Hiking at High Altidudes

[bearded_two]

The manufacturer specifies that the maximum altitude compensation is 7500 feet:

"The REMstar and REMstar Plus models require manual altitude adjustment (1=<2500 feet, 2=2501-5000 feet, 3=5001-7500 feet). " http://mseries.respironics.com/FAQs.aspx

I assume that you will be hiking during the day and will be carrying your CPAP and battery with you, how are you going to use the solar charger while you are hiking?

[jnk]

. . . the equivalent atmospheric pressure level used in commercial aircraft cabins . . .

Which can involve some increase in risk for at least some OSA patients.

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2008/0 ... ne.flights

[Muse-Inc]

...http://www.resmed.com/au/assets/documen ... tion11.pdf

Cool beans Bill! Thanks for posting the link!

[Sleeprider]

Philmont Scout Ranch Cimarron, NM. While I can simulate the camping, hiking and even the solar panel (once I make arrangements for a field test) aspects I cannot simulate the altitudes here in NJ. We are planning a short weekend shake down hike end of March on the Appalachian Trail.

I am confident in the performance of the C-222 battery due to prior experience and I think I can work out the solar panel. The only thing left is altitude adjustment.

If all works out the only stumbling blocks will be to convince Philmont to allow me to attend and lose about 20 pounds or so to meet the weight requirement. I have a year and half to lose the weight, so that should not be a problem…. I hope

My experience with Philmont is that the altitude of the camps do not generally exceed 8000 feet and many are lower. Hiking trails, and Mt Baldy in particular do get up to pretty good altitude. Generally on the day you do something like Mt Baldy or Mt Phillips, you leave most of your gear in base camp, do the hike, and return to that camp. Its really up to you which itinerary is selected, and therefore how rigorous or high the tip goes. Camps are generally primitive except for the headquarters where you will arrive and stay in a platform tent. The point is, altitudes above 8000 feet are completely avoidable, and almost no camping occurs at these elevations.

Carrying special medical equipment is another matter. I would opt for the lightest possible CPAP without humidification to meet your basic needs. You may be able to forego any need for a solar recharger if you have several batteries and arrange for them to be dropped at the food pick-ups which you will arrive at about every two or three days. If you can get by without CPAP for a few days, that is better, but of course our snoring may attract the many bears that live in the area. . Keep in mind Philmont experiences nearly daily afternoon thundershowers in some parts of summer (monsoon). You tend to hike and climb in the clear sunny mornings, and hopefully arrive at camp before the rain. This may affect your plans for solar recharging.

On a serious note, you need to decide if your needs and abilities can be accommodated without significantly interfering with your troop's objectives. My guess is that it is possible, and that there is no need to take the most strenuous itinerary to have a successful experience. Many people who have difficulty with altitude acclimatization get significant relief from the use of Diamox. If you experience altitude related headache, sleeplessness or chene-stokes respirations at altitude, Diamox should be started before you leave for Philmont. This article contains a good discussion. http://www.epicski.com/wiki/altitude-ad ... n-sickness

[carbonman]

B_E, out of curiosity, I did a Google map tour of
that scout camp. Sleeprider's info is spot on.

It is an absolutely beautiful place in the Rocky mtns.
If you have never had a Rocky mtn. experience,
my suggestion would be to make this work.
For someone that has never experienced anything like this,
it could be the experience of a life time.

For me, growing up in the Colorado Rocky's, just looking
at the pictures I can smell the sap in the pines,
smell the smoke from an evening camp fire,
feel the blisters from long days w/a heavy pack,
the taste of just about anything after a long days hike,
hear the pikas whistle at you as you cross a boulder field at 12K',
experience the thrill of a scramble to escape the sting of an afternoon hail storm,
snuggle into your jacket as the evening chill settles
over a high mountain tarn as the sun sets on the high peaks.

Make this work....you will not regret it.

[el_zorro]

I am just returning from a skiing vacation to Breckenridge, Colorado (elevation 9600 ft) and I learned a couple of things about my Resmed Autoset II. The manual states auto altitude adjustment to 8500 ft. I slept 3 nights in Denver and had the auto set from 9-12. (I was titrated at 11). During these nights in Denver my AHI was 4.5 or lower. The first night at the higher altitude my AHI spiked WAY high, like 21(.4 AI and 21.1 HI), the second night it was 8. So I turned the auto setting up to 11-14 with very good results. My AHI the last night was back down to 4) and my pressure on auto was at 12.5. I also learned that these Resmeds are almost over sensitive to hypopneas. I tested it while laying down for a nap and without even going asleep but just at relaxed breath it was registering 3.5 AHI (3.5HI)! This tells me that the Resmed is registering a hypopnea when it may be just a relaxed breath ( I was breathing normally the entire time). The previous posters comment about increased pressure with altitude and spoofing the LCD seems right on, but if you go over the max altitude you may have to set the pressure a little higher especially if you have an auto to get your AHI down to where it should be. After the last night I felt awesome and during the skiing days I had much more energy . This is compared to last year when it was a major struggle to my breath at night the first couple of nights.

[Balding_Eagle]

Hello Everyone!

Just checking back in. Here is the status of my Trek.

Philmont has approved my plan to carry a battery and solar panel. Logistics can arrange battery drops with food drops, however they are not set up to track return deliveries. So I am not going with the spare battery option. The Trek the Scouts selected is not too strenuous. We should be in next camp by early afternoon and we even have one layover about halfway through the trek. This will allow for able time to recharge.

I have lost 50 lbs, had another sleep study. My AHI went from 80 to 27 and my pressure from 11 to 5.

Leaving in a month and I can't wait!

Thanks again everyone for your advice and support

[Balding_Eagle]

Well I survived. Had a great trip with no major problems. Covered about 75 miles. Hiked to Baldly Mountain and Back. Elevation 12,441'. Its the brown mountain top just to the right of my pack in the picture.

[carbonman]

Eagle, a huge congrats!

An incredible challenge that became a life changing experience.
I hope that the experience and feelings you had when you
walked onto that summit are ingrained in your mind.
There, to be called upon for the rest of your life.

Thanks! for sharing w/us.

I'll see you on the road.

[Balding_Eagle]

Thanks Carbonman!

The Scouts and I had a great time. It was the trip of a lifetime and a life changing experience. To quote the Philmont Movie Documentary, ( http://www.vimeo.com/20630196 ) “The challenges taken on a Philmont Trek pales in comparison to the difficulty in explaining it to those that have never been.”

Thanks Again!