ARRIVING HEALTHY FOR A TRIP IS ONE THING, STAYING HEALTHY DURING THE TRIP IS ANOTHER.
THE NORTH SIDE OF THE KARAKORUM SEES LESS THAN 1% OF THE HUMAN TRAFFIC THE PAKISTAN SIDE DOES WHICH ELIMINATES BY FAR THE BIGGEST HEALTH RISK TO CLIMBERS, BUT THE HIGH ALTITUDE DESERT & EXPEDITION LIVING MAKE FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH ISSUES. HERE ARE THE MOST PREVALENT ELEMENTS
CUTS & ABRAISIONS
SKIN DOESN’T HEAL AS FAST WHEN YOU GET HIGH, SO ANY NICK TO YOUR SKIN NO MATTER HOW SMALL NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. BRING A RANGE OF ANTISEPTIC SOLUTIONS, BAND AIDS & TAPE TO DEAL WITH IT.
TEETH
DENTAL CARE IS IMPORTANT WHEN YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS ADAPTING & YOUR DIET MAY BE LACKING, PLUS FOR MANY CLIMBERS THEIR ON-MOUNTAIN DIET IS HIGH IN SUGAR. ASIDE FROM TEETH, SMALL ULCERS CAN BE A RESULT OF STRESS & VITAMIN DEFICIENCY, AND WHILST NOT DANGEROUS, PROVIDE AN ENTRY FOR OTHER THINGS. BRING ENOUGH TOOTHPASTE & FLOSS AND MAKE IT PART OF YOUR DAILY ROUTINE.
NAILS
KEEPING TOE NAILS ESPECIALLY IN GOOD CONDITION IS A MATTER WITH DAYS ON END IN STIFF BOOTS. MANY CLIMBERS LOSE ONE OR TWO, BUT KEEPING THEM NEAT REDUCES THE RISK. IN CASE YOU DO, BRING CLIPPERS & SMALL SCISSORS TO ADDRESS IT PROPERLY – A MULTI-TOOL WONT.
GOING TO THE TOILET
IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOUR BODY FUNCTIONING REGULARLY, MADE HARD WHEN YOUR METABOLISM SLOWS FROM ALTITUDE & DEHYDRATION CLOGS THINGS UP. PLAN FOR IT. BRING HIGH FIBRE DRINK MIXES, COFFEE & DRIED FRUIT (KASHGAR HAS ARGUABLY THE BEST SUPPLIES IN THE WORLD OF THIS) SO WHEN NATURE CALLS THE ANSWER IS FORTHCOMING.
WE KEEP TOILET SANITATION A HIGH PRIORITY AND KNOW NOTHING REDUCES HEALTH RISK LIKE NOT OVER-USING A SINGLE LOCATION, BUT HAVING YOUR OWN TOILET SET OF PAPER, GEL, WET WIPES & SQUIRTER BOTTLE GOES A LONG WAY. NOTE THAT ALCOHOL WIPES USED ON SENSITIVE FLESH IN THE COLD IS NOT AS FUNNY AS IT SOUNDS AND CAN RESULT IN COLD INJURY.
SLEEP
TRY TO GET AS MUCH RESTFUL SLEEP AS YOU CAN BECAUSE THATS WHEN THE BODY ACCLIMATES. DAYS IN CAMP LEND THEMSELVES TO EARLY NIGHTS & EASY MORNINGS, AND BETWEEN BOUTS UP HIGH DAY NAPS ARE A GOOD IDEA. MAKE YOUR TENT AS SLEEP-WORTH AS POSSIBLE AND IF THAT MEANS INFLATABLE PILLOWS & A DOWN QUILT IT WILL BE WORTH IT.
ALCOHOL
THIS IS CHINA, IF YOU WANT BEER & WHISKY YOU CAN HAVE IT. GETTING ALCOHOL TO SUGHET JANGAL IS WITHOUT ISSUE BUT IF IT NEEDS TO BE ON THE CARRY-LIST UP THE GLACIER IS A TEAM MATTER, NOT JUST THE INDIVIDUAL. THE AFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ARE EXACERBATED BY ALTITUDE GAIN, BOTH THE UP & THE DOWN, NORMALIZING AS YOU DO. IF YOU COME FROM A CULTURE WHERE VODKA & BOAR FAT ARE THE MAINSTAYS OF ALPINISM THEN NO PROBLEM, IF YOU DON’T, TRY IT SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN THE NORTH SIDE OF K2 FIRST.
ACCLIMATION
A MASSIVE SUBJECT WE LEAVE TO THE MEDICAL EXPERTS, BUT WE WILL SAY HERE IT’S YOU CAPACITY TO RELAX AT ALTITUDE THAT COUNTS, NOT YOUR ABILITY TO GO HARD. THE PRODUCTION OF RED BLOOD CELLS HAPPENS DURING REST & AN RELAXED RESPIRATION, SO GOING EASY ON THE APPROACH, RESTING & SLEEPING WELL ARE THE KEYS TO ACCLIMATION AND OUR ITINERARIES REFLECT THAT.
