Welcome
If you hike, climb, trek, ski, run, bike or snowshoe above 8,000 feet, this is the book for you. Here's what I've done for you in this book:
- I've read and digested all of the recent scientific research on high altitude physiology,
- I've read over 130 books by high altitude adventurers and extracted the wisdom and useful techniques,
- and I've applied the lessons I've learned from 30 years of high altitude travel.
I've taken all of this information and laid out the science and art of high altitude in a way that is accessible, interesting, and accurate.
How to use the book
This book is designed to be useful at several levels. Some chapters are filled with 'how-to' advice, some contain a lot of science and can be tricky to understand. So here are some tips for the average reader:
- Read the Introduction and Chapter 1 so you'll know what to expect.
- Skip over anything that seems too detailed. Don't worry about understanding all of the science (in fact, just ignore it if you wish). You can always come back later and work on it if necessary.
- However, Chapter 2, pages 13-18 and Chapter 3 (Exercise Physiology) should be carefully read as these themes are used throughout the book.
- Don't look for simple rules. They probably won't work for you, even if I gave them to you.
- There are recommended readings associated with each chapter. These were stuck in the back of the book by the publisher, so don't forget them. They are the next step for more information.
- Finally, keep in mind that the science changes and some of the ideas and conclusions in this book (and any science-based book) will prove to be incorrect. Before you trust your life to any one theory, dig around and be sure that people still think it's true!