World's Highest Via Ferrata: 4 more days!

After today, it's four more days (oh forgot to tell that i postponed it to 21 Sept) till i put on my boots and head off--for the 5th time--to Southeast Asia's highest mountain, Mt Kinabalu, where the ultimate mission is to walk on the world's highest Via Ferrata.

The Via Ferrata on Mt Kinabalu. (Photo credit: Mountaintorq.com)

Stamina and fitness wise, i think i'm prepared. I just have one concern. That is, the altitude. The last time i remember i got really sick from being high on the mountain. Altitude sickness or also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) kicked into my system as soon as i stepped into the heated mountain lodge of Laban Rata at 11,000ft. There I felt nauseous, like everything was spinning around me, the headache was unbearable and I remember only feeling better after throwing up all the food that was supposed to be fuel for the next leg, the early morning journey to the summit. Well, we'll see this time if I'll respond better to AMS as i have now read up a bit about it.

Just something to share: AMS happens to just about anyone who goes on altitude, whether they're super fit or not. It normally occurs at 2,500m (8000ft above) and it happens when one goes high too fast. But you can't really predict who will get it because different people respond differently to altitude and acclimatize at different rates. One person may be easily susceptible while the other may totally be in excellent condition. In general, the key to avoiding AMS is to ascent slowly to give time for the body to acclimatize because as you increase in altitude the number of oxygen molecules in your blood reduces. Because of this reduction of oxygen in the blood stream, you need to allow the body to undergo an adjustment process called 'acclimatization' or rest day, that is, adjusting the body to the decreased availability of oxygen at a specific altitude so that one functions well enough to continue on the next leg of the climbing journey. During acclimatization, you should not indulge in any activity, just rest.

Here's what the International Society of Mountain Medicine recommends:

-If possible, you should spend at least one night at an intermediate elevation below 3000 meters.

-At altitudes above 3000 meters (10,000 feet), your sleeping elevation should not increase more than 300-500 meters (1000-1500 feet) per night.

-Every 1000 meters (3000 feet) you should spend a second night at the same elevation.

Remember, it's how high you sleep each night that really counts; climbers have understood this for years, and have a maxim "climb high, sleep low". The day hikes to higher elevations that you take on your "rest days" (when you spend a second night at the same altitude) help your acclimatization by exposing you to higher elevations, then you return to a lower (safer) elevation to sleep. This second night also ensures that you are fully acclimatized and ready for further ascent.

Packing of gears and sorts starts tomorrow. I am excited!