Hiking And Acclimating To The Big Swim
Courtesy of Nicolene Steynberg about the Madswimmers hiking up Mt Ojos del Salado in Argentina.
Slowly but surely the Madswimmers Mt Ojos team is getting higher and higher towards their goal.
Madswimmer founder Jean Craven and team doctor Darryl Wood are interviewed on their latest altitude hike to climatize to 4,592 meters in the Atacama Desert in Chile on volcano Dona Innes.
“Their first acclimitisation hike yesterday was to 4592m above sea level and back to base camp to see how they coped with the altitude,” reports Nicolene Steynberg. “Everyone was fine except that some battled to sleep at that height, but the team spirit is still very positive.
Data showed that the lake on Mt Ojos is still solidly frozen, a matter that might even defeat the chain saws they are carrying with to cup open the ice. This is becoming a real risk now. Although the team is still hopeful to swim on Mt Ojos at 6,400m above sea level, they are now also considering a Plan B that involves swimming in a lower lake on another volcano, Zapaleri, at 5,540m. Logistics are getting a bit challenging but they will figure things out when they get there.”
Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association
Slowly but surely the Madswimmers Mt Ojos team is getting higher and higher towards their goal.
Madswimmer founder Jean Craven and team doctor Darryl Wood are interviewed on their latest altitude hike to climatize to 4,592 meters in the Atacama Desert in Chile on volcano Dona Innes.
“Their first acclimitisation hike yesterday was to 4592m above sea level and back to base camp to see how they coped with the altitude,” reports Nicolene Steynberg. “Everyone was fine except that some battled to sleep at that height, but the team spirit is still very positive.
Data showed that the lake on Mt Ojos is still solidly frozen, a matter that might even defeat the chain saws they are carrying with to cup open the ice. This is becoming a real risk now. Although the team is still hopeful to swim on Mt Ojos at 6,400m above sea level, they are now also considering a Plan B that involves swimming in a lower lake on another volcano, Zapaleri, at 5,540m. Logistics are getting a bit challenging but they will figure things out when they get there.”
Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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