High Altitude

How to complete High Altitude

Standing at 4,000 meters or higher puts you above most weather and into genuinely thin air, the territory of major peaks and high passes. Success is as much about managing your body's response to altitude as it is about getting up there.

1. Pick an accessible 4,000m target: a cable car, a high mountain pass, or a Himalayan or Andean trekking stage
2. Acclimatize by gaining elevation gradually and sleeping lower than your daily high point
3. Drink far more water than usual and skip alcohol the night before
4. Carry layers and strong sun protection, since temperature and UV swing hard up high
5. Watch for headache, nausea, or dizziness, and descend if symptoms get worse

Tips

• Climb high, sleep low is the cardinal rule for avoiding altitude sickness
• Ask a doctor about acetazolamide if you'll be ascending quickly
• A GPS watch or a marked summit sign confirms you truly crossed 4,000m

What counts as done

Your altimeter, GPS, or a marked elevation sign shows you reached 4,000m or higher.