Also, many of the high-altitude climbers who do not
use oxygen have shown significant brain damage when
cat-scanned.



At 14:00 15 August 2005, Stefan wrote:
John Kirksey wrote:

How, then, can someone like Ed Viesturs repeatedly
climb the tallest
mountain peaks in the world without supplemental oxygen?
Is it because of
the slower ascent and the time spent acclimating to
the higher altitudes?

First, acclimatisation.

Second, walking (and climbing) is different from flying.
You don't need
much brain to walk. When piloting, however, everything
is about
thinking. And it's the brain which needs the most oxygen.

And maybe a third reason: There are exceptional people
who are just
better suited for such things than you and me.

Stefan