Camp two research at 6400m

7 messages :: read>

For about five minutes yesterday, we seemed to have found the answers to why some people appear to perform better at altitude than others. Sundeep (aka Buddha of the mountains) and previous Everest Summiteer, pedaled serenely on the exercise bike in front of the BBC and IMAX film crews. As the ramp (workload) increased he continued to pedal apparently effortlessly. The possibility of a genetic predisposition to being able to exercise under extreme hypoxia was a reality, until it became apparent that the electromagnetic breaking system on the bike had failed! The test was aborted and the exercise bike dismantled. A vital component had broken, and a replacement would be required from base camp.

Rather than waste the set up day, the CXE team proceeded to complete successfully a series of experiments. The highest cerebral perfusion studies ever undertaken were completed, using the sonosite micromax TCD machine and the sonometics NIRS machine. Neuropsychometric testing and respiratory function tests were carried out. The SDF camera system worked well.

At base camp Mac, Kay, David C and Rhys prepared a replacement exercise bike and our superb team of sherpas carried this through the Khumbu ice fall. The replacement bike arrived at camp two at eight thirty am and was reassembled by ten thirty am. The Eli Lilley Western Cwm lab is back on schedule without a day?s research being lost, and I have the dubious pleasure of being the first on the exercise bike for a V02 max test with resting sats of only 79%. I suppose the good news is that it is unlikely to last very long.

Comments on this article

By: Pijush Ray

When: 23rd May 2007 15:41

Chris,
Congratulations from Clinical Gerontology! Truly I had no idea that you were going to scale the Everest - Fantastic!

Pijush

By: Damian Mole

When: 30th Apr 2007 16:09

Awesome! I knew you were going to Everest but had no idea you were going to the summit. Climb well and good luck. Good luck with the science too. I will be following every move online.

Go for it!

Damian (ex-BMRES)

By: Darling Wife

When: 28th Apr 2007 22:40

(a) You never said anything about going to Camp 2 during this sortie to Camp 1 - can we have an itinerary please; just to give us some idea of where you are going and what to expect?

(b) lighten up - very serious blogging

and (c) for Isabelle (whoever she might be) snowmen are so passe - it's Snow Angels now. Chris, the children can teach you if you don't know how

By: Chris Taggart

When: 28th Apr 2007 20:06

Hi Chris, Greetings from all your medical colleagues in Coventry. The expedition sounds more exciting than a Caribbean beach! Ian and I would like to invite you to give a talk to the Coventry Medical Society in the autumn so you can share your photos and research with us all. I'm sure no one from Coventry has gone to such great lengths to have the invitation! Good luck and keep safe. Chris Taggart

By: Isabelle

When: 28th Apr 2007 00:37

This sounds far too much for a holiday.. Are you going to take time to sunbath at some point? Or take a nap and look at the sky.. do snow men ... I don't know...

Hope you are all well and in good health.
All the very best to the team
Isabelle

By: Gary Swain

When: 27th Apr 2007 22:23

A resting SAT of 79% at 6400 meters, (21,000 feet) is unreal....!!!.... I'm very interested in seeing the V02 max and also interested in how long you last on the bike at altitude. I take it you EF is 55% or better..........Please post the reults if you can. Say Hi to Michael Brown for me!

Best,

Gary Swain

By: Liz Bradbury

When: 27th Apr 2007 21:49

What a team! It is so interesting reading your info on your testing; your dedication and enthusiasm is so impressive. Well done to you all, especially those sherpas carrying the bike through the Khumba ice fall. This website is brilliant, enabling so many people follow the progress of this great expedition. My husband should be flying to Lukla tomorrow (Gp H) to start the trek after completing his testing to-day. He will be really keen to know how the research is going up at 6400 m. Good Luck everyone.

Blog by Chris Imray