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Larry Buttrey
Long Beach, CA
ldbuttre@uci.edu

���ϳԹ��� Adviser: Funny you should ask. Up until about a week ago, I was up to my eyeballs in altitude-related research for next to Jon Krakauer’s Everest story in our September issue. But, in an effort to avoid regurgitating heaps and heaps of
information you might not need, I’ll keep it simple.

First off, there are several things you can do to insure proper acclimatization, without taking preventive medicines. Above 10,000 feet, try to limit your total daily ascents to 1,000 feet, and take a rest day for every 3,000 feet of elevation gained. You can climb more than 1,000 feet in a day, as long as you come back down and sleep at a lower altitude. Hold off on your
ascent if you begin to show symptoms of moderate altitude illness (headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting). Drink plenty of fluids, stay away alcohol, and eat a high-carbohydrate diet.

If you’ve been at high altitudes before and feel lousy regardless of which preventive steps you take, you may want to consider bringing along some Diamox (Acetazolamide), a prescriptive drug that helps you breathe faster so that you metabolize more oxygen. The recommended dose is 125 mg twice a day, and you’re best off if you start taking it about 24 hours before you go to
altitude and, once you’re up there, continue taking it for about five days.

On the downside, Diamox can cause severe allergic reactions, which is why it’s a good idea to do a trial run before going to high altitudes. For more info, check with your doctor or log onto the for a good rundown on mountain sickness and how to prevent it.