I'm planning on doing a 14er in the Sierras in a couple of weeks (Mt. Langley to be specific, at 14, 026). Many people get mountain sickness when going high, especially above about 10-11K feet. I haven't been to 14 since I was a tadpole (a non-CH suffering amphibian, I might add) and am a little concerned.

In the past few weeks I've been doing some local LA area practice climbs, topping out at 9400 last weekend. Tomorrow I'm climbing to a bit over 10.

In the case of my recent trips to the mountains - and I'm more or less finished with my 2 1/2 month cycle now, although I've still got pressure in and around the ear, but no true attacks - each time I've begun my descent below about a mile I've begun to get hit. Not a full blown screamer, but something that definitely got my attention.

I toughed it out each time and it went away in a few hours at sea level where I live.

I'd be curious if anyone of our group has had any experience with climbing and CH. I also one day would love to be able to dive again.... but that's another story for another time.

Many thanks, all.
David

Hi David,

Every summer I visit my brother and sis-in-law at their mtn cabin in Ca. It's at 7000+ feet and we frequently go up to 10,000+ on hikes. G-damn the beast, I wouldn't miss it for ANYTHING. I take a couple of e tanks to the cabin and ALWAYS have my Zomig NS on hand. About 50% of the time (trips), I get hit (sometimes HARD). Don't care...cuz this is livin.

Bring your prevents and aborts, have fun...the beast be damned...

Best,

Jon

Yes, please let us know how it goes for you.  In Colorado, the outdoor retailers and equipment renters had very lightweight O2 cylinders for high altitude hikers.  Maybe it would be a manageable weight to backpack with if it's available in your region.  BTW, my mini-cycle didn't show up until the tail end of my trip--not at all during the first week when I was the most active.  Again,good luck.
Patti

Over the years I've NEVER seen any medical lit reference to altitude as a trigger or being related to CH. ?????

The difference between us and the good scientist is how we process a relationship like this. We get an idea: CH tied to altitude (and no criticism implied in these comments!) We see such relationships in messages with some regularly.

The scientist will think: IF CH appears at altitude what other variables may also be operating at the same time? My first reaction was: perhaps not altitude but increase in body heat with exertion. But could be a random event or one or more other factors operating. ?????

It would be interesting to see if folks report attacks while flying. That would eliminate the factor of body heating--or at the least, challenge the potential for altitude alone being causal.

It does get complex, no?

Good Day All,

I've noticed I will get a severe migraine type of headache when hiking at higher altitude. This driving from apx 3000ft, then hiking 8,000 up to 10000 fairly quickly - day hike. It tends to not go away. If I take naproxin (Aleve) early on, it doesn't get too bad but still will be present. I use pressure breathing to help with this, which is to breath deeply and purse your lips and cause back pressure as you breath out. Sort of like you are blowing a trumpet, but without all the noise. This really does seem to help me at altitude. When we hiked Whitney (out of cycle) we stayed the night at 8500 feet before starting up, then stayed at 11,000 ft and then did the peak the last day. This seemed to work well with no altitude issues. It sounds like you are in good shape, that will help!

As to flights, I think most airline flights pressurize at around 8,000 ft equivalent altitude. This has caused a nightmare of a headache when I had a bad cold once, as bad as a KIP10! I traveled overseas for work a couple of times and thought for sure it would bring on a cycle - time change, poor sleep at odd times, stress - but it didn't seem to do it to me, Thank God!

Best of luck and prayers for you, Rich

On Monday I climbed to 10,800 ft. By the time I got back to the car and was heading home (2 hour drive) the pain started. I'd say it had reached about a Kip 6-7ish before I swallowed an Imitrex tab, because I have a feeling things were just starting to cook. (although the pill took a damn long time to kick in - nearly an hour).

Interestingly, the first symptoms were repeated sneezing that began not long after I reached the summit. Irritated right nostril - my CH side - and I just sneezed and sneezed. Then the sinus on that side closed up, the eye started to tear... all the charming little extras that normally accompany a full blown hit. But no true pain until I'd got back down to around 8000 ft.

Even two days later my right eye is still weeping and my nostril is clogged, though improving.

It just keeps getting weirder!

Actually I'm more and more thinking that perhaps Bob is right. The symptoms I've been experiencing are a combination of altitude and exertion - again, perhaps just for me. I do note however that speed of descent is a factor. That is, the faster I come down the more likely I am to be hit. This trip was the worst of the summer and the descent was the quickest. All anecdotal of course, but it's great to be able to share this stuff.

David