8 Tips for High Altitude Hiking

High altitude hiking presents a few challenges such as lower atmospheric pressure and thin air, colder nights, wind and snow at any time of the year, and so intense sun that you need sunscreen and sunglasses or goggles for better protection from the UV radiation.

Seasoned hikers know that harder treks require not only enthusiasm but also training and experience. However, these days, many less experienced backpackers take the risk of hiking hard and challenging trails. It’s not a coincidence that so many tourists and inexperienced hikers have fallen from trails or have become incapacitated by severe problems that could have been prevented by adequate training. Moreover, only real preparation for altitude is altitude and sadly for those coming from sea level, they are in an awkward position because there are no shortcuts to acclimatizing for them. Anyway, high altitude hiking poses a challenge to everyone even for those who have experience hiking up in the mountains. However, if you learn some tips and tricks on high altitude hiking and try to apply them, you’ll be much better prepared to face most of the challenges and obstacles that await you at high elevations.

How to prepare for high altitude? Best tips for high altitude hiking

Let’s start with tip #1:

1. Be physically prepared

Certainly, to handle altitude, you need to be acclimated and fitness isn’t a huge part of the process of acclimatization. However, you need to be in good physical shape in order to hike or climb at high elevations, especially if you want to be able to endure strenuous treks.

Now, you probably won’t be surprised hearing that you get good at what you repeatedly do. It’s true of walking in mountainous terrains, just like it is true of running marathons or lifting heavy weights because for endurance in a particular activity the best thing to do is to train a lot in that activity. Sure, running or jogging or lifting weights will be good for your overall fitness, however, actual hiking and more specifically hiking up steep hills over rough terrain carrying a backpack is the best preparation for high altitude trekking.

How to prepare and how to train for high elevation?

You can start your preparation by hiking uphill with an increasingly heavier pack. Many experienced hikers and mountaineers prepare by carrying bags full of water that can be dumped on the summit. Start hiking uphill a few months prior to your hiking trip and what’s equally important – do it regularly, say 2-3 times a week. Hiking uphill with 6-10 liters of water (dump it on the summit) and wearing hiking boots or shoes is a good way to get used to the peculiarities of mountainous terrain. For better results, try to do this in all weathers, i.e. don’t skip workouts in bad weather. Hiking in the rain (the terrain softens, reducing stress on knees, joints, and muscles) or snow uphill is a good way to:

• Put variety into the regimen
• Get used to the actual mountain weather conditions, and
• Get used to variable trail conditions

If you can hike a nearby peak or hills, do it without hesitation. Since you’re supposed to do it regularly, measure your times to track your progress. This kind of training will prepare you for most challenges of high altitude trekking.

How to train for high altitude hiking at sea level?

If you don’t have mountains in your area, simulating elevation loss and gain will be more difficult. However, you can substitute running hills for mountain hiking. It won’t be the same but running hills is preferred to running on a flat trail or using an incline treadmill. Maintain a strong pace and reduce your breaks to a minimum in order to enhance both your aerobic fitness and your endurance. Keep in mind also that you may experience a noticeable decline in endurance at altitude, especially until your body manages to adapt to the changes in elevation. This is another reason why you should work on improving your aerobic fitness and endurance.

Photo by Ilana Beer

You may be physically ready, but are you mentally ready for the challenges of hiking up a strenuous trail? This leads to our tip #2:

2. Be mentally prepared

Consider trekking as an expedition: you’re often hiking alone far from any form of outside help and if something gets wrong, you may have to rely on your self-sufficiency skills. At altitude you’ll have to cope not only with being hungry, thirsty, cold, wet etc. things typical for most long trails but also with:

• Increased breathing rate (hyperventilation)

The rate of breathing is among the adaptations to high altitude. The body increases the breathing rate in order to survive. Ascending to high altitude increases the breathing rate of a hiker. This increases the flow of fresh air past the blood which helps his organism to get rid of some dissolved carbon dioxide.

• Diuresis

This is another typical feature of being at high altitude. Kidneys send more water on the bladder as urine, which reduces water retention making blood slightly thicker. Eventually, the body produces a greater number of red blood cells in an effort to increase oxygen-carrying capacity.

