New findings could help recreational climbers, military get
to high altitudes quickly and safely
Afghanistan’s geography
is dominated by a collection of craggy peaks, the highest—a mountain
known as Noshaq—has been measured to 7,492 meters. Consequently, the soldiers
on duty in this mountainous terrain must often ascend to great heights as part
of their duty. However, quick climbs without aadapting to altitude can lead to
a condition called acute mountain sickness (AMS), marked by headache, fatigue,
gastrointestinal distress, nausea, and insomnia.
Conventional knowledge suggests that to avoid AMS, climbers
need to “stage,” or set up camp, at a lower altitude for four days when
summiting peaks as high as 4300 meters. However, with this being impractical in
a combat environment, military researchers set out to test whether this goal
could be accomplished more quickly—in half the time.