When climbing beyond 3,000 meters altitudes, mountaineers are exposed to hypoxia. Hypoxia is a condition when your body is exposed to a low-oxygen environment which leads to increased heartbeat and breathing rates. This increases the amount of oxygen in your body which sustains you for a short period of time. However, this adaptation doesn’t work for a longer period of time which results in altitude sickness. To mitigate the risk of altitude sickness, Aconcagua guided climb agencies make it a point to include provisions for adequate acclimatization for mountaineers as a part of the adventure program.
Acclimatization is a biological process that helps in increasing red blood cells to accelerate oxygen flow in the blood. This helps in stabilizing your heart rate and regulating hyperventilation. In that case, if you spend more than a couple of weeks on the mountain at an altitude over 4,500 meters, the percentage of red blood cells will double up.
Ensure slow progressive ascent during acclimatization
The acclimatization process usually takes around 10 days; however, it is not limited to a fixed time duration. Considering everyone is different, Aconcagua guided climb agencies ensure slow progressive ascent to the mountain and extend it if needed.
Below are some useful tips to ensure proper acclimatization to prevent risks of altitude-sickness.
- You should consider walking rather than using a vehicle as this will help you adapt your body to the variant temperatures.
- You may experience acute air pressure on the mountain which can cause dehydration. Therefore, you Hydrate your body as much as you can on the mountains.
- To find out whether the acclimatization is working rightly for you, you may check your pulse and heart rate every morning to see if they’re improving. Additionally, no headaches, a good appetite, and sleep are signs that you’re benefiting from your acclimatization.
- Once you cross 3,500 meters, you need to climb gradually on the mountain. You should not climb more than 500 meters to spend the night. In addition, you should consider resting for one night after every 1,200 meters of altitude.
Ascending Mount Aconcagua during acclimatization depends on the goal of your Aconcagua guided climb. If you’re planning to reach an altitude of 8,000 meters, you should make sure that your body has adapted to at least 4,000 to 5,000 meters, where Aconcagua base camps are usually placed.
Lack of proper acclimatization leads to serious altitude illness
You may consider your acclimatization to be complete if you find that all the physiological processes of our body have stabilized and you’re ready to climb Mount Aconcagua. However, Aconcagua guided climb acclimatization does not guarantee complete acclimatization for all. As a result, only a small percentage of climbers have chances of getting altitude sickness.
Poor acclimatization can show signs of altitude sickness among the climbers which can refrain them from climbing further. One of the most common symptoms of altitude sickness is a headache. Some may even suffer from insomnia or tend to lose their appetite and feel nauseated. Depending on the symptoms, altitude sickness may range from mild to severe. If your sickness is not severe, you may continue with your trek, but maintaining a slow ascent. In case of adverse conditions, your Aconcagua guided climb experts will immediately stop you from climbing and make you rest in a hyperbaric chamber that maintains low-altitude conditions to cure your altitude sickness.
Conclusion
When planning to climb Mount Aconcagua, make sure your chosen Aconcagua guided climb agency has provision for proper acclimatization. Make sure they have arranged everything adequately as poor acclimatization can be detrimental to your expedition’s chances of success. Also, before setting off to climb the mountain, make sure you carry a safety kit with all the necessary medicines, and safety gear to be prepared for any complicated situation. It is also important that you practice using the gear and ensure that equipment fits perfectly. Above all, you should prepare yourself mentally for the Aconcagua guided climb and set daily plans to make your adventure trip a memorable experience.