• Insomnia

High elevations affect sleep as the ability to sleep soundly deteriorates. Apparently, the low carbon dioxide content of the blood causes something strange to breathing during sleep. The result is periods of apnea interspersed with periods of hyperventilation. A small dose of acetazolamide at bedtime may aid your sleep. Prescription sleeping pills may also help with insomnia at altitude.

These physiological changes may not be welcomed, however, you have to get used to them. No doubt, they will affect your psychology too.

Facing dangers can be more daunting at high altitude than at sea level. In case of an emergency, fear and self-doubt can be potentially deadly at high altitude. Though the mountain environment is dangerous, mountain hazards are not your worst enemy but your own poor decision making. That’s why you must learn to stay alert to the possibilities of disaster, heed warnings, and reexamine your decisions in order to manage risk as best you can. In addition, develop determination never to give up. Moreover, in life-threatening situations, your motivation beyond self-preservation can be the key to survival. All these are very important for developing a strong mental resolve necessary to overcome whatever life throws your way.

3. Know the hazards

As you go higher, you’ll inevitably encounter problems that can vary from annoying but not so dangerous ones to life-threatening situations. For this reason, you must be prepared both physically and mentally for the challenges that await you at altitude. Though this list can be quite long, here are some of the most dangerous hazards in the mountains:

• High altitude itself

Altitude sickness poses a health hazard to every hiker. There are three forms of altitude illness – acute mountain sickness (AMS), high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), and high altitude cerebral edema (HACE) as the last two can be fatal. To minimize the chances of altitude sickness, acclimatize slowly by gaining altitude gradually. If something goes wrong, your best (and sometimes only) remedy is to descend. For more information on the topic, see our post about altitude illness and acclimatization.

• Avalanches

Avalanches present masses of snow, ice, and rocks that kill hundreds of people worldwide each year. A huge percent of all avalanches (85-90%) is triggered by people – usually the victims themselves or another member of their group. They usually occur on slopes of 35-45 degrees (the slope must be steeper than 30 degrees) and their occurrence depends mostly on the interaction between terrain, snowpack, and weather. Safe snow travel requires backcountry travelers to be able to evaluate avalanche hazards and minimize risk. To improve your avalanche education: take avalanche courses, read books about avalanche safety, check out reliable sources on the internet, and take tutorials. Always check weather and avalanche forecasts before heading towards your high altitude destination. Talk to locals, rangers responsible for the area, and experienced hikers with knowledge about the area. Use all the information you can get to make decisions.

• Rockfalls

Rockfall is one of the perils posed by high altitude trekking. Be extra vigilant when walking through snowfields and glaciers as such areas can be subject to rockfalls due to rock bouncing, sliding, and falling freely from bordering walls and ridges. Wear a helmet in areas with increased rockfall hazard.

• Cold-related conditions

Hypothermia, frostbite, and immersion foot are cold-related illnesses that can pose a huge health threat up in the mountains. Hypothermia can be deadly and it actually kills many hikers, climbers, and travelers, while the other two conditions are localized in their effects. Learn more about these conditions to be able to prevent the development of any of them. See our in-depth article on cold, heat, and UV radiation-related conditions.

• Heat and UV radiation-related conditions

Heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and sunburn are common problems in high elevations. When packing for your hiking trip in the mountains, don’t forget to take sunscreen and sunglasses because you’ll be exposed to more UV radiation than at sea level. Proper hydration through drinking plenty of water, tea, and other drinks (drinking alcohol at high altitude is not recommended) and electrolytes is as important as in summer hiking.

• Lightning

Thunderstorms kill thousands of people in the mountains each year mainly through lightning strikes (many more people suffer burns, nerve damages, eye, and ear injuries). Sure, the chances to be killed by a lightning strike only 10% but by taking some safety precautions, you can reduce this number significantly. The first thing you need to do is to seek shelter. Remember to get away from water, stay away from lone and isolated tall trees, and avoid open valleys and meadows. For a complete list of safety measures necessary to avoid being struck by lightning, see our post about hiking in the rain.

