating effect of activity at altitude and practice hydrating frequently (and having the fluids readily available to do so). These are hard things to learn with the stress and distraction of the actual trip. Plan to make them habits ahead of time. They can last a lifetime.

Good Luck!

Dale B. Dalrymple
http://dbdimages.com

I appreciate the input. We just got back from the three days in Brian Head. Wow, that place is beautiful. The rock formations are breathtaking, and there is hardly anybody there. The local folks told us we were at 9600 feet. Now, one night back at home and we leave for Lone Pine tomorrow. Monday morning we enter the trail for our four day summit hike. Sherpadad and nine-year-old are excited. Mom (not going) is freaking out, but in a loving way.
Thanks,
Mike

My parents took our family on a ski trip to Brain Head in the 70's. The scenic beauty is amazing!

Good luck to you and your son on your four day summit hike! What a great experience for your son! I remember my Mom waving good bye as my Dad took us five kids for week long canoe trips on rivers in No. Cal. We would canoe over 50 miles and rapids up to class 3+. Our first trip, my youngest brother was nine and I was sixteen. Mom was a trooper to let us go! I am forever grateful to my Dad (and Mom ).

My own experience with how long acclimatization lasts is approximately two weeks. Of course, there are many variables e.g. what altitude you go to acclimate, what altitude you will be hiking/climbing to on your actual trip, etc. The window of time acclimatization lasts is probably an individual thing. Also, I take frequent small sips of water as I get higher up the mountain which keeps me hydrated and consequently helps with my acclimatization process.

MC

I've had problems going from sea level to just 3000 feet, up to the point of complete collapse. Other times I was able to head to 14000 feet from 3000 feet without much preparation at all. There are always additional factors to consider, such as hydration, food intake, and overall health.

When heading to the Sierras from the 1000 feet elvevation I live at all year, I usually get some mild acclimatization on the way west, driving to Colorado and through Utah and Nevada to get there. Once there, I like to spend a night or two at medium elevation (Tuolumn Meadows, Reds Meadows) and just hang out, doing light day hikes. Then I push higher to peaks like Mount Dana, return to lower evelvation. Usually that hike is a good test as to how things will go at even higher elevation with a heavy pack.

The best preparation for Mt. Whitney is take the long route from Yosemite.

I see this is too late for you, but I'll go ahead anyway. This is from the latest (5th edition, 2005) "Going Higher - Oxygen, Man, and Mountains" by Charles Houston, M.D., et al. This book is, pretty much unarguably, the source for information on the human body at altitude.

(As an aside, Houston's life is a fascinating one, recently documented in "Brotherhood of the Rope - The Biography of Charles Houston" by Bernadette McDonald, The Mountaineers Books, 2007. Charlie was one of the recipients of The Belay: Pete Schoening's successful ice ax belay of six falling climbers high on K2 in 1953. There is now a group of people who get together on occasion, called the COB - Children of the Belay. It numbers about 45 people who would never have been born, save The Belay. The book includes a companion DVD, with actual footage of the expedition. I guess I am recommending this book to anyone interested in legends and lore in mountaineering.)

In a section titled "Losing Acclimatization," Houston writes

"There is not much firm data about how long it takes for a person to lose acclimatization once acquired, but most of the changes--even the blood count--revert to normal within a week or two of returning to sea level. It is interesting that shortness of breath on exertion may last for a week at sea level after returning from several weeks at high altitude. This period of 'deacclimatization' has not been studied, but the persistent shortness of breath could be due to an increase in sensitivity of the respiratory center to carbon dioxide. In addition the alkaline reserve (base excess) has been decreased, making the pH of blood more sensitive to small changes in carbon dioxide or to the lactic acid produced by exertion."