Sucking wind at 7,000 ft

[desert spirit]

I've been visiting friends in Flag for the past several days. I've always loved it up here ... it's so beautiful this time of year (except for the traffic!), and so many trails, so little time! The first day, my friend wanted to go for a run in Buffalo Park. "Let's do it!", I replied, thinking that since I run in the desert around my house all the time, I'd run her into the ground. Ha! Unfortunately, I forgot about the altitude. Within half-a-mile, I was gasping like a bellows.

Hey, I'm a desert girl ... a flatland girl ... a downstream girl. And I swear, there isn't enough air up here to keep a bird alive! Everyone probably has supplemental oxygen hidden in their packs ... I just know it.

[Jim]

Not really, but I don't really remember Flag, and I didn't work when I lived there.

[toddak]

Gingko biloba is often used to prevent or minimize the effects of altitude sickness.

I've done a half dozen 14ers this summer and starting about a week before each trip I took a supplement with 50mg of gingko biloba leaf extract, 2X per day. Had zero issues with headache, nausea, fatigue, etc and no noticeable side effects. I'm a believer.

[sidhayes]

Maca,Gingko,Coca leaves, face masks,holding one's breath, none work. At altitude 02 saturation in the blood is naturally less. O2% in the atmosphere is nearly the same whether at 1000 or 12,000 feet. Pressure (pp) is what changes.

[toddak]

@sidhayes Technically speaking I'm sure what you're saying is accurate, but human physiology and performance aren't strictly scientific. And if the little green pills have nothing to do with the physical and emotional exhilaration I've been getting up at 14000' lately, well then so be it, but I'm gonna keep on popping them!

[sidhayes]

Ok