Why do climbers use oxygen tanks

Experts say crowds of mountaineers, with many inexperienced climbers and unqualified guides, have also contributed to the situation. Foreign climbers have posted about the theft on social media. Earlier, Mr Mosedale had posted about a similar incident on Lhotse mountain near Everest. But to turn up and take it causes not only an issue for the summit team but also jeopardises the lives of other climbers. Although it was earlier reported that the death toll this season had reached 10 , Nepalese authorities have said they can only confirm five deaths so far.

None of the deaths has been linked to the theft of oxygen bottles. Nima Tenji Sherpa said he had to give his oxygen bottle to his client in when they were on their way back because their stocks were stolen.

Climbers can inhale it at different rates and if they consume it at the highest rate of inhaling, a bottle can last up to five hours. Solutions to help with nose bleeding can be to take nose hits from the steam billowing off of mugs of tea in an attempt to moisturize the nostrils. It would provide a small measure of relief. Wrapping a muffler across the mouth can also help. Oxygen cannisters are heavy and expensive and taking them up a mountain can be a logistical nightmare.

Full cannisters must be taken up, empty cannisters must be taken down to be refilled. In order to use them, you need masks and a pack to carry them in. All of this is extra luggage that needs to go up to whatever camp they will be stored at.

Everything gets carried by Sherpas. Even if you have transport available, it will be of limited capacity and will mainly be used to carry food, tents, water and other necessities. Carrying an oxygen cannister is also extra weight for the mountaineer, who would already be severely hampered by the effects of altitude. For this reason, oxygen cannisters are used sparingly , often only for the last few days leading up to summit day. This last stretch requires the highest exertion, often for the longest pushes on the trek.

Summit day on Everest can last up to twenty hours, an astronomical feat for any person at that altitude. The economics financially and performance-related of using it at lower altitudes are just not viable. Another factor to take into account, is that, if your body is used to functioning with the enriched oxygen in cannisters, running out of oxygen at high altitude could have serious repercussions.

Suddenly, your body will be forced to function with a much lower concentration of oxygen without proper acclimatization, which could lead to black-outs.

Since the weather conditions at that altitude is extreme, black-outs pose a very real risk of death by hypothermia. For this reason, planning your oxygen use properly is vital. Most people would black out after being at this altitude for a few minutes. For this reason, most people would use oxygen-enriched air when climbing above meters. There are a few people who have climbed as high as meters without using oxygen think Reinhold Messner , but this is dangerous and definitely not recommended.

Most of the climbers who died on Everest, were in the death zone. Oxygen cylinders are carried in a backpack or sling fastened to the back of each climber. From here, a hose or tube made from speciality rubber delivers the oxygen-enriched air to an accumulator or reservoir.

He believes that about people could be making the journey up since each foreigner requires a Sherpa guide. The risk of dying on the mountain stood at 0. The number of summit attempts has soared over the decades, leading to four-fold rise in crowding.

Reaching the top of Mount Everest — the highest point on the planet at 29, feet — is a feat only about 5, people have accomplished. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Skip to content Home Resume Why do people need oxygen tanks when climbing mountains? Ben Davis April 25, Why do people need oxygen tanks when climbing mountains? I don't take anything away from anyone who has ever endured months of expedition life, managed to set foot on the summit of Everest, and lived to tell about it.

It all comes down to how you choose to experience the mountain. When we were at advanced base camp on the North side of Everest in we started talking to a woman in her 50's who had just come down from topping out.

I asked her what it felt like sleeping at 27, feet and she said "I slept like a baby". We have never used oxygen on any of our climbs so her response was completely unfathomable and has stuck with me ever since. It really made me wonder, can using oxygen truly have that big of an effect?

Charles Houston, which I highly recommend. Supplemental oxygen benefits climbers in two different ways. First, it decreases the altitude that you feel.