Going Higher: Oxygen Man and Mountains, 5th Ed by Charles Houston

"An important technical resource for mountaineers and anyone interested in the subject of physiology." -- Gripped

Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
This is the fifth edition of "Going Higher", now revised and expanded by Dr Houston and two colleagues. The new book has added additional text and illustrations, as well as added sections including explanations of the effects of gender and genetics. The authors note that the high-altitude adaptation of the inhabitants of the Himalayas is better than those of the Andes, perhaps as a result the death of so many of the indigenous people in the Andes resulting in genetic narrowing following the conquest of South America by Europeans. This is an excellent book on the effects of altitude on people. It reviews the history of mountain exploration, explains the physiological effects of the reduction of atmospheric pressure, and presents a practical guide for acclimatization to altitude. I agree with the observation that for effective acclimatization, there is a boundary somewhere between 8000 and 9000 feet. This has become apparent to me on trips to Colorado to climb 14,000 ft peaks. As amusing as Vail and Aspen at over 8000 ft may be, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Monarch at 9500 ft are much better, not to mention Leadville at over 10,000 ft. Of course, the best first step in altitude acclimatization is to read this book.