At What Altitude Do You Need Oxygen When Hiking?
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At What Altitude Do You Need Oxygen When Hiking?
Most experienced hikers are aware that your body goes through changes when traversing trails in higher altitudes. For many, mild and moderate symptoms of altitude sickness are not uncommon when hiking above 9,000ft. Many people are also aware that the majority of those who have scaled Everest and lived to tell the tale used bottled oxygen on their journey to curb the effects of severe altitude sickness. So, at what altitude do you need oxygen when hiking? What about less extreme, but still lofty-in-their-own-right mountains? There doesn’t seem to be any middle ground between needing “canned air” and not.
So, At What Altitude Do You Need Oxygen When Hiking?
Many people start needing supplemental oxygen between 21,000 and 23,000ft, by which point it’s not really hiking so much anymore as it is advanced mountaineering. It’s pretty much necessary around 26,250ft. This elevation and above is referred to as “the death zone” because without the use of supplemental oxygen, extreme altitude sickness kicks in and your body literally starts shutting down and dying. According to one NIH (National Institutes of Health) article, “oxygen is rarely used on mountains other than Everest.”
With that being said, some people may choose to use bottled oxygen at lower levels where you’re more likely to experience mild and moderate altitude sickness. Everyone is different and every body performs differently. Even your own body might react differently to the same high altitude hike at a different time.
Different Strokes for Different Folks
Also, a climb up one of Colorado’s 14,000ft+ peaks is likely going to be (relatively) easier for someone who lives in nearby Denver, at 5,280ft, an already high altitude, than it is for someone (in the same physical shape, mind you) who lives in Savannah, Georgia, which is a mere 49ft above sea level. The person living in Denver is already going to be acclimated to a higher altitude whereas it would probably serve the Savannah resident well sleeping at the trailhead (if a campground is available) or at the very least in a town nearby before embarking on their adventure to acclimate themselves to the thinner air first.
Since many of us are more likely planning excursions to high (4,900-11,500ft) or very high altitudes (11,500-18,000ft), such as Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or the Rockies in the western U.S. and Canada, as opposed to planning an expedition to Everest, which is well above the threshold for extreme altitude (18,000+ft), let’s talk about some common altitude sickness problems, what you can do to prevent them, and how to train ahead of time to best prepare yourself for a high elevation adventure!
So, What is Altitude Sickness?
In a nutshell, altitude sickness happens when your body has a hard time adjusting to the lower amounts of oxygen at higher elevations. Generally, altitude sickness can present itself within a few hours. It is common for hikers to experience mild symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, and loss of appetite, but symptoms can become severe quickly if left untreated.
Let’s take a look at the varying degrees of altitude sickness and what symptoms exhibit at each.
Stages of Altitude Sickness:
Mild (also referred to as Acute Mountain Sickness):
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty sleeping
Keep in mind you are not likely to experience all of these symptoms at once, so it’s important to listen to your body. Your symptoms are likely to begin within 12 hours to a day once reaching a high altitude.
Moderate:
- Most of the symptoms from above, such as headache and fatigue, may still be present, but at a greater, worsening degree, instead of getting better over time.
- Confusion
- Coordination loss
- Vomiting
- Tightness in chest
Severe: Two life-threatening conditions can occur with severe altitude sickness. Death can occur within just a few hours, so it is imperative you get to lower elevation immediately.
High Altitude Cerebral Edema is a build-up of fluid in the brain. Symptoms include:
- Inability to walk
- Severe headache
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Confusion
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema is the build-up of fluid in the lungs. Symptoms include:
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath even while resting
- Gurgling or rattling sounds when breathing
- Fever
What Can You Do to Alleviate Early Signs of Altitude Sickness?
Luckily, mild altitude sickness is relatively easy to alleviate. It is suggested that you hike back to a lower altitude. Generally, about 1,000ft down is recommended. If that is not an option, for whatever reason, you can always try extra rest. Your body may just need some extra time adjusting to the higher elevation. Eating and drinking plenty of water, even if you’ve lost your appetite, should help too. Over-the-counter pain medication should ease headaches. You shouldn’t climb any higher until your symptoms go away.
If your symptoms don’t let up or get even worse after 1-2 days, you need to call it quits and head back to a lower altitude as well as a medical professional. According to WebMD, “You should also call a doctor if symptoms persist even after you have descended.” It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your health. No hike is worth getting permanent brain damage over, which has actually happened to some who have experienced severe altitude sickness.
How Can You Prevent Altitude Sickness?
There are several practical steps and a medication you can take while out on the trail to help curb altitude sickness to begin with.
- Again, spend the night near the trailhead, if possible, before heading out. This is especially important if you live at a much lower elevation.
- If you can, sleep at a lower altitude at night, especially if you have gained more than 1,000ft during your hike in one day.
- Make sure to get plenty of rest, eat enough Calories, and drink plenty of water. The latter is especially important as you can dehydrate much quicker the higher up you go. Moisture gets “sucked right out of you” the higher up you go, which is also why you’ll find yourself urinating more as well.
- Diamox is a prescription drug that is commonly given to those planning on hiking 8,000ft or above. It helps you breathe faster, sleep better, and minimize mild altitude sickness symptoms.
How Can You Prepare for a High Altitude Hike?
As with any taxing hike you plan to take on, it is a good idea to train in advance. Here are some of the best suggestions out there to prepare yourself physically for a high altitude trek.
- Aerobics, aerobics, aerobics! Running, swimming, and cycling are the top ways to improve your lung functioning and body’s oxygen usage.
- Practice on smaller mountains. Barring that, include inclines on your day hikes. If even that isn’t an option, run up and down stairs or even hit the gym and use a stair stepper machine or set the treadmill on an incline.
- Keep an even, but moderate pace. Get your cardiovascular system in shape by doing this and keeping your breaks to a minimum, even if it means building up to less of them.
- Day hike with a loaded pack. Even if you’re not hiking hilly terrain, having a weighted pack will help build up your endurance and stamina.
- Increase the time and distance of your training hikes gradually. Work up to walking what you expect to be a full-day on your high altitude hike. Be sure to rest a week or two before your expedition to allow your body to rest and recover.
- Start drinking more water. As mentioned above, it’s important to stay hydrated at higher elevations because it’s harder to stay that way! Get into the habit beforehand.
- Learn to control your breathing. This probably sounds like a no-brainer, but finding yourself winded unexpectedly can cause some people to panic, exacerbating the problem even more. Practice some yogic breathing or even practice meditating ahead of time to get in the habit of taking deep, even breaths.
At What Altitude Do You Need Oxygen When Hiking - Conclusion
Although it is likely you won’t be needing any supplemental oxygen for any of your hikes, it is still nice to know at what altitude you need oxygen when hiking, even for adventures at lower elevations than Everest. The chances of you experiencing some symptoms of altitude sickness at some point in time, however, are likely. The best thing you can do is stay calm, use common sense and the suggestions listed above, and use good judgment to know if you need to end your trip early. Finally, if you’re looking for a challenge, try reading our article “Best Section Hikes on the Appalachian Trail“. Happy trails!
