AMS concerns for 2 week PCT hike...

[tlbj6142]

My brother (AT'04 -- Father Ounce) is planning a PCT thru-hike for 2008. I have already warned my wife that I will be taking a 2 week vacation in 2008 in order to look after my brother while he hikes through the Sierras. I just don't want to see him get hurt. He is the baby of the family. And I, being he oldest, feel I need to protect him.

I have lived my entire lift below 700'. 2 years ago, I took the tram up Mt San Jacinto and hiked to the summit (10,800'). I was out of breath at times, but the worst part was my head felt like it was going to explode and my ears wouldn't stop ringing. I never felt nauseous.

So, I'd like my first couple of **days** of my NOBO escort trip to hit the 8K-9K range as much as possible. Given that, where should I start?

Taking a quick look at Rob's PCT elevation profile it looks like Walker Pass might be a good fit. Though from looking at a few maps, it might be easier to access Onyx, CA. Any thoughts?

Where should I stop my escort? VVR or TM?

[tlbj6142]

Taking a quick look at Rob's PCT elevation profile it looks like Walker Pass might be a good fit. Though from looking at a few maps, it might be easier to access Onyx, CA.

I just realized that Walker Pass and Onyx are really the same starting location.

[chris]

A slight correction: Walker Pass is where the PCT crosses a road, Onyx is the closest town.

Given two weeks, I would start at Walker Pass and hike to Reds Meadow, though this is pushing a little. 10 days from Kennedy Meadows to VVR is doable. Another 2 to Reds. Maybe 2-3 from Walker Pass to KM. It is hard to get out of VVR, but from Reds you can ride a shuttle bus out to Mammoth and then hop on (I think) a regional transit bus up to Reno and fly out.

In terms of AMS, this will give you a shot at acclimatizing, but isn't ideal. It will, however, give you one of the best sections of trail in the entire world. If you are worried about AMS, I would skip the hike up to the top of Whitney. Instead, park yourself down at Crabtree Meadows while your brother goes to the top, if he elects to (I wouldn't).

[Clark Fork]

If you have a strong reaction, you might consider a diamox regimen. I am considering Ginkgo Biloba for my JMT trip. Diamox is ruled out if there is reaction to sulfur. I have sulfur allergy.

Acetazolamide (Diamox): This is the most tried and tested drug for altitude sickness prevention and treatment. Unlike dexamethasone (below) this drug does not mask the symptoms but actually treats the problem. It seems to works by increasing the amount of alkali (bicarbonate) excreted in the urine, making the blood more acidic. Acidifying the blood drives the ventilation, which is the cornerstone of acclimatisation.

For prevention, 125 to 250mg twice daily starting one or two days before and continuing for three days once the highest altitude is reached, is effective. Blood concentrations of acetazolamide peak between one to four hours after administration of the tablets.


AMS Information

There is anecdotal data and a couple of research papers that Ginko Biloba is effective.

Ginkgo Biloba-Altitude Research

Best Regards,

Clark Fork JMT-2006- July 27 Start.

[Mags]

1) Acclimate a day or two before you go off hiking (if schedule permits)
2) Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!
3) Climb high and sleep low
4) Keep your mileage conservative. If you are not used to elevation, your body will be working harder to do the same miles you do at lower elevations
5) Have fun! If your body is not like the higher altitudes, adjust plans accordingly.

The Sierra is perhaps the most gorgeous hiking I have ever done. Have a blast!

[tlbj6142]

If you are worried about AMS, I would skip the hike up to the top of Whitney. Instead, park yourself down at Crabtree Meadows while your brother goes to the top, if he elects to (I wouldn't).

I thought about doing that. And, if he chooses not to summit Whitney, that would give us an extra day as well.

Beside the funk you were in that day, why didn't you like Whitney?

So, maybe Walker Pass (Onyx) to Red Meadows, without Whitney.

2 weeks of vacation is really 16 days off work, so maybe the days would look something like this...

1. Fly to CA (where?) and get to Walker Pass
2. Hike
3. Hike
4. Hike, arrive at KM (~50mi)
5. Hike
6. Hike
7. Hike
8. Hike
9. Hike
10. Hike
11. Hike
12. Hike, arrive at Muir Ranch(?) ~154mi
13. Hike
14. Hike
15. Hike, arrive at RM get shuttle (~50 mi)
16. shuttle, fly home
17. Back to work!

Damn, that's a tight schedule (I assume ~20 miles per day). According to Craig's planner (2mph, 30 slow down/1000', 13 hr days) it would only take 11.3 days for the above route.

There is a tiny bit of slop as we might be able to hike a few miles the day I arrive, we wouldn't have to layover at KM and I might be able to "get out of town" faster at the end of the trip. Even so, that's tight.

[tlbj6142]

Not sure why I can't edit in this forum, but....

I think I miss-understood how Craig's planner works with regards to hiking hours. So, switching to 2mph, 10hrs hiking, 30min slow down/1000' (that seems like a very, very, very large number), I get 252.9mi, 14.7 days.

[chris]

Beside the funk you were in that day, why didn't you like Whitney?

Part of the funk was from the elevation. Even having been at higher altitudes for a while, I wasn't hydrated well enough and once I broke about 13000 feet, my body was hurting.

Besides that, though, Whitney just isn't that scenic in comparison with what is to come. Given the fact that you're going to be strolling for several hundred miles through some of the most spectacular terrain on earth, going up Whitney just doesn't compare. To make matters worse, you climb it in the morning when the views to the desert and Death Valley are the worst (sun is in your eyes). To be sure, if you're fresh from the AT Whitney will absolutely blow your mind. The only good reason to walk up Whitney from the PCT is to say you've been to the highest place in the lower 48. This isn't important to me, so I wouldn't do it again. In 2003, I felt like I had to since I was so close.

[Ewker]

We climbed up Whitney last yr. It was the next to last day of an 8 day trip. The views are awesome but I agree with the above poster (Chris) the more scenic views are down below.