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How high is too high?

Original Post
Orphaned · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 11,560

We all know that the world's highest mountain is just short enough that a man can reach the top without the aid of oxygen. My question is...how much higher than Everest can a mountain be before it must be physically impossible for a human being to scale it?

Also, wouldn't it be rad if the world's tallest mountain had about 50 pitches of 5.15d stacked on top of one another the whole way! Awesome!

Don Ferris III · · Boulder, CO · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 186

Olympus Mons is still waiting an FA for that very reason. I hear it only goes at low 5th though.

Rick Blair · · Denver · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 266

Oh, I thought your were asking about legalization in Colorado. Never mind.

eli poss · · Durango, CO · Joined May 2014 · Points: 525

when you have to crawl back to bed because you can't even walk. oh and screw everest, it's just for rich guys with huge egos. if that's you, on the other hand, sick my duck

Davi Rivas · · Ventura, CA · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,335
Olympus Mons vs Mt Everest

I don't think there is a limit. Many climbers already use oxygen at altitude. Is it too science fiction to imagine climbers wearing pressurized suits?
20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
spencerparkin wrote:We all know that the world's highest mountain is just short enough that a man can reach the top without the aid of oxygen. My question is...how much higher than Everest can a mountain be before it must be physically impossible for a human being to scale it? Also, wouldn't it be rad if the world's tallest mountain had about 50 pitches of 5.15d stacked on top of one another the whole way! Awesome!
Well, how high can you jump without oxygen? The FAA mandates oxygen in unpressurized cabins above 15,000'. However, I think people have jumped above 30,000' without oxygen. But there is a big difference between jumping out of a plane with an HR of 80 vs climbing a mountain with an HR of 150.

Edit: it looks like the record is 42,000' although the jumper breathed pure oxygen on the aircraft and he held his breath during the jump. So I would say 35,000' is pushing the limit of what's possible, and that assumes you're sitting on your ass not doing anything physically exhausting.

In the Navy I breathed air simulating 25000' to understand the workings of hypoxia and I felt like I was going to pass out. It was bad.

fabulousrocketeers.com/Phot…
Beean · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 0
20 kN wrote: Well, how high can you jump without oxygen? The FAA mandates oxygen in unpressurized cabins above 15,000'. However, I think people have jumped above 30,000' without oxygen. But there is a big difference between jumping out of a plane with an HR of 80 vs climbing a mountain with an HR of 150. Edit: it looks like the record is 42,000' although the jumper breathed pure oxygen on the aircraft and he held his breath during the jump. So I would say 35,000' is pushing the limit of what's possible, and that assumes you're sitting on your ass not doing anything physically exhausting. In the Navy I breathed air simulating 25000' to understand the workings of hypoxia and I felt like I was going to pass out. It was bad. fabulousrocketeers.com/Phot…
Does this assume no acclimatisation? What's the absolute limit of human survival? The 'death zone' is called that for a reason, no?

I think I've read somewhere that .15 atm is the absolute limit of human survival.. this equates to 13500m or thereabouts.

Oly Mons looks like a rad line, dude! I bet it's first climbed in poor style though.
M Sprague · · New England · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 5,090
20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
Beean wrote: Does this assume no acclimatisation? What's the absolute limit of human survival? The 'death zone' is called that for a reason, no? I think I've read somewhere that .15 atm is the absolute limit of human survival.. this equates to 13500m or thereabouts. Oly Mons looks like a rad line, dude! I bet it's first climbed in poor style though.
Well, the other concern is it might just be too cold to survive at those altitudes. At 13500m it could be -150F out, which even with the warmest winter jacket you would still freeze to death.
Kyle Tarry · · Portland, OR · Joined Mar 2015 · Points: 528
eli poss wrote:oh and screw everest, it's just for rich guys with huge egos. if that's you, on the other hand, sick my duck
Eli, I highly recommend you read "Into Thin Air."

While the commercialization of Everest is certainly not a good thing, and while it's not a "technical" mountain, a very high level of toughness and perseverance is still required to walk uphill in snow at 28,000 feet, and the risks are still very real.
eli poss · · Durango, CO · Joined May 2014 · Points: 525

i have read that book. i just can't imagine hiking up everest would be fun for a climber because there isn't any 5th class. i'm not saying it isn't difficult, i just don't see the reward of hiking everest being worth the trouble for a real climber.

Adam Stackhouse · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 13,970

LOCKER?

