Having already played enough in Alaska, climbing blogger Szu-ting has announced a trip to the highest mountain outside Asia over New Year’s Eve.
… its elevation is 22,841 feet (6,962 m). My biggest worry is therefore altitude sickness. Right now I can still remember the tears I dropped on Denali; I had to turn around from the summit at 19,400 feet because my body couldn’t receive well executed commands from an oxygen-deprived brain. Aconcagua is higher than Denali and much higher. I know that Denali might have higher physiological altitude, due to its higher latitude (see reference 1) and I know that previous high attitude experience does not necessarily imply how my body will react upon my next encounter; however, every time I think about this climb, I can’t help but keep telling myself “remember to drink water, breathe more, and you can always turn around.†…
larger size – flickr – winkyintheuk
She’s NOT planning to descend with the 2700m south face in 5min on skis with parachute like this guy.
I’d much rather hike Aconcagua.
All the best to her.