Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) occurs when you ascend too quickly and your body doesn't have time to adjust to lower oxygen levels. It can affect anyone regardless of age, fitness, or previous altitude experience.
Symptoms include headache, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping. More severe symptoms include confusion and loss of coordination. If you experience severe symptoms, descend immediately.
The best prevention is gradual acclimatization. Choose a longer route (7+ days) that follows the "climb high, sleep low" principle. Stay well hydrated and avoid alcohol.
Shorter itineraries (5-6 days) have lower summit success rates. The 7-8 day routes offer significantly higher success rates. The 9-day Northern Circuit has the highest success rate at over 95%.
If you develop moderate to severe AMS symptoms, the only cure is descent. Our guides carry emergency oxygen and first aid kits.