David Kutassy · · Charlottesville, VA · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 5

Different strokes for different folks.

I'm pretty sure Everest is slightly higher than the limits of an average human. From my understanding of it there are 't many people who have been able to summit Everest without oxygen. Even they couldn't stay up there long before dropping dead.

Concurring one of the tallest mountains in the world (Everest or not) sounds WAY more satisfying than just topping out on a long sport climb regardless of the grade. Climbing involves a lot of technique but mountaineering seems much closer to survival in extreme environments.

WyomingSummits · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 0
eli poss wrote:i have read that book. i just can't imagine hiking up everest would be fun for a climber because there isn't any 5th class. i'm not saying it isn't difficult, i just don't see the reward of hiking everest being worth the trouble for a real climber.
A "real climber"? Most " real climbers" I've met were sucking o's and begging for mercy on a steep boulder field at 10k+. On the other hand, I'm willing to bet a majority of people fit enough to climb everest can climb 5.8-5.10. So who is "real"?

Edit.....I am a rock climber and general mountaineer.

2nd edit...just saw that you're 18.....that explains it.
20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346

I wonder which is harder, an Ultraman or Everest?

10,000m ocean swim
261.4 mile bike
52.4 mile run

Done back to back as a single race (triathlon) with time limits to ensure you cant walk the whole thing. Just think how hard your last marathon was, and then imagine doing another three or four of those in a row.

Then of course there are other contenders like a RAAM solo (ride your bike across America), the PCT (~2200 mile hike) and my favorite, joining the special forces which probably tops all of this.

Beean · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 0
eli poss wrote:i have read that book. i just can't imagine hiking up everest would be fun for a climber because there isn't any 5th class. i'm not saying it isn't difficult, i just don't see the reward of hiking everest being worth the trouble for a real climber.
I'd never call mountaineering fun, but I think it's definitely a more rewarding pursuit than cragging. Different strokes.
Ryan G · · San Diego · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 275
20 kN wrote:I wonder which is harder, an Ultraman or Everest? 10,000m ocean swim 261.4 mile bike 52.4 mile run Done back to back as a single race (triathlon) with time limits to ensure you cant walk the whole thing. Just think how hard your last marathon was, and then imagine doing another three or four of those in a row. Then of course there are other contenders like a RAAM solo (ride your bike across America), the PCT (~2200 mile hike) and my favorite, joining the special forces which probably tops all of this.
PCT, not so much...some incredibly unhealthy people have used it as a a weight loss strategy and made it...not to mention they insane partying some of those folks do on the trail. I picked a guy to re-cash last season, and he had been high - not baked high - for weeks. Special F
orces...yes sir, got that ISIS bastard, not to mention Ben Laden and others. Hats off to those guys, and gals (?).
Eliot Augusto · · Lafayette, CO · Joined Dec 2013 · Points: 60
Ryan-G wrote: Special F orces...yes sir, got that ISIS bastard, not to mention Ben Laden and others. Hats off to those guys, and gals (?).
No gals unless they are in a support field. The SF are opening their doors to women, but no women have passed even basic infantry school. So until ladies like Rowdy Rhonda Rousey start signing up, it'll be a while.
20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
Eliot Augusto wrote: e SF are opening their doors to women, but no women have passed even basic infantry school. So until ladies like Rowdy Rhonda Rousey start signing up, it'll be a while.
They are considering It (At at least in terms of the Navy) But it's unlikely to happen. Most of the operators I have talked to are against it. There are also other serious concerns with women serving in SOGs which have no apparent solution.
Anonymous · · Unknown Hometown · Joined unknown · Points: 0

I have been thinking of getting a kickstarter going to fund my building a tube around part of the Mariana Trench... that way i could drain it and turn it into the ultimate climb.

I think we have hit the limit on going up. We need to start draining the water to make new climbs.

I want the FA for the first -35,994' climb =)

Nate KSD · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2014 · Points: 20

If you are getting a spinning feeling and get bolts of light streaking past your eyes, then you might be too high. Oh wait wrong thread...

ViperScale wrote:I have been thinking of getting a kickstarter going to fund my building a tube around part of the Mariana Trench... that way i could drain it and turn it into the ultimate climb. I think we have hit the limit on going up. We need to start draining the water to make new climbs. I want the FA for the first -35,994' climb =)
The future of new climbs is in caves my friend. Grab a helmet and go find something.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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