Archive for the ‘The Altitude Experience’ Category
Expedition primer added
March 12th, 2009
I’ve posted a short illustrated explanation of how a modern expedition generally works; click the Expedition Primer link to the left. If you don’t know the difference between low-altitude and high-altitude porters, or how we arrange to get all of the stuff to Base Camp, this is for you. I’ll tinker with it a bit more before I leave for Everest.
Posted in Everest 2009, The Altitude Experience | Comments (0)
You are unique: more interesting research
February 8th, 2009
If you’ve read my book, you know that I talk a lot about your uniqueness, and how that affects your response to altitude, training, etc. Here’s another study which confirms this.
Researchers at Tufts University published a study that examined differences among people’s glycemic index (GI) for white bread. Recall that the GI measures the degree to which a food changes blood sugar levels. Low GI foods (most fruits, pasta) have little effect on your blood sugar, while high GI foods (potatoes, carrots) cause a spike in blood sugar.
While white bread has a published GI of 72, the fourteen test subjects had average GI values that ranged between 44 and 132! And, the measured GI of white bread varied a lot within some individuals (they measured GI three times in each person).
So your response to a food might be quite different than you would expect, based on the published values. Knowing how your body responds to food, dehydration, altitude, etc. will allow you to tune your approach for better performance.
Citation: Vega-Lopez, S., L. M. Ausman, et al. (2007). Interindividual variability and intra-individual reproducibility of glycemic index values for commercial white bread. Diabetes Care 30(6): 1412-7
Tags: The Altitude Experience
Posted in Altitude science | Comments (0)
New Year’s Resolutions
January 22nd, 2009
As we start the new year, I have a few suggestions for resolutions that you might want to adopt this year:
- Strive for quality in your activities. It does no good to lift big weights if you’re out of control, or climb ice by thrashing and dangling. Strive for excellence and control.
- Train your smaller muscles. Work the shoulder stabilizers, ankle stabilizers, and your pushing muscles (if you’re a climber).
- Don’t look for shortcuts. There is no simple way to succeed at altitude (or elsewhere). Understanding your mind and body is the key, and nobody (including me) can do that for you.
- In your training, emphasize things you’re not good at, especially if it has to do with your mind. If you get bored after 15 minutes on the elliptical trainer, you need to train your mind. Can’t go for a run/ski/walk without your iPod? You need to train your mind.
- Re-evaluate your training approach regularly. If you’re doing the same old routine, maybe it’s time to change. What works for a novice isn’t necessarily appropriate for a veteran, and vice versa.
In Chapter 12 of The Altitude Experience, I have a bunch of suggestions for training that apply even to low altitude activities.
Tags: The Altitude Experience
Posted in Exercise and Performance, The Altitude Experience | Comments (0)
Out of the country until Dec. 3
November 25th, 2008
I will be out of the country until December 3. Any book orders that come in will be shipped on December 4. I get to lay on the beach a few days!
Tags: The Altitude Experience
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Out of contact Oct 5-Nov 7
September 27th, 2008
I’ll be out of email and phone contact for most of October. I’ll answer my email when I get back.
Tags: 2008 K2 Expedition
Posted in administration, The Altitude Experience | Comments (0)
The book is out! (I think)
August 23rd, 2008
August 23: Finally, something to post about other than K2.
The Altitude Experience should be available in the next week or so. After I return from Pakistan, I’ll set up a link for you to get signed copies directly from me.
I’ve actually re-read parts of it in relation to the K2 accidents, and I’m still happy with what I wrote. I hope you are too!
Mike
Tags: The Altitude Experience
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Blog restored!
June 13th, 2008
Ok, we’re back in business (I hope). If you previously signed up to get an email when a post was made, you’ll have to sign up again (sorry).
I hope I’ll actually be able to post a real update today. But for now, I need to make sure all computer systems are operating properly before we cast loose from the internet.
Mike
Tags: 2008 K2 Expedition, The Altitude Experience
Posted in The Altitude Experience | Comments (0)