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Post by kxg on Sept 24, 2018 21:28:06 GMT -5
I’m on the side of a mountain in NM at 9100’ and seem to be having an unusually hard time keeping my pipe lit. My normal altitude is 3050’. Obviously the air is thinner up here, but I never thought about it making a substantial difference. Are any of you high altitude smokers?
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Post by Dramatwist on Sept 24, 2018 22:27:04 GMT -5
...was a mountain-climber in my younger days... smoking a pipe not appropriate at altitude... please don't...
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Post by puffy on Sept 24, 2018 22:34:23 GMT -5
I've been at 6,000 feet.Don't remember any problems.
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Post by Dramatwist on Sept 24, 2018 22:42:00 GMT -5
Please don't smoke up there, Kelly! Not worth the risk!
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Post by smellthehatfirst on Sept 24, 2018 22:58:04 GMT -5
Please don't smoke up there, Kelly! Not worth the risk! What's the risk? |
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Post by Dramatwist on Sept 24, 2018 22:58:41 GMT -5
Please don't smoke up there, Kelly! Not worth the risk! What's the risk? You a mountaineer? |
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Post by Dramatwist on Sept 24, 2018 23:03:08 GMT -5
...the risk is breathing... if you have ever been unable to breathe, you know the panic... at altitude, it's 100 times worse... I know, I've been there...
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professorthroway
Junior Member
Posts: 136 
First Name: Steve
Favorite Pipe: Hilson Straight Billiard
Favorite Tobacco: G&H Dark Bird's Eye
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Post by professorthroway on Sept 24, 2018 23:05:39 GMT -5
When I lived on Los Alamos NM my house was at 7500' and I would regulary smoke near the ski Lodge at Parajito 9000'. I never experienced problems with the pipe not burning right.
If you are not used to altitude I am not sure I would smoke. You are already taxing your system.
A good friend of mine tried to do an Everest ascent. She didn't make it much being base camp because of trouble breathing. She said the most humiliating thing in the world was the Sherpa standing next to her smoking a cigarette while she was gasping like a fish out of water.
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Post by Dramatwist on Sept 24, 2018 23:05:49 GMT -5
...Kelly, just save it for when you come down...
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Post by Dramatwist on Sept 24, 2018 23:07:43 GMT -5
When I lived on Los Alamos NM my house was at 7500' and I would regulary smoke near the ski Lodge at Parajito 9000'. I never experienced problems with the pipe not burning right. If you are not used to altitude I am not sure I would smoke. You are already taxing your system. A good friend of mine tried to do an Everest ascent. She didn't make it much being base camp because of trouble breathing. She said the most humiliating thing in the world was the Sherpa standing next to her smoking a cigarette while she was going like a fish out of water. ...I've had good friends that lost their lives because of breathing problems at altitude... this is not something to f*** with or discuss as if it were a small pipe problem... just don't smoke up there, Kelly. |
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Post by Dramatwist on Sept 24, 2018 23:14:01 GMT -5
I've been at 6,000 feet.Don't remember any problems. ...all due respect, Larry, that isn't much altitude for mountaineers... |
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Post by Dramatwist on Sept 24, 2018 23:17:21 GMT -5
...again, please don't light up up there!
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Post by kxg on Sept 24, 2018 23:21:55 GMT -5
I appreciate the info James. I will take your advice!
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Post by Dramatwist on Sept 24, 2018 23:25:06 GMT -5
I appreciate the info James. I will take your advice! ...be safe, climb good and come home in one piece! Your pipes are always waiting... thanks for listening... breaks my heart when I read about the tragedies in "Accidents in North American Mountaineering." ...no need for you to be one of them... |
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Post by Dramatwist on Sept 24, 2018 23:54:28 GMT -5
...enjoy the climb... wish I could still do it...
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Post by zambini on Sept 25, 2018 0:25:57 GMT -5
I consistently smoke at elevations between 7000-9000 ft above sea level. I do find it a little more tedious to keep a pipe lit but hardly any real trouble.
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Post by Dramatwist on Sept 25, 2018 0:29:13 GMT -5
I consistently smoke at elevations between 7000-9000 ft above sea level. I do find it a little more tedious to keep a pipe lit but hardly any real trouble. ...yes, my friend, but you live at those altitudes... I was worried about Kelly if he was climbing and wasn't used to it... |
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Post by Dramatwist on Sept 25, 2018 0:35:56 GMT -5
...in any event, hopefully he's fine and will make fun of us sometime soon...
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Post by Legend Lover on Sept 25, 2018 3:33:15 GMT -5
I think it's safe to conclude that it's not good to smoke at altitude if you're not used to it. I was planning on going to a walk up our highest mountain in Northern Ireland some day and smoke a pipe at the top. I think I still might because everything is small in Ireland. Our tallest mountain is only 2800' - that's practically sea level for some people. I might just smoke it half way up. Be safe, kxg |
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Post by Ronv69 on Sept 25, 2018 9:54:40 GMT -5
I’m on the side of a mountain in NM at 9100’ and seem to be having an unusually hard time keeping my pipe lit. My normal altitude is 3050’. Obviously the air is thinner up here, but I never thought about it making a substantial difference. Are any of you high altitude smokers? I have enjoyed many bowls of CBK on the back of Sandia Peak at 6800 feet with no problem, but it could be completely different another 2300 ft higher. It should still burn though. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Sept 25, 2018 10:00:56 GMT -5
The wind at the top of Sandia Peak would be a huge problem. I don't think that that altitude would make any health difference, especially as you already live at altitude. Don't get a nicotine buzz and fall off the side. Is your tobacco dry enough? Maybe pack it a little lighter?
