We are now camped at around 5,000 meters altitude and taking day trips out higher to see the magnificent Imja Lake and the respective glacier that feeds it. With such a prolonged stay at altitude, it seems fitting to give a brief discussion on human physiology at high altitude.
Skipping rocks at a small glacial pool (photo by Daniel Byers)
Our medical kit (photo by James McKinney)
As you progress higher in altitude, your body begins to adapt to the decreased intake of oxygen it’s experiencing. A common misconception is that there is “less oxygen” at higher altitudes but in fact there is still 21% oxygen at any altitude, it is just that the barometric pressure decreases. This means that with each breath you are effectively inhaling less oxygen. In response to this your body increases its rate of breathing, circulatory efficiency, and how it manages oxygen intake.
The most important thing when going to altitude is acclimatization, giving your body the proper amount of time to implement its adaptive changes. When your body does not have proper time for acclimatization, forms of altitude sickness can develop from AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) to HACE and HAPE (High Altitude Cerebral/ Pulmonary Edema, respectively). Unfortunately, at this point in the trek, we have had one member of the expedition and three Sherpa assistants descend to lower altitudes due to varying minor forms of altitude illnesses. The descent was all they needed and are all making a good recovery at this point.
With one full day at Imja ahead of us and today’s successful meeting with the community behind us, all eyes are on the future and the ideas that await.
- James
So it does take more effort to skip rocks! Did you skip less too? I am loving these blogs, I feel like I’m there with you. Very interesting reading! This is so exciting to be included in your voyage. My bro already has me hooked on Peru!