• Insect bites or stings

Being high up in the mountains amplifies health risks, in general. Avoid insect bites and stings that can cause an allergic reaction or a disease such as a tick-introduced illness. Some bites and stings can cause a life-threatening reaction.

• Snake bites

Did you know that the highest living snake in the world lives in the Himalayas up to almost 5000m? Well, the Himalayan pit viper is venomous and the good news is that bites from this species won’t kill you. However, they aren’t exactly innocuous either. Various effects from swelling, local pain, and blistering to vomiting, nausea, and convulsions can be expected.

• Falls

As stupid as it may sound, but falls are the most frequent cause of injuries in the mountains as they account for roughly 50% of all hiking accidents. Remarkably, for the period 2006-2014, between 5 and 7.5% of all who have been injured as a result of a fall during mountain hiking trips in the Austrian Alps have died. People between 40 and 70 years of age are often among the most common candidates for a fall.

Table 1: Environmentally related conditions and injuries associated with hiking at altitude

Source: Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills*

Keep in mind that the mountains are often unforgiving of even small mistakes. So your best option is to learn not only from your mistakes but also from the mistakes and mishaps of others. This would certainly help you improve your decision-making skills, which can be invaluable in the mountains. Read about accidents in the mountains to learn what can go wrong. Identify the risk factors associated with high altitude hiking and gain an understanding of the mechanisms involved in accidents. In short, know the hazards and apply the lessons others have learned.

4. Stay focused and don’t be distracted

After learning the basic risks that await you at high altitude, the most logical tip is to avoid complacency, casualness, and overconfidence. Try to stay focused on the trail as this will help you avoid distractions with potentially serious consequences. Distractions divert your attention from hiking and can come from both internal sources and external sources such as anxiety, sore feet, and fatigue; beautiful mountain views, thinking about a good bivy, being in a hurry or darkness.

Stay alert and try to avoid making poor decisions. For example, a bad decision is using earphones while walking on mountain terrain. There are a couple of reasons for this but the most important one is that you may not be able to hear if a landslide is coming. In such a case, your first reaction is often the most important since it can enhance or screw your chances of escaping a potentially deadly landslide. Unusual sounds such as tree cracking and rumbling that increases in volume are warnings that shouldn’t be missed or disregarded.

Photo by Dakota Monk

5. First aid kit

Accidents and illnesses can strike you on the trail where you are far away from expert help, so you need to bring a first aid kit to be able to manage emergency situations when needed. The most skillful hikers try to minimize the exposure to risks when traveling in the mountains. Moreover, they know that prevention of injuries is far preferable to treating injuries after they occur. Anyway, serious and responsible backpackers should be trained in first aid. Actual training course should do what books can’t because you can read books on first aid but if you don’t practice and refresh your skills regularly, you cannot be truly competent in first aid.

You can use Table 2 as a guideline to help you in assembling your personal first aid kit. Most pills are commonly packed in blister packs so keep the pills for your expedition in a blister pack and throw away all the folding cartons to decrease the weight of your first aid kit. Don’t forget to keep all the package inserts. If concerned about their weight, you can save them in electronic format. This way you will have easy access to everything you may need to know without the need to carry all the package leaflets.

Table 2: Basic personal first aid kit

Source: Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills

6. Hydration

High altitudes combined with cold weather make everyone eat and drink less than they should. However, adequate hydration is critical in avoiding altitude sickness as well as heat and cold-related illnesses.

Altitude hydration

Everyone should drink somewhere between five and seven liters as the minimum amount of fluid intake should be at least four or five liters a day. Keep in mind that you don’t have to feel thirsty to drink since feeling thirsty means that the process of dehydration is well underway and even minor dehydration can affect your ability to think clearly and act appropriately at high elevations.

