The Death Zone is a fancy term for hiking above 10,000 feet. This is the altitude that becomes exponentially more dangerous to exert yourself above. Altitude sickness will chase you down like a track star on steroids if you do not take the necessary precautions. The basic ways to prevent problems on the mountain are acclimitization, and hydration. The other one is having good genes, but that’s not controllable. You should try to spend a few nights at elevation before exerting yourself, and always drink (water is better then tequila in this case) Also, it is a sick joke that Mt. Whitney and Death Valley are within a 2 hour drive of each other. No matter how cool you think you are… don’t do what I did. Death Valley to Whitney in one day sounds awesome, but trust me… its not worth the headache and puking that will surely follow yor heroism. Stay smart, Stay alive. Here are some tips of the trade.

• In general, overexertion is the main cause of high altitude problems and it is a big factor in the occurrence of Acute Mountain Sickness. Overexertion can also cause dehydration which is another ticket to trouble. Your goal in Hiking in higher altitudes is to keep a steady progress while minimizing your effort.
• A good steady rhythm can help you keep your hiking at the same intensity level and helps you avoid overexertion. In higher altitudes, this principle increases greatly in importance. Try to maintain your walking rhythm at all times.
• An increased speed means less effective use of energy. Again, this principle becomes even more important at higher altitudes. Keep your stride very slow and deliberate. Decrease the size of your steps and try to minimize your efforts while maintaining a steady progress. Keep to a slow and steady rhythm and adjust both Hiking Speed and Hiking Rhythm the moment you notice yourself panting or having a highly increased heart rate.
• Likewise, adjust your breathing to slow, deliberate, and very deep. Deeper breaths will make up for the lack of oxygen. Try to keep your breathing in rhythm with your walking. If you start feeling breathless, increase the speed of your breathing but keep the breaths deep and deliberate. Avoid getting breathless and check your heartbeat. Your heart should not be pounding and you should not be panting. Otherwise, adjust your tempo.

• If you become sick, the best cure is to get your butt off the mountain.

A good site for information on altitude sickness is available here.

http://www.ciwec-clinic.com/altitude/alti2.html 

Ryan Joiner on Whitney Summit