Why do mountaineers carry oxygen while climbing high mountains?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1114067/
Mountaineers carry oxygen while climbing high mountains because at higher altitudes, the air becomes thinner and contains less oxygen. This reduced oxygen availability can lead to altitude sickness and can be particularly dangerous above 8,000 meters (26,000 feet) where the oxygen levels are extremely low.
To understand why mountaineers carry oxygen, we need to consider the concept of "partial pressure." At sea level, the partial pressure of oxygen in the air is around 159 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). However, as altitude increases, the atmospheric pressure decreases, resulting in a reduced partial pressure of oxygen. For example, at the summit of Mount Everest, the partial pressure drops to approximately 53 mmHg.
Our bodies require a sufficient supply of oxygen to function properly, especially during physically demanding activities like climbing. As the amount of oxygen in the air decreases with altitude, the human body compensates by increasing the breathing rate and heart rate to deliver more oxygen to the cells. However, beyond a certain point, the body reaches its limits in adapting to the low oxygen levels, leading to altitude sickness.
To counteract the effects of reduced oxygen, mountaineers carry supplemental oxygen in the form of portable oxygen cylinders or bottles. These cylinders contain compressed oxygen that can be released through a regulator and a mask, allowing climbers to breathe in a higher concentration of oxygen. This provides the necessary oxygen supply to maintain bodily functions and delay the onset of altitude sickness.
Carrying supplemental oxygen can improve a mountaineer's physical and mental performance at high altitudes, reducing the risk of altitude-related illnesses such as pulmonary edema or cerebral edema. It provides a safety net, allowing climbers to ascend more quickly and spend less time in extreme conditions.
It is important to note that using supplemental oxygen during high-altitude mountaineering is a personal choice and depends on various factors, including the climber's experience, acclimatization level, fitness, and the specific mountain being climbed. Some mountaineers choose not to use supplemental oxygen as part of their personal challenge or to experience the true difficulty of high-altitude climbing.