Altitude Sickness on the Everest Base Camp Trek
Altitude Sickness on the Everest Base Camp Trek: What You Need to Know Before You Go Most people training for the Everest Base Camp trek focus on fitness. Fair enough. But fitness won't protect you from altitude sickness. That's the part that catches trekkers off guard, even the ones who run marathons. Enjoy At Everest Base Camp Here's what's actually happening and how to handle it. What Is Altitude Sickness? When you climb fast, your body doesn't get enough time to adjust to lower oxygen levels. Above 2,500 meters, some people start feeling it. By the time you're at Namche Bazaar (3,440m), it's a real concern. At Gorak Shep (5,164m) , you're operating at roughly half the oxygen available at sea level. The condition is called Acute Mountain Sickness, or AMS. It's not about fitness. Strong, healthy people get it. Some people who look completely unprepared sail through. There's no way to predict who's vulnerable. Symptoms to Watch For...