I will be backpacking in 8 weeks in macchu picchu Originally Posted by Caligula1You might want to read up on altitude sickness, if you haven't already done so. Only a few people have died from it at 8,000-12,000 feet but almost everybody experiences headache and sleep disturbance...and you fart a lot (HAFE). If you have a quack with any common sense you should be able to get him/her to prescribe you acetazolamide 250mg or, even better, decadron to nip these symptoms in the bud. Also they serve a beneficial tea. Avoid alcohol. Ideally you will not be rushed so you can ascend gradually.
DTL I have done backpacking at 12000 feet in Colorado every year so yea I think I will be handle it key is to stay hydrated. Typically it's the first day and a half for adaptation. Originally Posted by Caligula1OK, then..please excuse the unsolicited advice. My experience has included a few poor bastards near death from HAPE and/or HACE...one common denominator has been they were members of groups and the dynamic there is the peer pressure to keep grinding, even if you feel like shit. Very physically fit individuals are also highly susceptible to altitude sickness because they believe their level of fitness conveys resistance to it. It doesn't.
oxy cans can be purchased en the farmas. you can't fly with them though.Ignorance is expensive and it can be dangerous: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...cchu-wife.html
cusco isn't very high and people shouldn't get sick.
anyone complaining on inca trail is out of shape and shouldda taken the train.
there are higher places in the region including highways at >16k...i think rainbow mountain hits 19 iirc and of course the volcanoes like Ampato >20k.
No matter the elevation...some of those 1500 foot rock stair climbs can be a mofo. Goin' down worse LoL. Originally Posted by GlobeSpotter
Lukbak....not a very convincing story.This suit you better: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-a...ulmonary_edema ?
Try again. Originally Posted by GlobeSpotter
I will be backpacking in 8 weeks in macchu picchu I will have a satellite phone and I will look out for alien intervention and possibly perform carbon dating. Well I need some more light weight gear so of course hit the REI next week. Originally Posted by Caligula1How curious, I plan on visiting Machu Picchu around that time too. Except, being the slob that I am, I will be taking the train/bus up there haha. Are you going to book the Inca-trail tour from tripadvisor or something like that?