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Post by kxg on Sept 25, 2018 10:11:08 GMT -5
In the interest of transparency, it should be noted that I am not mountain climbing, that train left more than a few years ago. I am at a cabin, that I’m closing for the winter, which is at 9100’. Still, the air is thin up here and it takes a few days to acclimate, likely longe4 than I’ll be here.
Also note that I could smoke my pipe, it was just harder to keep it lit; quite a few relights.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2018 10:15:20 GMT -5
I just spent a week at about 7200' elevation and noticed no difference. A couple of summers ago we stayed a week in a home at 11,000 ft elevation. No problems with pipe smoking, but I encountered altitude induced sleep apnea. Terrifying.
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Post by kxg on Sept 25, 2018 10:23:30 GMT -5
I just spent a week at about 7200' elevation and noticed no difference. A couple of summers ago we stayed a week in a home at 11,000 ft elevation. No problems with pipe smoking, but I encountered altitude induced sleep apnea. Terrifying. That does sound frightening. I’m usually only up here 3 or 4 days at a time, so I have to take it easy and drink lots of water. I’ve always smoked cigars up here, 2 or 3 a day, and noticed no problems, maybe I just packed my pipe poorly last night:) |
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Post by Dramatwist on Sept 25, 2018 11:53:40 GMT -5
...lol... I had this vision of you laying in a sling, trying to light a pipe!... I always err on the side of caution in the outdoors, and it didn't even occur to me that you weren't climbing... I'm a dumb-a** old fart... carry on...
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Post by kxg on Sept 25, 2018 12:07:08 GMT -5
Not a dumbxxx at all James. My shorthand for “I’m at the cabin in New Mexico” is “I’m on the mountain”. Easily confused, especially if you fondly remember climbing!
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Post by jeffd on Sept 25, 2018 13:36:32 GMT -5
My limit of discomfort is something like 7500 feet.
I didn't know that until I was rushed to a hospital in Cody Wyoming after nearly passing out in Yellowstone, running for a shelter in the rain.
I was told I really should not drink alcohol above 7500 feet.
I am in much better shape than I was then (since then losing something around 100 lbs.), but I still would be nervous to chance it.
I was at 10,000 feet once, at the top of an inclined railroad in Banff. I had trouble breathing. Upon returning to the ground had a fantastic cigar.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2018 13:53:53 GMT -5
Wow, sounds like you're pretty susceptible to the changes, jeffd. I'm a lifelong sea-level dweller (coastal CA, NY, UK) who found himself living at c. 6,700 ft. about 5 years ago. I started smoking pipes here so don't have much to compare to, but will see if I notice any difference when I'm in CA in a few weeks. I haven't paid attention on other trips. I do know that I feel lighter on my feet and have more stamina at sea level. I think a lot depends on where you were born. I get more migraines and other minor health issues here than I ever did anywhere else, and it's really not that high. Over the weekend we went hiking in the ski basic, c. 10,400 ft. and that definitely affected all of us - including the dog. |
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Post by Dramatwist on Sept 25, 2018 14:26:51 GMT -5
Wow, sounds like you're pretty susceptible to the changes, jeffd . I'm a lifelong sea-level dweller (coastal CA, NY, UK) who found himself living at c. 6,700 ft. about 5 years ago. I started smoking pipes here so don't have much to compare to, but will see if I notice any difference when I'm in CA in a few weeks. I haven't paid attention on other trips. I do know that I feel lighter on my feet and have more stamina at sea level. I think a lot depends on where you were born. I get more migraines and other minor health issues here than I ever did anywhere else, and it's really not that high. Over the weekend we went hiking in the ski basic, c. 10,400 ft. and that definitely affected all of us - including the dog. ...too many family members and climbing companions have suffered and died from altitude sickness... nothing to f*** around with... |
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Post by Legend Lover on Sept 25, 2018 14:46:56 GMT -5
Wow, sounds like you're pretty susceptible to the changes, jeffd . I'm a lifelong sea-level dweller (coastal CA, NY, UK) who found himself living at c. 6,700 ft. about 5 years ago. I started smoking pipes here so don't have much to compare to, but will see if I notice any difference when I'm in CA in a few weeks. I haven't paid attention on other trips. I do know that I feel lighter on my feet and have more stamina at sea level. I think a lot depends on where you were born. I get more migraines and other minor health issues here than I ever did anywhere else, and it's really not that high. Over the weekend we went hiking in the ski basic, c. 10,400 ft. and that definitely affected all of us - including the dog. ...too many family members and climbing companions have suffered and died from altitude sickness... nothing to f*** around with... I'm sorry to hear that. I've never had this happen to friends of mine, but our heights are small, like I said. But still... My heart goes out to you, Dramatwist, to have not just one, but too many people suffer and die from altitude related incidents. |
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