Burchey:
I know you're jerkin' my gherkin a little because I teased you on another thread, but I'll give you a straight answer anyway.
If you get AMS, push on to the summit, and make it out OK, you're tough. If you get AMS, push on anyway, and need help getting back down, you're stupid. If you don't get AMS in the first place, you're lucky.
People who are fitter and stronger than I am get AMS and perform poorly at altitude. I occasionally get a hint of a headache, but a few extra deep breaths make it go away. One of the reasons I play at altitude so much is that I just naturally don't have problems with altitude. This thread made me appreciate my good fortune.
