Hiking at Altitude

With Emphasis on Southern California

So Cal does have some altitude related hiking and backpacking, located in the Angeles Natl. Forest and San Bernardino Natl. Forest.

Whether you're backpacking into the Blue Ridge Camp (7,900 ft) or the Guffy Camp (8,200 ft) from Inspiration Point, along the Pacific Crest Trail, to camp for the night. Or you're attempting the Six Pack of Peaks challenge, and willing to take on the massive climb to the 10,000 ft. top of Mount Baldy. You need to equip yourself with information on hiking at altitude.

Day Hiking at Altitude

Due to the geography and geology of the Los Angeles, San Fernando, and Inland Empire regions of So Cal, most day hikers are living at very low altitudes, but are driving up to moderately high altitude to participate in their sport.

In my article, Day Hiking and Altitude Sickness - What to Know, I go over what altitude sickness (acute mountain sickness) is, and what altitude it occurs at. I then quantify your risk as a function of elevation, based on several references, and give you a mathematical formula to calculate your risks, if you are an otherwise healthy individual.

I go on to talk about time to presentation of altitude sickness, and the lag in time to onset of some of the symptoms. I finally rap it up by quantifying the risk of High Altitude Cerebral Edema for Los Angeles County's highest day hike, Mount San Antonio, otherwise known as Mount Baldy.

How Exactly Does Your Body Adjust To High Altitude?

In my article, How Exactly Does Your Body Adjust To High Altitude, I first define what high altitude is, though it varies from source to source. Then I start answering questions: How does your body know there is less oxygen around you at altitude? What are the immediate changes your body makes at altitude? And what changes take weeks to months to occur?

I also go over the negative aspects of your body trying to adjust to altitude too quickly. There I define what mild, moderate, and severe acute mountain sickness looks like. Medical emergencies as a result of altitude illnesses, such as HACE and HAPE are briefly touched upon. Finally I answer the question, what are the 3 stages of acclimatization to high altitude?

The more you know what your body might do hiking at altitude, the better you'll be at it, so check this article out as well.