djkest wrote:
I've heard that acclimitization benefits wear off in 1-2 weeks... is that not correct?
If you live at 6,500' , climb a bunch of 14ers, and then go to Africa, only at lower elevations for a couple days of travel, should maintain some degree of acclimitization yes?
First, I am not an expert on this! However, I really think the benefits last even longer than 2 weeks. I mean technically, a red blood cell has a life cycle of 120 days
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_blood_cell. So it just seems to me that if your body is producing more red blood cells, then the benefits are going to last for more than a couple of weeks.
In my own personal experience I have noticed that in the late spring when I climb a 14er I will always get that standard 14er pounding headache in my temples. But as time goes by and even if I am not climbing much I just don't seem to get those headaches later in the summer. If I am not better acclimated because of red blood cells, then certainly my cardiovascular system is in better shape, and either way it makes the altitude easier to deal with.
So I maintain that there is a huge benefit to getting out and climbing a bunch of 14ers before you go to Africa!