Altitude Sickness

[Kennedy1]

Since portions of the Camino involves climbing in the mountains has anyone had any problems with altitude sickness?

 

[Kitsambler]

Altitude sickness does not usually appear unless over 9000 ft (2743 m) elevation. I don't believe any of the main routes reach that. Of course, some pilgrims with underlying disease or other poor lung function (emphysema, COPD, etc) may experience symptoms at lower elevations and should consult a physician before undertaking the trip. I recall the wilderness medical guide for The Mountaineers organization here in Seattle used to recommend taking Rolaids (a chewable aluminum-based stomach antacid tablet) to change the blood pH and reduce the headache symptoms of altitude sickness.

 

[grayland]

We may say "mountains" ....but I really don't think any would qualify as much of a mountain...at least here in the northwestern U.S.

The highest point (just past Cruz de Fero is about 4950, I believe. Not likely to be a altitude sickness problem.

The high point in Pyrenees is Col de Loepeder at 4751 feet.

Having said that...they all seem like Tibet when you are walking up them.

 

[dutchpilgrim]

Those qualify as mountains to me.
Highest mountain in Holland: Vaalserberg, 1056 feet. And that is not close to where I live.

But no, altitude-sickness is no problem at the Camino. Exhaustion is.
(BTW, highest mountain in the world is'nt in Tibet, it's in Nepal)

Ultreya,
Carli Di Bortolo

 

[dougfitz]

We may say "mountains" ....but I really don't think any would qualify as much of a mountain...at least here in the northwestern U.S.

The US practice seems to be to use the term mountain for any peak of 1000 ft or more. That said, there are a couple of peaks slightly lower than this that have been named mountains in the US.

Using my Brierley guide, a 300m elevation would mean much of the Camino France could be termed 'mountain area', although from Itero de Vega to just before Leon it is relatively flat and free of steep slopes. It would appear that once one has left SJPP, it is not until Arca that one descends below 300m, before climbing back up to 370m at Monte Gozo and descending below 300m as one enters Santiago.

All that said, as has been said elsewhere, nowhere along the Camino Frances is above the altitude where acute mountain sickness should be a problem.

Regards,

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Highest mountain in Florida -- 345 feet (north almost to Alabama).

Typical altitude inside a pressurized airplane -- 8,000.

Altitude sickness on the Camino is very unlikely.

 

[bromeliad]

There are no mountains in the Camino, just hills. You cannot get mountain sickness below 2200 m, as the concentration of oxygen at this level is the same as at sea level. I am prone to AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) having experienced it several times above 2800, never below. I didn't feel any symptoms anywhere in the Camino. Don't worry about it.

 

[tyrrek]

Isn't it great to have something not to worry about!

Bromeliad is spot on, in fact the UK's National Health Service website puts the minimum altitude a little higher at 2500m, with serious symptoms starting at 3600m.

 

[Kennedy1]

Thanks to everyone for their comments. I guess what I was getting at is that I live at sea level and when I start the Camino next year what kind of adjustments I should me making to my training now considering I will be carrying a 20 pound pack up and down "small" mountains.

Kennedy1

 

[grayland]

Thanks to everyone for their comments. I guess what I was getting at is that I live at sea level and when I start the Camino next year what kind of adjustments I should me making to my training now considering I will be carrying a 20 pound pack up and down "small" mountains.

Kennedy1

Seattle is also at sea level and I really don't think that the altitude should figure into your training. However walking up hills with your pack is an important part. I have to walk about 1/2 mile steep uphill as soon as I leave my house and then most of the area around me is up and down much like the Camino so I do get some training in. It never gets easier. :shock:

 

[grayland]

Thanks to everyone for their comments. I guess what I was getting at is that I live at sea level and when I start the Camino next year what kind of adjustments I should me making to my training now considering I will be carrying a 20 pound pack up and down "small" mountains.

Kennedy1

Seattle is also at sea level and I really don't think that the altitude should figure into your training. However walking up hills with your pack is an important part. I have to walk about 1/2 mile steep uphill as soon as I leave my house and then most of the area around me is up and down much like the Camino so I do get some training in. It never gets easier. :shock:

 

[tyrrek]

Hi Kennedy1

There are probably other threads on training strategies that people have used. It will depend upon your fitness already, how far you're walking, and how long you have to do it.

If you're starting at St Jean, you'll have a big climb on the first day. As I planned my trip at short notice and was totally unfit, I just started slowly and chose the alternative Valcarlos route to Roncesvalles, which isn't quite as severe. After that there are a few significant climbs along the way, but if I remember correctly none of them are more than about half a day's walk. The ones that spring to mind are the Alto de Perdon after Pamplona (where the Pilgrim Monument is), a hill just beyond Castrojeriz, the climb up to the cross of iron after Rabanal, and up to O Cebreiro where you arrive in Galicia.

I found that just getting as far as these hills was enough training to get over them. If I was to do some training, I'd just find a fairly modest hill that might take a couple of hours to climb. On the Camino you'll always be on well trodden paths and tracks, so if you find that your training involves scrabbling up a hill with your hands and feet, you're probably overdoing it!

Good luck and Buen Camino!

Keith

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Perhaps this will help.

 

[tyrrek]

The hills don't appear like that as you climb them, though! Otherwise I'd have been dead in a ditch after day one!

 

[anniethenurse]

Perhaps this will help.

Yours doesn´t help - it is REALLY scary, John!

This one is better:
http://www.aucoeurduchemin.org/spip/IMG ... s_voir.pdf

 

[Abbeydore]

Perhaps this will help.

Yours doesn´t help - it is REALLY scary, John!

This one is better:
http://www.aucoeurduchemin.org/spip/IMG ... s_voir.pdf

Your has some scary bits too :lol:

 

[anniethenurse]

Your has some scary bits too :lol:

when it looks scary - then walk less kms - and no worries!

 

[+@^^]

scarrie JW
true story - i got my thingamabob stuck on one of those spikes
and i ll never be the same

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Oh sorry - I posted the results of my cardiograph by mistake.

 

[tyrrek]

Ha ha ha! Nice one! :lol:

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I have walked some of the highest high-altitude camino paths in the past year (San Salvador and Vadiniense, both of which involve the Picos de Europa). I also have scary asthma. I got short of breath sometimes, like most people do when climbing up steep slopes, but never have I suffered altitude sickness.

Just sayin.
Reb.

 

[jpflavin1]

Kennedy1:

Altitude sickness will not be an issue.

In regards to training, If you have access to a treadmill set the grade between 7-12 and walk for a couple of hours. Take a break and then walk for two more hours. Take a break and then walk for two more hours. Take a shower, wash your clothes, look around you and invite the nearest four people to have dinner with you, Talk about your day with them how your feet hurt, show each other your blisters, enjoy some wine. Take your new friends home with you, push two beds together say good night and try to sleep because two of your new friends snore. Wake up and repeat. Throw in some beautiful scenery, a few Medevil towns, churches, Cathedrals, some interesting conversation in many languages, a few hundred Buen Camino's to everyone you pass. etc. etc. etc.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[valleyo]

Perhaps this will help.

I imagine you have to be extra careful when you place your little rock at the foot of the Iron Cross, in order not to fall into that 900 m deep gorge!

scary!!! :shock:

 

[tyrrek]

While plunging into the 900m gorge, I'd recommend stopping at Acebo for a beer if it's a nice day.

 

[+@^^]

the route looks less scary if you turn your screen upside down