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Expedition Health and Saftey Series

Five Things to Expect when You Travel to High Altitude

By Sara Tiffany

Many of Berg Adventures trips feature high altitude climbs and treks. People who are taking their first trip up high often have a lot of questions about what they should expect. Knowing what you will likely experience will help you prepare and alleviate some anxiety you may have about it. Just remember, people travel to, and even live at, high altitudes every day. You will experience some challenges and even discomfort at high altitudes, but your symptoms will subside as you acclimatize and certainly when you head to lower altitudes.

These are normal affects of altitude and are different from the symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Pay attention to your body and tell your guides about any symptoms you experience. Your Berg Adventures guides will assist you with making good decisions and help you to manage your symptoms. Stay tuned for more articles about altitude sickness and ways to keep yourself safe at altitude!

1. Everything you do at altitude will feel harder than it does at home. Because you breathe in less oxygen with each breath at higher altitudes, your body does not function as efficiently as it normally does making regular, every day tasks harder. You will hike and climb slower and you will want to take longer breaks. It sounds funny, but one of the hardest things you will do each day on your trek or climb is put your sleeping bag back into its stuff sack. While this is a relatively easy task at home, it will leave you out of breath and wanting to take a minute to recover. Don't worry and don't be discouraged when this happens to you. Just take your time and enjoy the fact that you can slow down and really immerse yourself in your adventure!

Traveling to altitude is an exciting challenge.

Traveling to altitude is an exciting challenge.

2. Distances become irrelevant. If you regularly hike 12 -15 miles in a day without breaking a sweat, don't expect that to be the case at altitude. See point number 1 – things are more difficult at altitude. What you know to be 5 miles at home will feel much farther at altitude because you will be traveling slower and it will require more energy making it feel more difficult. First time altitude adventurers are often shocked when they find out that some days we will travel 5 miles or less as we get to higher elevations. Some people question why they can't do the trip in less time with longer days. Trust us. Our itineraries have been tested time and time again, so at Berg Adventures we know how much elevation gain and distance is appropriate for which altitudes. Plus, proper acclimatization to new elevations is critical to your success and health, so we choose both our distances and elevations carefully when planning itineraries.

Left: Enjoying downtime at a lodge in Nepal; Upper right: Slow and steady is the key to success! Lower right: The effects of altitude don’t prevent you from having fun!

Left: Enjoying downtime at a lodge in Nepal; Upper right: Slow and steady is the key to success! Lower right: The effects of altitude don’t prevent you from having fun!

3. You will feel colder than you would expect. For every trip we run, we have someone who questions the number of warm items on our gear lists. Yes, the average temperatures on mountains like Kilimanjaro and Elbrus are not particularly low, however your body will feel much colder than it usually does at comparable temperatures at home. This is because your body will be mildly hypoxic meaning the concentration of oxygen in your blood will be lower than normal. This makes it harder for your body to stay warm and makes it a lot harder for your body to warm up if it does get cold. This isn't to say you will be cold all the time, it just means you will need to dress warmly and with plenty of layers.

Bundled up at the summit of Mount Elbrus

Bundled up at the summit of Mount Elbrus

Staying warm on Kilimanjaro summit day

Staying warm on Kilimanjaro summit day

4. Your appetite will change. Because your body is working harder than normal, you may find that your appetite will increase exponentially. When this happens, be happy that you are travelling with Berg Adventures because we will feed you like you're royalty! That said, as you climb higher, you may find that your appetite decreases and you may also find that you will become picky about what foods you want to eat. Commonly, people find themselves craving simple starches, sugars and hot beverages. Berg Adventures offers a wide variety of foods and beverages to keep you well-fuelled even if appetite decreases. We serve three meals a day and always host an afternoon tea with beverages and snacks. You won’t go hungry with Berg Adventures!

Left: Our skilled cooks making fresh food on Kilimanjaro; Upper right: A tea break on a sunny day on the way to Everest Base Camp; Lower right: Enjoying the sunrise with a hot beverage

Left: Our skilled cooks making fresh food on Kilimanjaro; Upper right: A tea break on a sunny day on the way to Everest Base Camp; Lower right: Enjoying the sunrise with a hot beverage

5. When you get back to lower altitudes you will feel like a superhero. As you come down from altitude, you will experience a strange phenomenon – everything suddenly becomes really easy for you. If you felt fit when you left home, just wait until you get back after your trip! There is a reason athletes train at altitude; it truly does push your body to a whole new level.

A superhero indeed! Leo after crossing the finish line of the Everest Marathon and looking stronger than ever!

A superhero indeed! Leo after crossing the finish line of the Everest Marathon and looking stronger than ever!

Contact our office to join one of our high altitude treks or climbs today!

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