Posted on 12/10/2008 12:06:19 AM PST by fightinJAG
As in: "Look at the lungs on that chick?"
:)
Our pasture is above 8000 ft and this has never occured.
I don’t know, but I did catch a documentary once where they showed an experienced climbers brain after an MRI... He showed no outward signs of problems, but his brain has major scarring and atrophy in the MRI.
It only occurred occasionally at the place I was working. The popular term for the disorder is “brisket,” but it is really pulmonary edema. I don’t really know the elevation of the pasture where the cow became ill, but it is higher than the ranch itself, which is about 7900’, IIRC.
Interesting. Our range goes to almost 10,000 ft. It has never seemed to cause any problems. All of the cattle in this area graze up that high.
Those Andean Indians have been living at high altitudes for centuries, and have permanent genetic adaptations to low oxygen levels. They also often chew coca, which gives them endurance and tolerance of pain. Climbers who attempt Everest require an extended period of acclimation to the altitude, which they obtain at the base camps. Most people could not possibly make it to the top without oxygen tanks. It would be comparable to being in an aircraft at 30K’ when the cabin lost pressure. Have you heard that Reinhold Messner climbed Everest solo without oxygen? Surely that was one of the most amazing feats of human endurance in history.
Yeah, but just think about how long he could have lived.
(lol)
http://books.google.com/books?id=PbEWJrEtECIC&pg=PA59&lpg=PA59&dq=brisket+edema&source=web&ots=eOkAuA7hAL&sig=Tzvg0tZbko7awSz8l6zBmCvRFPQ&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result
Apparently it can occur at elevations of a little over a mile. Vulnerability depends on heredity, diet, and other factors.
I was also suprised to find out that Everest is really not a technical climb. It's more a really rigorous hike. Not that I mean to belittle the accomplishment in any way. But K2 is a much harder "climb" than Everest. As is Denali, so I'm told.
As cold as it stays up there, I doubt there’s much of a smell. But the Sherpas and Tibetans consider the mountain sacred, and the shabby treatment it receives at the hands of some of the tourists is a source of shame.
Eye-witness testimony.
No, the body I was thinking of was one of the American expedition leaders who was killed after trying to get one of his clients to the summit and back. Probably Rob Hall, or maybe Scott Fisher.
Now that I think of it, you're correct. You'd have to get all that stood on the peak and compare them to equally fit individuals but with same risk factors of smoke, drink and other health and familial maladies... then compare run the numbers.
I still think that the climbers select themselves out as being above the average for fitness and health. I just don't see a 300 lb. couch potato, smoking a cig, climbing out of mama's basement and away from his X-Box 360 then heading for Nepal.
So I guess the fitness of the climbers would be the more telling stat. I suppose then you'd have to consider the risk of the climb versus climbing safer peaks. .... and on and on it goes.
I remember reading about that - it was incredible. The highest I have ever been without supplemental is 19500, and I don’t think I could have gone much higher without it.
Not to be disparaging of your cattle, but how can you tell if they have brain damage. The overwhelming number I've cattle I've met didn't see all that witty and didn't get my jokes.
Not to mention that they tend to fart a lot, too.
Brain swelling from any cause is very serious. About 2 years ago I had swelling as a result of hyponatremia (Low sodium blood level) and the case was complected by a to rapid increase of my sodium level at the hospital that ALSO caused swelling. I was in a very screwed up neurological position for over a year.
Out of hospital my sister had to hand feed me ground up food because of the tremors and difficulty swallowing.
sounds like you read Ed Viesturs book, which I thought was great
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