Dehydration at higher altitudes can be caused by several reasons. First of them is sweating caused by the additional layers of clothing as well as heavier footwear and gear that add weight. Working hard also leads to excessive sweating. Moreover, it also suppresses your natural thirst instinct. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to realize just how much fluids you’ve lost until the end of the day when you remove layers. Another reason is that higher altitudes predispose some (but not all) people to excessive urination (diuresis mentioned in tip #2). Dry air also sucks out moisture fast insensibly causing dehydration. Heavy breathing, due to the increased respiratory and heart rate at altitude, is another contributing factor in the loss of more fluid through your lungs. Thus, always begin your hiking day well hydrated because this can improve significantly your overall physical performance. Then, on the trail, a balanced intake of fluids is preferable, so try to have drinks (of 200-300ml each) every 20 to 30 minutes. Bring plenty of tea, hot chocolate, and other drinks to stay well hydrated. Drinking juices at altitude can cause diarrhea so before drinking dilute them by at least 50%.

It is best to use water bottles for proper hydration at high altitudes. While some people prefer the comfort of using stainless steel bottles and flasks, they are relatively heavy which can be a big disadvantage at higher elevation. Most ultralighters prefer plastic bottles because of their lower weight and convenience. You can fill a water bottle with hot tea and keep it where it won’t freeze (keeping it inside your jacket is a good option). Hydration packs are convenient in most conditions but are not recommended when the temperature is below freezing because it is difficult to keep the tubes from freezing. If you choose to carry a hydration system, always have an extra water bottle for a backup.

Lightweight water bottles are perfect for traveling in the backcountry. They are convenient and easy to use –  good choice for easy on-the-go hydration.  Santeco Lightweight Water Bottle is a tough and leakproof BPA-free plastic water bottle – ideal for those who like to travel light. The multifunctional design with locking one-hand flip-top for easy drinking makes it suitable for a variety of pursuits from trail hiking, backpacking, camping, and travel to everyday use in the office or at school.

As discussed above, proper hydration is critical at higher elevations. Therefore, avoid alcohol and caffeine.

High altitude and drinking alcohol

You don’t need to get into trouble and that’s what’s going to happen if you drink alcohol at high altitude. There are three serious problems associated with drinking alcohol at high elevations:

1. Alcohol has a dehydrating effect (so does coffee) and we’ve already highlighted the importance of hydration.
2. Alcohol impairs your mental performance, and you need to stay focused to avoid potentially dangerous situations at high elevations.
3. Drinking alcohol for the first 1-2 days at high altitude is not recommended because it could cause altitude illness. The reason for this is that alcohol depresses the breathing. Even if drinking alcohol does not cause altitude sickness, be warned that the latter feels just like hangover so it’s difficult to tell the difference between these two.

7. Eat well

Many are wondering if high altitude makes you hungry or not. Although calories are important for daily bodily function and activity, at high altitude, you may lose appetite. That’s what happens to most people. Unfortunately, up in the mountains, your body needs even more fuel to recover than it needs at sea level so you’ll need to increase your calorie intake. Make sure you’re eating regularly to consume some additional calories. Let’s face it, you don’t have to be hungry to eat. However, you have to eat in order to have enough energy for the long and exhausting treks on rough terrain that await you in the mountainous regions. And don’t worry about putting on weight. It’s pretty difficult to maintain body weight even if eating and drinking consistently so the chances of gaining weight at higher elevation are very slim.

Best food for high altitude hiking

What to eat?

Palatability is a very important factor for what to eat at high altitude. Start the day by eating a balanced breakfast with carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fat in order to properly nourish your body. Divide daily intake into three regular meals with snacks in-between every few hours. If you’re afraid that bland and/or healthy food won’t be attractive enough for you at high altitude, bring whatever you like. Some people bring their favorite high-carbohydrate foods such as dried fruits, chocolate, granola bars, snickers, energy bars, and gels, etc., while others prefer eating fatty foods like nuts, jerky or chips. Eating healthy at high altitude is much less important than eating regularly so the choice of foods is really up to you. Since high altitude will almost certainly decrease your appetite and thirst, keep some snacks that taste good to you handy. Small, frequent meals will help you refuel more often to keep up with your calorie needs and keep your blood sugar levels steady. Snacks should be easy to eat and carry. For instance, peanuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds are a good choice. Interestingly, many backcountry travelers report that they find salty foods very appealing when hiking at altitude.

