I would like ... a new ... route that would achieve gradual acclimatization. I would like the trip on the trail to last three days and finish at the Portal. Any recommendations on where to begin and paths to travel?
Hi Brent, a relative of mine got severe altitude sickness (pulmonary edema) at under 10K and the following year successfully climbed Whitney main trail with me with no issues or discomfort. But it took more than 3 days. The recipe was:
1. Took physician prescribed Diamox (single dose of 125 mg and Nifedipine slow release 30mg daily). Did *NOT* start Diamox several days early, it is apparently a faster-acting drug than once believed, so starting it early is apparently a deprecated approach, as is taking huge doses that cause side-effects.
2. Slept the first night at Lone Pine lake.
3. Slept the second night at Outpost camp.
4. Slept the third night at Trail camp.
5. Summited Whitney on day 4 and returned to Trail camp.
6. Packed up and hiked out on day 5.
I would try something like this before trying to reduce the length of the trip to 3 days.
