HAPE and the Threat it Brings to Pre-Season Training It’s the time of year where skiers and riders are the most excited of all. Temperatures are dropping, snow may be sprinkling some peaks, and the professionals are already out on snow doing their thing. The hustle of the beginning of another competition (or leisure) season has begun. The pros are lucky and usually get to jump into action right […] Industry News Phil Tremblay | February 1, 2021 0 Comments
Danger at Elevation from High Altitude Pulmonary Edema Mountaineering does not come without a certain risk. The obvious dangers of physical injury come to mind when planning an expedition, but hidden physiological factors can also prove fatal. One of these conditions is Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), which stems from a failure to properly acclimatize to a higher elevation, and can lead to a more fatal illness known […] Brains Alex Mangels | February 1, 2021 0 Comments
Altitude Sickness – Keep it on the Down Low Altitude Sickness is an all-too-common affliction for mountain newcomers and is always on the radar for even the most veteran mountain-enjoyers. As one increases in altitude, the surrounding air pressure decreases as less air is pushing down from above. Despite common misconceptions, there is no ‘less oxygen’ at higher altitudes — the oxygen content of air hovers around 21% throughout […] Brains Samuel Lawrence | February 1, 2021 0 Comments
Sucking Wind- Considerations for Identifying and Treating HAPE Among hardcore alpinists and weekend ski warriors alike, most have experienced altitude sickness at some point recreating at high elevations. With symptoms very similar to a nasty hangover, altitude sickness is often accompanied by headaches, vomiting, shortness of breath, and inability to walk in a straight line. While altitude sickness is not deemed to be life-threatening, if left unchecked, it […] Industry News Spencer Cox | February 20, 2020 0 Comments
The Dangers Of Getting Too High: High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) It was a cold, brisk, Saturday morning as Ryan flew up the skin track, eager to reach the summit. Bogged down from a stressful week in the office, Ryan had left his house in San Francisco that morning and headed to Tahoe for a refreshing day in the backcountry with his friend, Mike. However, something was wrong, and Ryan didn’t […] Brains Miles Wong | February 1, 2020 0 Comments
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, “HAPE” – More Than Just Altitude Sickness When travelling from low elevation to higher altitude environments, we often notice that our breathing gets heavier, our heartbeat increases, and we may start to experience dizziness and dehydration. We frequently attribute these signs as the common precursors to altitude sickness or new elevation and changes in climate. When managed properly, these signs typically subside as you adapt to your […] Brains Taylor Stephan | February 1, 2020 0 Comments
What is HAPE? Prepare for your Ascent When it comes to planning your next 8,000 ft peak or higher, High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) is a serious factor to consider. HAPE is a form of respiratory failure due to the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, most commonly occurring after ascending to high altitudes. The most common cases appear in patients who have recently traveled from low […] Corinne Doerner | February 1, 2020 0 Comments
HAPE: the Number One Killer at Altitude HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) is a major cause of death at altitudes over 8,200 feet, though there have been cases of HAPE as low as 4,900 feet. HAPE occurs when fluids build up in the lungs due to the body’s response to an increase in altitude. When left untreated, HAPE has a high mortality rate. In the western United States […] Brains Lynn Barlow | February 1, 2020 0 Comments