Hunting at 10,000 ft.

[heavyshot]

Greetings all,
I have an opportunity to hunt elk in Montana next year and have a question. What affect would hunting at 7,000 to 10,000 ft. elevation have on my artifical tissue valve? I am able to jog 2 miles per day at sea level. I also do resistance training with weights. Do you think I can handle this or is the air too thin to attempt it? I don't want to get cought short of breath at 10,000 feet. Any thoughts on this? Thanks.

[geebee]

It shouldn't have any negative impact at all on your valve. However, if you have any heart damage at all (enlargement, etc.), 10,000 feet might be a little tough.

I had problems with steps and hills when I was in Leadville, Colorado which is about the same level. However, I do have an enlarged heart and a-fib so I was not too surprised to have issues.

You should talk to your cardio for guidance on this one.

Have fun if you do go - it sounds really great.

[MikeHeim]

You might want to check with your Cardiologist. At about 7 months post-op (mitral repair), I went on a 30-mile backpacking trip where I was constantly oscillating between 7,000 - 11,000 feet and didn't have any issues (besides blisters). Actually, my Avatar is from sometime in the middle of that trip. I can remember someone else on this site got their Cardiologist's clearance to climb a mountain over 14,000 feet. I don't think it would be much of a problem, but like I said, it's worth a quick phone call.

[hensylee]

we have had this discussion in the past and now that it's here again, maybe we ought to go over it and re-discuss. Others were concerned about heights and breathing, but I don't recall just what the consensus was. Anyone care to jump right in?