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altitude sickness

HAPE – An Extreme Form of Altitude Sickness Often Causing Death in Otherwise Healthy Individuals

What is HAPE? Whether an avid hiker or moving to a location with higher elevation be aware of the signs and symptoms of HAPE – High Altitude Pulmonary Edema. This translates to the development of swelling and fluid in the lungs due to an extreme change in altitude. It typically occurs around 8200 ft. in elevation but can also occur […]

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Lauren Hash | February 1, 2020
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HAPE, The Killer You Didn’t See Coming

Climbing at Altitude

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) is not only one of the top causes of death in high altitude mountaineering, but it is made even more dangerous by its unpredictable nature. HAPE has claimed the lives of even the fittest, most knowledgeable and most prepared mountaineers.  While there are signs that susceptibility to the condition may be linked to genetics, this connection […]

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Jack Conroy | July 17, 2019
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HIGH ALTITIUDE PULMONARY EDEMA – ‘HAPE’: THE #1 KILLER AT ALTITUDE

High Altitude Climbing

WHAT IS HAPE? The adrenaline rush and breathtaking views that inspire so many to take to the high mountains, can also, quite literally, take your breath away. The three most common causes of death at high altitude are acute mountain sickness (AMS), high altitude cerebral edema (HACE), and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema – the most severe, and life-threatening. High Altitude […]

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Jacqui Davis | November 8, 2018
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HAPE: Ascend Carefully

Air Evacuation There are many things to look into when you’re going on your next expedition; airfare, places to stay and of course where you will be skiing. Something else you might want to consider is how the places you are visiting will affect you physically. There are the obvious altitude sicknesses but one that could be life-threatening if not […]

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Dan Scheibelein | November 7, 2018
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High Altitude Pulmonary Edema: Killer in Disguise

Altitude Rescue

The first recorded instance of altitude sickness dates back to around 37-32 B.C. A Chinese official named Too Kin referenced the “Big Headache Mountain” while traveling over what is believed to have been the Karakoram Range in the Himalayas [1]. It is no secret that higher elevations have lower levels of oxygen available for the respiration required to sustain life. […]

Reed Philips | October 29, 2018
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All About HAPE: The Most Fatal Altitude Sickness

Image of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema at different stages of being treated

High altitude pulmonary edema, or HAPE, is the most deadly type of altitude sickness. HAPE is a condition where a person’s lungs fill with fluid, preventing oxygenation of blood and causing a variety of unpleasant symptoms. It usually occurs within 4-5 days of reaching an altitude greater than 8000 feet and often happens to people who are physically fit and […]

Tanner Blake | October 1, 2018
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HAPE: High Altitude’s Deadliest Killer

HAPE & Ascent

Many of life’s most rewarding experiences can be found at altitude. ​However, depending on numerous factors, spending time at high altitudes can expose you to the deadly risk of high-altitude pulmonary edema, or HAPE, a severe form of altitude sickness. Many of those who frequent mountains have likely experienced acute mountain sickness, a common & comparatively mild form of altitude […]

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Dylan Craig | July 25, 2018
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“Troubling Trends” Surrounding the Increased Frequency of Alpine Illness HAPE

Denali Summit in Alaska

According to a blog post by park rangers of Denali National Park, a sharp uptick in the number of climbers attempting to summit the 20,310-foot park namesake has led to a resurgence of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema. The condition, known as HAPE, most frequently occurs in normally healthy individuals traveling from lower elevations to areas above 8,200 feet, leaving popular […]

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Lucas Gauthier | July 7, 2018
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High Altitude Pulmonary Edema—What It Is and Why You Should Care

Starry Night over Mt. Everest

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, or HAPE, is the most common and most fatal form of high altitude sickness. HAPE results from fluid building up in the lungs over time while at high altitude. Essentially, victims of HAPE take in less and less oxygen due to the low air pressure at high altitudes as fluid continues to fill up their lungs, resulting […]

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Maggie Dean | October 1, 2017
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HAPE: The Leading Killer at High Altitudes

High Alpine Mountaineering

Reports often come out about people passing away in the mountains due to altitude sickness.  Altitude sickness, otherwise known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), is when you feel like you came down with the flu or have a hangover, due to less oxygen being at higher elevations.  However, altitude sickness does not cause death, but it can lead to more […]

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Mitch McDermott | October 1, 2017
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Trouble in High Places: High Altitude Pulmonary Edema

