being high at high altitude?

[dani920]

i am bringing a friend to mt san jacinto and he is wondering if there is any downsides of smoking weed at high altitude

[Hikin_Jim]

Bro, it's super high fire danger right now. I'd really appreciate it if you'd toke up before you come into the Wilderness Area. Just putting that out there.

Other than that, I'm not aware of any consequences to smoking MJ at high altitude.

[Perry]

That is funny! But on the serious side of things, if there is a fire on Mt. San J in the near future, the investigators would likely do an advanced IP trace and be asking you a lot of questions. I don't mean to make you paranoid but that's the nature of posting *future* illegal acts on a message board versus discussing past events.

To answer your question: the main issue is falling and getting hurt. Some of the Yosemite climbers would say otherwise, but what if you accidentally get a higher dose than you're expecting?

As far as direct health effects, it's a powerful bronchiodilator but possibly a vasoconstrictor in the lungs (elsewhere a vasodilator). Those are positive and negative things with regards to high-altitude pulmonary edema. Nobody has specifically studied that, but it would make interesting research... I can only imagine somebody submitting a proposal for a research grant and the look on somebody's face when they read it.

[KathyW]

Does that mean getting high might make the headache I get at 14,000 feet go away?

[Perry]

Assuming you're serious and not making a joke (it's actually fairly common for hikers/climbers to take a toke), in theory the bronchiodilation increases arterial oxygen saturation but in the long-term the tar build-up in the lungs would decrease oxygen saturation even though it's less smoke than cigarettes (and not everyone smokes it, as you can eat or drink it). Because HAPE can happen at 14,000 feet, the vasoconstriction in the lungs could be problematic if you find yourself coughing fluids. But if it's just AMS (headache), in theory it might help. Usually HAPE does not occur below 11,000 feet but there are some exceptions. If nothing else, it would mask the pain of the headache, and if your lungs are filling with fluids, you'll feel great while you're dying.

[KathyW]

Thanks for the more detailed info Perry - I'm interested in information on anything that helps at altitude because I've been struggling so much when I'm above 12000' feet and I'd like to go above 14500' someday. I don't think that getting high sounds like it's the solution for me - It sounds like the damage would be more significant than the benefits.

[guest]

Dude!
I never learned so much about High... altitude in one day!
I've seen folks token at the peak, guess they made it back to their cars?

Light-headedness can be possible, and, it's important to be very present when traveling over rough terrain.
And of course, navigation is important, but, people get high in different ways, right!

How bout this HAPE - High Altitude Pot Experience!

OK, I better stop, I think it's 4:20 (somewhere)
ss

[cynthia23]

(sickly sweet falsetto) "Rocky Mountain Highhhh....".

The fire danger absolutely rules this out, OP. If you are going to indulge (not, IMO, a good idea, per Guest's comments on the necessity of staying alert while traversing rocky terrain) then you MUST consume via brownies, etc.

Perhaps mixed into GU?

Definitely do not smoke it. If, God forbid, you sparked a fire, you would definitely be charged with multiple felonies and do serious jail time.

On the general question of mixing intoxicants and wilderness ... I'm reminded of a time when I was coming down from Round Valley, very close to dark, and met a jolly drunk couple stumbling up the trail ... beer can in hand, not a bit of gear, the woman wearing high-heeled sandals. "This is the way to the tram, right?" the man blearily asked me.

HUI?

Remember, Wilderness make look pretty, but it can definitely kill you.