Here are some things I think about while hiking Whitney. When I bring first-timers with me, I make sure they're aware of these issues.
- If you've never been above 12k feet, I would recommend eating a significant portion of your food before you leave Trail Camp.
- Slow down. When training, I try to keep heart rate around 150 bpm. I can sustain this HR for a long time. On Whitney, I've found that working in the 135 bpm range is better, especially once I hit Trail Camp. Hiking faster (ascending quickly, overexertion) can also bring on AMS.
- Many of the symptoms of AMS are very similar to dehydration. You want to eliminate dehydration as a possible problem. If I don't have to make a bathroom stop every hour or so, I'm most likely not drinking enough.
