Limits to human performance: elevated risks on high mountains.

摘要: In 1950, Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal became the first climbers to reach summit of an 8000m peak (Annapurna, 8091m). half century since that pioneering climb, mountaineers have increasingly sought climb fourteen ‘8K peaks’ Himalayas Karakoram, with remarkable success; they made 5085 ascents those peaks up year 2000. While seeking adventure on great peaks, are inevitably exposed hypoxia, cold dehydration as well physical hazards climbing. Those few who successfully 8K likely be at or near their physiological limits probably confront elevated probability dying during descent. We will briefly review some challenges face extreme elevation then compare success rates death mountains different heights (Rainer, Foraker, Denali, K2, Everest). Success decline height, but overall descent from increase height. Although these patterns based non-experimental uncontrolled data, our findings consistent hypothesis increasing altitude is associated decreased increased risk death.