Nuts can be a tasty and healthy snack in the mountain

What not to eat

Avoid spicy foods especially if the altitude makes you feel nauseous. Keep in mind that it’s best to carry some bland foods that won’t make you feel sick. Nausea is quite common for people who haven’t acclimatized to high altitude so eating bland foods initially will give your body time to adapt. Once your body adjusts, you’ll be able to eat spicy and fatty foods, if you wish.

High altitude cooking

The most important thing to know is that things take longer to cook at high altitude. In the section below we elaborate on the specifics of high elevation cooking further.

Boiling at high altitude

Because of the lower atmospheric pressure, the water boiling temperature at 3000m is 90°C and it gets lower the higher you go. This means that the cooking time of foods that are prepared by boiling or simmering is increased. Thus it’ll take longer for foods to cook or rehydrate. This will affect the range of meals you can cook. Here’s another important thing regarding cooking at altitude: the lower humidity will cause the moisture to evaporate more quickly drying food faster. To avoid this, cover foods during cooking.

Cooking rice

Getting enough carbohydrate, protein, and fat at a higher elevation is important. Their roles include making foods taste good and giving enough energy to keep up with your nutrition and calorie needs. High-carbohydrate foods are easier to digest in high-altitude environments than fats (require more oxygen) and protein (your body needs more water to process protein). Moreover, you need them to fuel your muscles and your brain. Some high carbohydrate foods such as rice are very popular among mountaineers, climbers, and other high-altitude adventurers. There are different ways to cook rice but one of the best is by boiling it in a large amount of water and some salt until it’s almost done (same procedure as when preparing pasta). Strain most of the water and simmer it for a few minutes to dry out any excess water. Take into account that cooking rice at high altitude will take more time (25-30 minutes) than cooking it at sea level (15-20 minutes).

High carbohydrate foods (left to the right): rice, noodles, and potatoes  

Cooking meat and poultry

Be careful when simmering or braising meat (oven-roasting is not affected by altitude) as it may dry out. Leaner meat is more susceptible to drying out at high altitudes since it contains more protein. Time and moisture are the two most important factors when cooking meat and poultry at higher elevations. Just as with cooking rice at high altitude, allow for longer cooking time.

8. Get good hiking boots, socks, and gaiters

It’s colder at higher elevations as the reason for this is the lower air pressure. Lower temperatures mean that you will have to pack more outdoor clothing and equipment. Adequate equipment is one of the key factors to have a safe and enjoyable high altitude hiking trip. Don’t take anything on trust but trust your personal experience with various hiking boots and other components of your gear when choosing the equipment for your trip. Select your gear carefully and test it to make sure that everything works the way it is supposed to work. Try to dispel any doubts about each and every component of your equipment prior to your trip. Take only gears that will keep you safe, dry, and comfortable, and leave the kitchen sink at home.

Having a pair of comfortable hiking boots and good socks (preferably made of merino wool or synthetics) is critical for high altitude hiking. Make sure that the boots are broken in unless you want to risk suffering from horrible blisters and losing toenails. Moreover, the consequences of having new boots on the trail can put an end to your expedition.

When hiking in spring and early summer, you’ll probably encounter deep snow. Bring waterproof gaiters as they cover boots and provide water resistance. Good gaiters are perfect for keeping water and debris out of your footwear.

Conclusion

If you follow our eight tips for high altitude hiking, you will be much better prepared to meet the challenges of hiking at high elevations.

Above all, acclimatize well and make sure that you don’t rush the process of adaptation. Remember that this process takes time. Moreover, it varies from individual to individual. A reasonable level of physical and mental fitness combined with regular meals and adequate hydration can facilitate this process without risking altitude illness. The most frequent reason people get altitude sickness is that they ascend too high too fast.

There are many other hazards that await you at altitude. Know the most dangerous hazards at high elevations and be prepared for them. Stay focused on the trail and don’t let distractions divert your attention from hiking.

 

* In R. C. Eng. (Ed.), Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, 8th ed., 2010, The Mountaineers