Mild Seven Outdoor Quest

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Mt. Kinabalu – in the ‘very high’ altitude zone

Lisa de Speville / 30.10.2004

Sunday, 31 October 2004: Rest Day

Stage 4, on Monday, heralds the much anticipated Mt. Kinabalu ascent. The competitors will spend Sunday night at 1500m, walking up to the start half-way up the mountain. The initial section of the stage has them rapidly ascending to the top of the mountain at 4101m, abseiling and then running down to the transition about 2000m below the summit.

That some competitors will experience mild symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) is likely. It’s a condition related to altitude and the speed of ascent. Onset is rapid and those susceptible to the condition are not confined to age, gender or fitness categories. Symptoms increase in severity with continued ascent and time spent at altitude and the most effective treatment is immediate descent.

If any of the racers in the leading teams are affected, it could cost their team the race.

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Altitude is defined on the following scale:

High: 2438m - 3658m (8000ft - 12000ft)
Very High: 3658m – 5487m (12 000ft – 18 000ft) (Mt. Kinabalu)
Extremely High: >5500m (>18 000ft)
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