Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board failed summit - July 22nd

Thank you to everyone for all of the great tips and information. I'm glad my post got a good discussion going on altitude sickness.

I'm new to high altitude, backcountry hiking but after I ran my first marathon this year I decided I was finally in good enough shape to try a hike like this. It was definitely a learning experience. Since I'm young, 27, I'll still have plenty of chances to summit.

Next time I will do more training hikes at high elevations (I did 3 this summer including Alta Peak). I will also spend sustained time at high elevations (like Horseshoe Meadow and the Portal). It was frustrating that 2 of our group of 4 made it when I struggled so much, but I'm glad they made it.

I think I'll try the day hike again, because I like the challenge, but I'll be smarter about my preparation.

Thanks again everyone

My 2 cents from a physiological point of view is that spending 1 or 2 days at altitude will have no effect on aclimatization. I guess it won't hurt but everything I have read in my college days is that true aclimatization takes much longer.

The posts here having to do with proper sleep, hydration, pace and fuel are much more important factors to getting to the top.

I WILL summit in September on a day hike. I will come up from Pasadena the day before to get an early start the next morning.

This is a great forum to making sure people listen to their bodies. Other peoples experiences will make my planning much more focused.

unibroker

Long term acclimation including changes to blood red cell count, control of blood acidity during exertion, and ability to autonomously regulate breathing to match exertion do not happen in a weekend or a week. Practicing sleeping, hydrating, pacing, and fueling at an altitude high enough to effect sleeping, hydrating, pacing, and fueling but not produce debilitating symptoms of altitude sickness has enabled many people to competently sleep, hydrate, pace, and fuel for and on a successful summit day at altitude. YMMV

Dale Dalrymple
http://dbdimages.smugmug.com