On top of the world! Credit: Sports Radio Knoxville HAPE is not a joke. High Altitude Pulmonary Edema or HAPE is one of the leading causes of death among mountaineers and high altitude skiers and snowboarders. HAPE is a disease in which the lower air pressure at high altitudes causes one’s lungs to become filled with fluids. It can occur […]

Jason Ringenberg | October 1, 2017
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HAPE: The Number One Killer at High Altitude

Dangerous Skiing

  Recreation at high altitude entails many existential threats. Avalanches, rock falls, lighting, and hypothermia all leap to mind as serious threats. Yet, the leading cause of death at high altitude (8,200 ft or 2,500 m and above) is probably something many are not familiar with, high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Pulmonary edema is the accumulation of fluid in the tissues […]

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Curtis Weller | October 1, 2017
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High Altitude Pulmonary Edema: The #1 Altitude Sickness Killer

HAPE symptoms

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, also known as HAPE, is the deadliest but least understood acute mountain sickness killer and can be deadly within hours of experiencing symptoms.  HAPE is a build up of liquid in the lungs which makes it difficult for the affected person to breath properly do to quick elevation gains. When a person who is susceptible to […]

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Brian Werner | October 1, 2017
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HAPE – Altitude’s Silent Killer

Kilian Jornet Everest Record

  Mild altitude sickness, or AMS (acute mountain sickness) is a common issue that most people have probably experienced when traveling in the mountains. With symptoms similar to a hangover, it’s usually nothing more than a minor annoyance but can develop into a life threatening condition know as HAPE. High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, or HAPE, is a a condition involving […]

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Mike Lavery | October 1, 2017
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HAPE- Major Killer of Mountaineers at High Altitudes

Rapid ascents of elevation or failure to acclimate to high elevations can lead to altitude sickness, or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), amongst novice and experienced mountaineers alike. Although AMS itself cannot lead to death, it can lead to more serious illness if not treated immediately. High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), when the brain swells with fluid, and High Altitude Pulmonary […]

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Mitch Flores | October 1, 2017
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20 Year-Old Dies while Hiking to Colorado Hot Springs

August 17th— Susana DeForest, a student from Collegeville, PA, took a vacation to visit three friends who had moved out to Colorado. The group decided to hike the popular Conundrum Trail outside of Aspen, which runs for 17 miles out-and-back at altitudes of 8,000 to 11,200 feet.  A set of hot springs sit at the end of the route, and take 6-8 hours to get to, and […]

Spencer Miller | August 25, 2017
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Boy Scout Died of Apparent Altitude Sickness in the Unita Mountains, UT Yesterday

A 17-year-old Boy Scout died on Saturday while camping with his troop in the Uinta Mountains of Utah. It appears that he may have died from altitude sickness. Douglas Julian would have turned 18-year-old today. Duchesne County Lt. Jeremy Curry reports that Douglas was a healthy kid who active in high school sports and had no prior history of illness […]

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CragBrains | August 6, 2017
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The Dangers of HAPE: The High Altitude Killer

Climbers on the Summit of Kilimanjaro, a prominent mountain peak that is a popular location for cases of HAPE and HACE.

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, or HAPE, as it is more commonly known, is a dangerous affliction known to often affect mountaineers in the Himalaya, Andes, and other high altitude peaks and mountain ranges. However, it is possible to occur in otherwise healthy people as low as 8,200 ft (2500m) and is considered a more severe form of acute mountain sickness, […]

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Anson Brown | February 1, 2017
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Why you should pay close attention to altitude sickness

Source: Pixaby.com Have ever experienced dizziness, light-headedness, shortness of breath, or nausea in the mountains? You may have had a case of what is referred to as altitude sickness or acute mountain sickness (AMS). Altitude sickness can occur at altitudes above 6,500 ft (2000 m) and a more extreme and severe case of altitude sickness is High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) […]

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Errol Lawrence | February 1, 2014
1 Comment

Sad News: Sherpa Dies on Mt. Everest Sunday

With all the confusion about the fight on Everest last month, it’s easy to lose sight of how treacherous being on Everest can be.  For nearly all climbers, there is no summit without the help of Sherpas.  Sherpas are the key to Everest.  Everest wouldn’t have ever been conquered without their help. According to Nepalese police, Dariwa Sherpa died while […]

Avatar photo SnowBrains | May 6, 2013
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