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What is Acclimatization?
The major cause of altitude illness is going
too high too fast. Given enough time, your
body can adapt to the decrease in oxygen at
a specific altitude and this process is
called acclimatization.
For example, if you hike to ten thousand
feet and spend several days at that
altitude, your body acclimatizes to ten
thousand feet. If you then climb to twelve
thousand feet, your body needs time to
acclimatize to this height. Changes which
take place in the body to enable it to
operate with decreased oxygen include
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The
depth of respiration increases
and the body produces more red
blood cells to carry oxygen
-
Pressure in pulmonary arteries
is increased, pushing blood into
parts of the lungs which are
usually not used during
sea-level breathing
-
The
body produces more of a
particular enzyme that
facilitates the release of
oxygen from hemoglobin to the
body tissues.
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What is High Altitude?
Altitude can be defined on the following
scale:
HIGH
2,437 - 3,653 m (eight to twelve thousand
feet)
VERY HIGH
3,657 - 5,486 m (twelve to eighteen thousand
feet)
EXTREMELY HIGH 5,500+ m
(eighteen thousand plus feet)
There are no specific factors such as age,
sex or physical condition which predict who
might get altitude sickness; some do, some
don’t and some are more susceptible than
others. Most people can go up to eight
thousand feet with very little effect;
proper acclimatization is the key to going
higher without suffering from altitude
sickness.
What is
Altitude Sickness and How Can I prevent it?
At sea level, the concentration of oxygen is
about twenty per cent and the air pressure
averages 758 mmHg. As altitude
increases, the number of oxygen molecules
per breath is reduced and the air pressure
drops.
Then the body must adjust to operating with
less oxygen. Also, for reasons not
completely understood, high altitude and
lower air pressure causes fluids to leak
from capillaries, which can cause fluid
build-up in lungs and brain. Because of
this, continuing to even higher altitudes
without proper acclimatization can lead to
serious, even life-threatening, illnesses.
Adhering to the following guidelines for
proper acclimatization will greatly enhance
your chances of having an enjoyable,
successful climb to the summit:
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If
possible, do not fly or drive to
high altitude. Start your hike
below 3,050 m (ten thousand
feet) and walk up. If you do fly
or drive, do not exert yourself
unnecessarily and do not move
higher for the first twenty-four
hours.
-
Above ten thousand feet,
increase your altitude by only
300 m (one thousand feet) per
day. For every 900 m (three
thousand feet) gained, take a
rest day. A useful maxim to bear
in mind is “climb high, sleep
low”; you can climb more than
one thousand feet in a day - as
long as you come back down to a
lower altitude to sleep.
-
If
you begin to show symptoms of
moderate altitude sickness, do
not go higher until your
symptoms decrease. If your
symptoms increase, go down,
down, down!
-
Take it easy and slowly and
don’t exert yourself at
altitude. Light activity during
daylight hours is better than
sleeping because your
respiratory rate decreases
during sleep, exacerbating the
symptoms.
-
Stay properly hydrated.
Acclimatization is often
accompanied by fluid loss so you
need to replace this by drinking
at least 1-3 liters of water per
day. Urine flow should be
copious and clear.
-
Eat
a high carbohydrate diet while
at altitude; remember that most of your calories come from
carbohydrates.
-
The
acclimatization process is
inhibited by dehydration,
over-exertion, alcohol and other
depressant drugs. Therefore you
should avoid tobacco, alcohol
and depressant drugs such as
barbiturates, tranquilizers and
sleeping pill. All of these
further decrease the respiratory
rate during sleep, resulting in
a worsening of the symptoms of
altitude sickness.
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GETTING
THERE AND AWAY
The nearest international airport to Kili is
Kilimanjaro International Airport, situated
50 km from Arusha
Nairobi is 5 hours away by road with daily
flights from Wilson Airport to KIA
Africat can arrange private transfers from
Nairobi to Arusha
OUR GUIDES & PORTERS
Africat’s Kilimanjaro expeditions are
cooperatives and, as with their other
adventures and safaris, intended to involve
as many members of the local community as
possible. We pay our guides and porters a
good wage, endorsed by the park authorities,
and provide them with sufficient food and
shelter for their climbs. We do not, ever,
overload our porters.
Most climbers wish to tip their porters and
guides as a ‘thank you’ and these tips are
entirely at clients’ discretion. Please note
that gratuities should be presented at the
end of your climb and should be given to the
head guide, who will distribute them amongst
those who have assisted you during your
trek.
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