About the Author: Sunny Stroeer is the founder of AWExpeditions, a women-led mountaineering company on a mission to make big mountains more inclusive. A Harvard MBA-turned-record-breaking adventurer, Sunny holds speed records on Aconcagua and the Annapurna Circuit, and was the first woman to ski the 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational solo. She leads with grit, heart, and purpose—guiding, speaking, and running The Summit Scholarship Foundation to empower more women to claim their space in the outdoors. WHOA is proud to be mountaineering partners and sister organizations with AWE and The Summit Scholarship.
I have been thinking a lot about something that I believe doesn't get nearly enough airtime in outdoor adventure circles: the nitty gritty behind physical performance at high altitude. Which really covers everything from trekking to Machu Picchu and up Kilimanjaro to climbing on Aconcagua to learning how to swing ice tools on Mount Baker!
Why do I think about this topic? One, because I see a lot of folks struggling with their first forays to high altitude. And two, because I have a somewhat unique perspective thanks to my dual roles as record-setting high altitude endurance athlete and expedition leader and high altitude guide for AWE.
After years of guiding and personal high-altitude pursuits, I'll say this much: there are 3 things I wish every climber and trekker knew before stepping above 14,000 ft.
FITNESS ≠ ACCLIMATIZATION
You can be the fittest ultra athlete at sea level and still suffer hard at altitude. In fact, I would argue that the fitter you are, the more likely you are to get yourself in serious trouble. But do you know why?
ACCLIMATIZATION IS A SLOW PROCESS
It's measured in weeks, not days, and most high altitude expeditions (including commercial climbs of Kilimanjaro or Aconcagua) operate on a schedule that's just about as rapid as the average human body's physiology will allow. If presented with a choice, I always choose the longer and slower itinerary for high altitude endeavors.
THE LAKE LOUISE SCORE IS A FANTASTIC TOOL TO ASSESS MOUNTAIN SICKNESS
And if you ascend to high altitude, the Lake Louise Score is something you should be familiar with and know how to use - after all, statistics suggest that 4 out of 5 climbers at high altitude will experience a high altitude headache, which is a mild form of AMS or acute mountain sickness.
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Extreme High Altitude, Fitness & Acclimatization →