DIAMOX IS FINE AS A SHORT TERM PROPHYLACTIC UNTIL THE EFFECTS OF ALTITUDE GAIN SETTLE DOWN, BUT STEROIDS LIKE DEXMETHASONE ARE FOR EMERGENCY USE ONLY.
DEHYDRATION
HAND IN HAND WITH ACCLIMATION, DEHYDRATION IS A PRIMARY HEALTH CONCERN ON ANY EXPEDITION AND NOTHING NEW. THE CHINA SIDE OF THE KARAKORUM ISN’T QUITE AS HOT AS THE PAKISTAN SIDE, BUT IT’S AMBIENTLY DRIER. THE KEY HERE IS TO DRINK LAVISHLY PRETTY MUCH CONSTANTLY WHEN YOU CAN. CARRY A BOTTLE WITH YOU AND DUMP FLAVOURED ELECTROLYTES IN IT TO TASTE. DRINK WITH MEALS & WHENEVER RECOVERING.
SUPPLEMENTS
WE ARE NOT CONVINCED DIETS HIGH IN SUPPLEMENTS ARE WORTH IT, BUT SOME SUPPLEMENTS USED PROPERLY ARE. ELECTROLYTES, MULTI-VITAMINS, RECOVERY POWDERS & GREEN POWDERS ALL HELP YOU GET NUTRIENTS YOU WILL PROBABLY STARTING DEPLEATING AFTER A FEW WEEKS (THOUGH THE WATER THE SUPPLEMENTS ARE DISOLVED IN PROBABLY HELPS AS MUCH). NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS LIKE LINSEED MEAL, FISH OIL & FIBRE MAY HELP FORTIFY YOUR GENERAL DIET. MAGNESIUM IS MEANT TO HELP WITH CRAMPS.
GENERAL SANITATION
+60 DAYS IS A LONG TIME TO BE AWAY FROM MODERN SANITATION SO THINGS NEED TO BE MANAGED BEFORE HEALTH ISSUES START. WASHING HANDS, BRUSHING TEETH & GOING TO THE TOILET ARE BASICS THAT WILL BECOME ROUTINE IF THEY AREN’T ALREADY, BUT OTHER THINGS LIKE KEEPING YOUR SKIN, HAIR & GEAR CLEAN MATTER TOO.
WE CAN’T OVERSTATE HOW GOOD IT IS THAT K2 NORTH SIDE IS SO FREE OF THE CONSTANT SANITATION PROBLEMS ON THE SOUTH, THINGS STILL NEED TO BE SORTED, BUT IF WHAT YOU KNOW OF BASECAMPS IS WHAT YOU SEE ON THE KHUMBU YOU WILL STUNNED. WATER IS AVAILABLE TO THE DEGREE THAT WASHING IS SIMPLE, AND THE ABSENCE OF CONSTANT INFECTION ISSUES MAKES KEEPING YOUR PERSONAL GEAR LIKE CLOTHES, EATING KIT & FOOTWEAR CLEAN IS EASY.
THE BIG FACTOR HERE IS TO MAKE SURE ALL CLEANING PRODUCTS – FOR PERSON & GEAR – IS COMPLETELY BIODEGRADABLE. NO EXCEPTIONS. WE HAVE FOUND PRODUCTS FROM STORES LIKE LUSH & THE BODY SHOP FIT THE BILL, AND BICARB SODA CLEANS EVERYTHING ELSE. BRING TOO CORD TO USE AS A DRYING LINE & A SMALL BRUSH.
ANIMALS
ASIDE FROM YAKS & GOATS, YOU DON’T SEE MUCH ANIMAL LIFE AROUND MOST OTHER 8000m PEAKS, BUT THE NORTH SIDE OF K2 IS QUITE ALIVE. APART FROM THE OBVIOUS CAMELS & DONKEYS USED FOR PORTAGE, ONCE THINGS QUIETEN DOWN AROUND SUGHET JANGAL WILDLIFE STARTS TO BE NOTICED ALONG THE GREEN FRINGE OF THE SHAKSGAM RIVER.
THE MAIN THING HERE IS TO KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE. THE CAMELS & DONKEYS ARE USED TO CERTAIN WAYS OF BEING HANDLED YOU MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH, AND THOUGH THEY DON’T INTEND HARM, EVEN A CASUAL BUMP FROM 600kg BACTRIAN CAMEL CAN HAVE CONSEQUENCES. THEY ARE ALSO KNOWN TO BITE. THE MARMOTS THAT ARE EVERYWHERE REPORTEDLY DON’T HAVE THE DISEASES THEY CAN CARRY FURTHER NORTH IN THE GOBI (WHICH INCLUDES BUBONIC PLAGUE), BUT THEIR DROPPINGS & URINE ARE STILL BEST KEPT AWAY FROM IN QUANTITY. LARGE MAMMALS LIKE LEOPARDS, BEARS & WOLVES ARE ABOUT AND WE SEE THEIR SIGN REGULARLY, BUT KEEP A DISTANCE FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY, THE ONLY RISK BEING IF YOU COME ACROSS THEIR KILL WHICH CAN HARBOR BACTERIA.
