Getting high in the Andes, until it got complicated

[Seat0B]

The trick with altitude is slow ascent and acclimatisation, and Diamox.

I had been to Breckenridge 10 years earlier when I was MUCH less fit and had no issues.

On the 2019 trip I acclimatised in Denver for 4 nights before going up the mountain but it made no difference. This was not just altitude sickness, it was full on HAPE requiring treatment in hospital for a day and then oxygen therapy and diamox tablets in the hotel for another 6 days once they were happy it was behaving and I did not need to go down lower. It was an absolutely horrible experience that I never want to repeat. That’s why I’ve taken so heavily to skiing in Japan where the mountains are well below 2500m!
The bill was almost USD 8,000 so thank goodness for travel insurance.

 

[Scarlett]

Just realised.

Have a look down below at how common it is to start a trip report title with the word ‘Getting…’. Never noticed that before.

Sorry for the intrusion @offshore171; don’t mind me.