The Power of Elevation: Why Not All Snow Is Created Equal Any serious skier will tell you that not all snow is created equal. Light, fluffy powder, dense, wet snow, and icy sleet all start as the same thing: moisture in the air. An intricate dance of atmospheric moisture, environmental conditions, and resort geography all combine to create the spectrum of snowfall that snowsports enthusiasts crave. Despite the numerous factors that […] Featured Article Andrew | February 2, 2023 3 Comments
Brain Post: Does Higher Altitude Make You Fart More? Have you ever felt extra gassy while on a flight or during a hike? I recently completed an overnight trek and summited the second highest peak in Guatemala, Acatenango. At the top, we would witness incredible views and the active Volcán de Fuego erupt. It turned out that the volcano wouldn’t be the only thing erupting that night. Sharing a […] Brains Nick DeRiso | August 30, 2022 0 Comments
Fake It Till You Make It – Two Climbers May Be Banned For Fake Climb Up Everest Two Indian mountaineers may get banned by authorities in Nepal after fake photos emerged showing them on top of Mount Everest. The two climbers are Narender Singh Yadav and Seema Rani Goswami, who claimed to have reached the top of Everest in 2016. The authorities are seeking to ban the two from climbing Everest, and other Nepalese peaks, for up to […] Climbing Nick Retterer | February 5, 2021 0 Comments
HAPE: More Than Just Mountain Views Taking Your Breath Away Adventuring to high elevated places can be exciting and breathtaking – literally. High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), a fatal form of altitude sickness, is a medical condition that occurs at high elevation. Usually 2500m (8,202 ft) and up. At high altitudes the oxygen in the air gets thinner, causing hypoxia, lack of oxygen in the lungs. Less oxygen means that […] Brains Aunika Skogen | February 1, 2021 0 Comments
HAPE: The Deadly Form Of Altitude Sickness As we gain elevation in the mountains, changes happen to our bodies. We find it harder to catch our breath, our muscles feel heavier, and we tire more easily. These symptoms are quite common when entering a new altitude, and normally our bodies can adapt. However, in some cases, a life-threatening form of altitude sickness can quickly develop. This is called […] Backcountry Hannah | February 1, 2021 0 Comments
HAPE: What Makes Altitude Sickness So Deadly in the High Mountains? Objective hazards in the mountains are comprised of two main categories: environmental factors and human factors. Before heading into the wilderness, a human will make considerations for what to bring in case of an emergency. HAPE is a risk, an almost silent killer which creeps in during situations where rescues are often impossible, like on the side of a mountain. […] Elliot Levey | 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 High-Altitude Killer What is HAPE? The most common cause of death directly attributed to altitude is High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, or “HAPE.” Caused by a lack of oxygen, HAPE is an advanced stage of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). In conjunction with the breakdown of glucose, fats, and amino acids, oxygen is necessary for our bodies to produce energy. Too little of it […] Brains Tony Miller | February 1, 2020 0 Comments
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