High Altitude Questions

imported
#1

I was wondering if I can use my Pocket Rocket stove with Isobutane/Propane cannisters on the C.O. Or is a stove with regulator necessary, if I want to use cannisters? If so, what brands do people like?

Also,I have heard that there are some pills you can take for high altitude sickness. Do these just relieve the symptoms, or do they cure high altitude pulmonary edema or cerebral edema? I will ask my doctor before I go, but I am just wondering what people’s experiences with altitude sickness have been, and if there’s anything you can do or use to help. A few pills in a first aid kit? I know you should hike at a slower pace while ascending so your body can adjust and all that.

Lorna

#2

I don’t know anything about the stove, but I don’t think you’ll need anything for altitude if you take it slowly. I haven’t hiked the CT yet, but I’ve been up very high in the Andes, Himalayas, and Mount Kilimanjaro. We were fine in all three places - slight headaches when we first started going up, but that’s it. I think the key is to go slowly. I know a lot of people who head up too quickly and they have trouble. Be aware that, if you are coming from sea level, you might want to hang out in Denver for a few days in order to acclimate to that level before starting to climb.

Nancy

#3

I live at about 200’ above sea level and I had no real trouble last year. I flew to Denver and spent a day and a half running around getting ready for my hike at 5,200’ (ie, buy food, fuel, a couple of maps, send a mail drop to Twin, etc). I then climbed from Denver at about 5,200’ to Georgia Pass at about 11,800’ over the course of 6 days. I did get minor headaches on day 4 as I slept at about 9,300’ for the first time, but it wasn’t too bad.

Really, the worst part of the altitude is that I found that the air is so thin that I couldn’t climb worth a damn past about 11,000’ or so.

Loup

#4

Drinking more water and sleeping more reportedly helps the body & brain acclimatize. Plus…don’t push too hard.

On Track

#5

How people react to altitude is very individual. I have done lots of hiking at elevations and unfortunately I’m at the lower end of the tolerance scale for altitude sickness so I tend to take diamox for the first several days to help me to acclimitize to the higher elevations (since I live at sea level). Definitely take your time going up - rule of thumb is to not sleep more than 1000 ft higher than your previous night once you’re above 10,000 ft. It’s not how high you hike during the day, it’s the sleeping elevation that you need to be aware of.

Nancy

#6

I suggest you read up on how the body reacts to altitude, symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness and recommendations for acclimatization. Here is an excellent source:

http://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869V/CHEM869VLinks/www.nols.edu/Publications/FirstAid/AltitudeIllness.html#ADAPTATION

Reactions to high altitude are very individual and can’t be predicted in advance unless you already have a history at high altitude. Talk to your physician about Diamox, but you’re better off to allow for gradual acclimatization. Like all medications, Diamox has side effects. It’s also more effective taken ahead of time as a preventive rather than a cure.

Allow several days at the beginning of your trip to acclimatize gradually. Read the article I recommended for details. Especially learn the symptoms of severe AMS, HAPE and HACE and if you get them, descend immediately, whether or not you’re taking Diamox!

Canister stoves actually work better at high altitude (greater differential in pressure). However, at high altitude you’ll often have frosty nights and will need to warm up the canister in the morning (a “keep warm” dance with the canister in your armpit inside your puffy jacket, or keep the canister in your sleeping bag overnight), because canisters don’t work well in below-freezing temperatures. Be sure the “butane” part of the fuel in your canister is isobutane, not plain butane. More info here:

http://zenstoves.net/Fuels.htm#LP

grannyhiker

#7

I used a Pocket Rocket last summer while thru-hiking the CT and never had any problems. One of my hiking partners also used a Pocket Rocket and didn’t have ay trouble either. The lowest temps we saw were a couple night around 30 deg. I kept the canister in my tent but not in my sleeping bag. Remember that water boils at a lower temp at higher altitudes so it takes longer to cook your meals.

The altitude wasn’t a big problem for me. It is important to stay hydrated, drink before you’re thirsty.

I agree with Loup that climbs above 12,000 ft kicked by butt even after 5 weeks of acclimating! The good thing is there are amazing views so there are many reasons to stop and catch your breath!

Twofer

#8

Thank you very much for all of your answers. You guys are wonderful! I’m happy to be able to use the pocket rocket. That does make sense that the pressure inside the can would be relatively higher at higher altitudes unless it was extra cold. And that food takes longer to cook.

I’ll be checking out the diff. btwn. isobutane and butane, grannyhiker.

I guess I’ll be okay altitude-sickness-wise. I climbed two 13,000’ plus volcanoes on the big island in Hawaii, and just had a little bit of nausea and headache–I was fine as far as strength goes. I also climbed Mt. Adams, which is 12,700 feet high, if I recollect correctly, and yeah, the last seven hundred feet were a little more difficult! (Take 15 steps, breathe, breathe, take 15 steps…) But, these were short trips, and I don’t know why I had basically no trouble in Hawaii, but was really slowed down on Mt. Adams. And those are the only times I hiked at high altitude. I did want to make sure people didn’t have too much trouble with the serious altitude problems.

Thank you very much, again.

Lorna